Best used MPVs and people carriers to buy now
If you’ve got a growing family to ferry around, the best used MPVs and people carriers will do just that for a bargain price
Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) — also known as people carriers — have been overtaken by sportier and more rugged SUVs as the large family car of choice for many drivers, but no model type can outdo the MPV for sheer practicality and space. So, while they may not be as stylish, these cars are still a fantastic choice for families, and the best used MPVs make for some literally huge bargains.
The best used MPVs to buy
While the choice of brand-new MPVs has shrunk over the years, there are still plenty to choose from in the classifieds. So which model should you choose? Our experts have put every model to the test and have rounded up the very best used MPVs to buy right now. Read on to find them listed below.
1. Vauxhall Zafira Tourer (Mk3)
Although Renault invented the compact MPV with the original Megane Scenic, it was Vauxhall that perfected the formula with its first-generation Zafira. A third row of seats was key to achieving that class-leading position when the car was launched in 1999, and the same was true of the all-new model that arrived in 2005. This in turn was supplemented (then superseded) by the more upmarket Zafira Tourer in 2012, which remains our favourite used MPV – and for good reason. Whether you buy one of the original Zafira Tourers or a post-2016 facelifted car, it’ll be refined and comfortable, plus of course, brilliantly spacious.
All three generations of Zafira have offered wonderful packaging, thanks to the standard-fit Flex7 seating, which means you don't have to faff about removing seats; simply fold rows two and three flat into the floor
to create up to 1,820 litres of carrying capacity. The third row is best suited to children, admittedly, but you can accommodate adults in there if they're not too tall or the journey isn’t too long. The Vauxhall is classed as a small MPV, so you won’t find the huge interior of something like a Ford Galaxy, but even with the front two rows in use, the boot can hold 710 litres. And because the middle row slides backwards and forwards, versatility is decent, too.
By virtue of the Zafira’s age, it isn’t crammed with the very latest luxury and safety tech, but as long as you avoid base models, the equipment levels are good, with the range-topping Elite featuring such niceties as front and rear parking sensors, climate control, perforated leather trim, and heated front sports seats.
2. Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (Mk2)
Rebranded as the Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer in 2018, the Grand C4 Picasso is stylish inside and out. It offers unrivalled space for the money, a comfortable ride and a range of appealing petrol and diesel engines. Throw in low running costs and loads of kit, and the Grand C4 Picasso is an ideal family ferry.
3. SEAT Alhambra (Mk2)
We crowned the SEAT Alhambra Best MPV in our 2011 and 2012 New Car Awards, with sister title CarBuyer doing the same. That’s because we loved this SEAT’s huge cabin, versatility, refinement and car-like driving experience. Thanks to efficient petrol and diesel engines, running costs are sensible, while performance is decent.
4. Honda FR-V (Mk1)
Honda has a history of doing things differently – as it did with the FR-V. With a novel three-seat layout in the front, it combines space for six and compact exterior dimensions. Its reliability is bulletproof, while the trade-off for a firm ride is accurate handling.
5. Renault Grand Scenic (Mk4)
Renault pioneered the compact MPV class with the Renault Scenic back in 1996, and it’s been a contender for decades through multiple iterations, including the even more spacious Grand Scenic version. The fourth-generation Renault Grand Scenic MPV arrived in 2016, and it followed the same formula that brought its predecessors so much success: seven seats are offered, although the body is no wider than the standard five-seat Scenic.
A plentiful engine line-up with both petrols and diesels to choose from ensures that you can get the engine that strikes the right balance between performance and fuel economy for your needs. Five- and six-speed manual gearboxes were standard, while a dual-clutch gearbox was an option on the 1.5-litre diesel and standard on the more powerful 1.6-litre diesel. These diesels are the more capable options in the line-up thanks to the torque on offer, which should cope better when the car is at capacity with passengers.
6. Ford Galaxy (Mk3)
Given Ford’s long-standing reputation for offering a car that will suit just about any kind of family, it comes as no surprise that one of the most popular MPVs in the UK, the Ford Galaxy, appears on this list. The third-generation model arrived in 2015, with clean examples now available for less than £8,000.
The Mk3 Galaxy is (typically for Ford) available with a wide choice of engines: 1.5- and 2.0-litre petrols sit alongside a 2.0-litre diesel that produces either 119, 148 or 177bhp. A 237bhp version of the diesel was added in 2018. Most used examples you’ll find will be diesels, with their better torque and higher fuel economy making them more popular than the petrol alternatives. Manual or automatic gearboxes are available too and both perform well.
7. Ford S-MAX (Mk2)
The Ford S-MAX is a car that adds a slightly more driver-focused and sporty take on the MPV formula, given its lower roofline that makes it a little sleeker than rivals, although this reduces luggage capacity. However, the S-MAX represents brilliant value for money as a used car, and Ford’s impressive engines make it both enjoyable to drive and easy on your wallet.
A sportier driving experience is what makes the S-MAX stand out over the seven-seat Galaxy. The second-generation car reached showrooms in 2015, with petrol and diesel models combined with front- or four-wheel drive. Early editions of the current car have been around long enough to benefit from plenty of depreciation, but you’ll struggle to find many examples of the entry-level car as most buyers went for Titanium trim. This added sat-nav, automatic lights and wipers and various other features to the standard inclusions like 17-inch alloys, an eight-inch touchscreen and parking sensors front and rear.
The inside of the S-MAX is very spacious, although the rearmost seats are only really suitable for kids. The 285-litre boot isn’t ideal with all seven seats in place, but there’s more than enough to get by with when they’re not in use.
8. Volkswagen Touran (Mk2)
The second-generation Volkswagen Touran has been on sale since 2015. Since then the Touran has proved itself to be a practical vehicle that remains good to drive and well-built compared to the alternatives.
All cars come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, with an automatic transmission an option on all but the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol. Both types of gearbox worked well, but the best engine choice for you really depends on how often you’re likely to fill all seven seats: if you’re regularly at capacity, one of the more powerful engines will be more economical in the long run.
Standard features include an eight-inch touchscreen with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as all-round electric windows and heated door mirrors. SE models get 16-inch alloy wheels, and extra touches like automatic lights and wipers, plus adaptive cruise control. As a compact MPV, the rear seats should be reserved for children as adults won’t fit comfortably.
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