Best MPV 2022
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The MPV, also known as the people carrier, isn't the force it once was. SUVs have risen to the fore, with many car buyers preferring their high driving positions and more rugged styling – even though they aren’t ultimately as practical inside.
And MPVs really are brilliantly practical. They are shaped to maximise the amount of space for passengers, and generally have open-plan layouts that further enhance the sense of room. They are bright, airy and welcoming.
Those with seven seats also have third-row chairs that fold flat into the floor when not needed. This liberates a large amount of boot space. Meanwhile, five-seater MPVs are flexible all-rounders that are much more versatile than a conventional hatchback.
The best MPVs are the Swiss Army knives of motoring. They are genuinely multi-purpose and make motoring for growing families that bit less difficult and hassle-strewn.
They may not be as stylish as SUVs, but for those who can look past that, they still have a part to play in UK motoring life. Read on for our guide to the best MPVs on sale.
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Volkswagen Touran
The Volkswagen Touran is a clever and very practical seven-seat compact MPV. For a car so spacious within, it’s surprisingly compact on the outside, making it easier to drive every day. Nonetheless, there’s a seriously impressive amount of room for all three rows of passengers. They also get plenty of thoughtful features, like an array of cupholders, USB sockets and rear air conditioning vents. SE Family grade has a comprehensive infotainment system with its own smartphone app, while the fuel-efficient 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine offers a choice of manual or DSG automatic gearboxes. The Touran is a compelling alternative to VW’s more popular Tiguan SUV for those who want maximum space and flexibility for the money.
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Ford Galaxy
The Ford Galaxy is well known to Londoners due to its popularity as a private hire car. Why do cabbies choose it? Because the Ford is enormous inside, with plenty of space for all three rows. The individually-reclining seats are comfortable and supportive even over long distances. Huge windows give a good view out, combined with an airy feel within, and the Galaxy’s well-developed chassis remains stable through corners while delivering a comfortable ride for passengers. These days, the Galaxy is offered with a petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain, for decent fuel economy and the added draw of silent, emissions-free electric running at slower speeds.
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BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
The 2 Series Active Tourer is BMW’s five-seat MPV, for those who require more space than offered by a 1 Series hatchback. It has the enlarged grille that features on so many modern BMWs, plus chunky styling that blends SUV and MPV cues for a distinctive look. Inside, there’s lots of headroom and rear-seat legroom, along with a super-flexible boot that expands to over 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. BMW’s infotainment systems bring plenty of functionality to the 2 Series Active Tourer, and you can also choose a plug-in hybrid alongside regular petrol and diesel engine options. The hybrid has a remarkable electric range of up to 49 miles.
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Mercedes-Benz B-Class
Much like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is the MPV alternative to the smaller A-Class hatchback. It’s a smooth and sensible-looking car, with plenty of classy touches also seen on more expensive Mercedes-Benz models. Inside, it has flexible and roomy seating for five, while those in the rear will certainly appreciate the extra space and comfort. They’ll still be envious of those in the front, though, who get to interact with the latest state-of-the-art MBUX infotainment system. Prices are competitive for a Mercedes-Benz and, if you can spend a bit more, you could also choose a plug-in hybrid version.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class
Some choose an MPV simply to get the maximum amount of passenger space possible. For such people, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is ideal. It’s certainly premium-priced, but for large and growing families, there are few finer choices – particularly as the V-Class can seat up to eight people. Electric sliding side doors make access easy, even in tight spaces, while large windows and rear climate control systems help passengers relax in comfort. There’s even a brilliant Marco Polo camper version, with a kitchenette, auxiliary heater and pop-up roof that conceals a double bed. It’s a fantastically desirable machine and shows just how appealing MPVs can be.
Dacia Jogger
The new Dacia Jogger is a unique MPV concept. It feels similar to the Sandero hatchback up front, with a familiar dashboard and driving position. Move further back, however, and the combination of an ultra-long wheelbase and raised roof height liberates acres of space and enough room for a third row of seats. Few seven-seaters are as well packaged as this, and a crossover-style makeover – including raised ride height and tough body styling – means it looks unique, too. The clincher is pricing that starts from less than £15,000, with even the range-topping model costing roughly half what a regular seven-seat MPV typically sells for. The Jogger is an absolute bargain. That it’s so practical to live with and painless to drive cements its status as one of the best MPVs.
Vauxhall Combo-e Life
The Combo-e Life is a pure electric evolution of the Vauxhall Combo five- or seven-seat van-derived people carrier. Offered in two different body lengths, it’s an exceptionally practical family car choice. There is acres of room inside and large, comfortable seats – even for those in the third row. The robust interior contains plenty of stowage spaces and the rugged design is made for the rough and tumble of transporting your clan. On the road, it can travel up to 174 miles between charges, and your eco-warrior kids will admire the fact you’re already prepared for the 2030 petrol and diesel car ban.
Citroen C4 Spacetourer
The Citroen C4 Spacetourer is a classic MPV with seating for up to seven. It has a short bonnet and large ‘monospace’ body, with huge windows providing a really light and airy feeling inside. The windscreen offers a panoramic view out, thanks to the use of two thin pillars each side, rather than one thick one. It’s also a boon when pulling out of junctions. Total boot space of nearly 2,200 litres with all five rear seats folded is proof of how capacious the C4 Spacetourer is – and translates into ample passenger room when fully occupied. We like details such as the silver roof pillars, which give the Citroen an avant-garde look, and the fact that each second-row seat is the same size, with the same slide-and-recline functionality. The days of the middle-seat passenger feeling short-changed should be over.
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Peugeot 5008
Peugeot has recently facelifted the 5008, keeping it looking sharp and appealing. It is the seven-seat alternative to the popular 3008, with an enlarged rear end offering room for a third row of people, or simply an even larger and more practical boot when the rearmost seats are folded flat into the floor. Choose from fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, which are offered in a number of well-equipped model grades. Peugeot’s move upmarket can be felt in the good-quality interior and the classy materials and trims. They provide an undeniably more premium feel. It’s good to drive too, with neat handling and a smooth ride.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life
If a Vauxhall Combo-e is too small for you, enter the Vivaro-e Life: the British brand’s largest van-derived MPV, Like the Combo-e, it’s now purely electric, with a 50kWh battery giving a driving range of 143 miles. While that doesn’t sound much for getaways to the beach, Vauxhall stresses it’s able to use 100kW rapid chargers, giving an 80 percent top-up in just 30 minutes. Seating up to nine people, the Vivaro-e Life has sliding rear doors. Opting for upmarket Elite trim brings leather seats, a panoramic glass sunroof and, to make those in the back seats feel like celebrities, dark-tinted rear glass.
What is the best seven-seater MPV?
The best seven-seater MPV should combine great practicality with terrific passenger-focused space and flexibility. We think the best MPV for seven on the market right now is the Volkswagen Touran, which makes long journeys for large families a breeze. It’s good to drive, fuel-efficient, built to last and commands good retained values to keep long-term running costs down. If you don’t want to spend quite that much on a new seven-seater, the Dacia Jogger is certainly worth a look.
What is the best five-seat MPV?
If you only need five seats, we really like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. It is an MPV that’s great to drive for starters, meaning the person behind the wheel will still enjoy themselves even when driving alone. They get the benefits of BMW’s brilliant infotainment systems, too. All engines are strong, and the plug-in hybrid is a great eco-friendly choice. For passengers, there is loads of space in the rear, while the ultra-flexible boot is easily practical enough even for the most cumbersome of loads.
Which is the most practical MPV?
The most practical MPVs are those derived from vans. They naturally offer the most space inside, thanks to their flat-sided, tall and boxy shapes. The Mercedes-Benz V-Class and Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life are examples of just how practical a van-derived MPV can be. If you don’t need quite so much space, or have a smaller budget, the Vauxhall Combo-e Life is similarly Tardis-like inside. You can also choose near-identical versions from Citroen and Peugeot (the e-Berlingo and e-Rifter respectively).
