Best MPVs and people carriers

Practicality reigns supreme in the MPV class, but the best options are also affordable, comfortable and fuel efficient. These are the top 10 MPVs we recommend, plus one you should avoid...

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Oliver Young
Published25 July 2023

Best and worst MPVs

Family life isn't a walk in the park, but it should be with an MPV. These people carriers are specifically designed to make light work out of ferrying your kids around, with versatile interiors that give you plenty of space and practicality. They often come with seven seats, too.

But it's not all about the sensible stuff, because the best also have good-quality interiors, refined driving experiences and plenty of equipment, both in terms of creature comforts and safety. 

Here, we take a look at the top 10 you can currently buy (and reveal the model that's worth avoiding), including our 2023 What Car? Car of the Year.

If you want to read more about a particular car or see what deals are currently available on it through our free New Car Buying service, just click on the relevant link. Of course, if you don't fancy reading the full story and are simply looking for the best MPV, then look no further: the Volkswagen ID Buzz is the best MPV you can buy. 

Learn more about how we test cars, or see the best and worst MPVs and people carriers below

1

Volkswagen ID Buzz

The VW ID Buzz very successfully brings the MPV up to date and into the future, yet it still loveably tips its hat to the past. In other words, it's a modern electric car, though one with some retro styling inspired by classic VW Type 2 campers. The ID Buzz is powered by the same punchy, 201bhp electric motor found in the other Volkswagen ID models, such as the VW ID 3 and VW ID 4 – it has the same 77kWh (usable capacity) battery pack as well. It's the most practical ID product and one of the most spacious and versatile electric cars you can buy. Plus, it drives well and is cheaper than you might think if you're buying on finance.

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Pros

  • Pleasant to drive with a comfortable ride
  • Hugely practical
  • Strong resale values

Cons

  • Not available as a seven-seater - yet
  • Fiddly air-con controls and infotainment
  • Efficiency could be better
2

Volkswagen Touran

Just because you're wearing your sensible trousers when buying a new MPV, it doesn’t mean you have to slum it. Opt for a Volkswagen Touran and you’ll find the same level of plushness that you’d get in a Golf, but with far greater practicality. All five of its rear seats feature Isofix child seat mounting points and enough space for adults. The Touran drives better than the rival (now discontinued) 2018-2022 Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer, too, and buyers should find comfort in it having been recently safety tested, unlike most MPVs that have been around since 2015 (like the Touran has). 

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Pros

  • Superb space and practicality
  • Tempting PCP finance deals and big discounts
  • Great to drive by MPV standards

Cons

  • Rivals offer more economical diesel or hybrid engines
  • Ford Galaxy has more third row space
  • Automatic gearbox can be hesitant
3

Citroën Berlingo

Okay, it's the same as the Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life underneath, but the Citroën Berlingo’s keener pricing, better level of standard equipment and slightly plusher feel make it an even better buy. Add in its hugely spacious interior and a soft ride – softer than the Touran’s, in fact – and you’ll find the Berlingo a relaxing cruiser in which to cover miles. Some non-van-based MPVs are better to drive overall, but, put simply, cars don’t get much more practical than this for the money. Oh, and there's an electric version as well – the Citroën e-Berlingo

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Pros

  • Great practicality
  • Flexible 1.2 Puretech 110 petrol engine
  • Excellent value

Cons

  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • Some storage solutions are optional
  • Mainstream MPV rivals are better to drive
4

Dacia Jogger

Offering lots of practicality for not a lot of money is nothing new, but few stick the landing and avoid harsh compromise like the Dacia Jogger. It's cheaper to buy than a Toyota Yaris small car, yet it's a very accomplished seven-seater and one that's decent to drive and comes with a good amount of kit. For the best value, we think the 109bhp petrol engine (badged 110 TCe) is the one to go for – over the hybrid version. Its one-star safety rating (earned during safety testing by Euro NCAP) stops it from getting any higher than this mind you, plus it hasn't really got the performance to cope with a car full of people and belongings. 

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Pros

  • Extremely well priced
  • Genuine seven-seat usability
  • Easy to drive

Cons

  • Needs more power when fully loaded
  • Poor safety rating
  • Middle row seats don’t slide back and forth
5

Volkswagen Multivan

While the smaller, electric ID Buzz is a more sophisticated package, the VW Multivan is the more practical machine, plus it remains better to drive than many of its van-based MPV rivals. It comes with an extensive range of engine options to suit all needs, too, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). As we mentioned, you can get Standard and Long versions, with the latter offering seemingly infinite amounts of space – at quite a high price, though, especially if you also want the PHEV engine option. 

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Pros

  • Exceptionally good predicted residual values
  • Good value against van-based MPV rivals
  • Lots of safety tech

Cons

  • Infotainment not the best
  • No rear air-con as standard
6

Ford Galaxy

If you need to carry seven people and some luggage as well, the Ford Galaxy has long been the go-to MPV. With its huge boot and spacious seven seats, it fulfils the same practical role as rivals such as the (now discontinued) 2010-2022 Volkswagen Sharan, but is quieter and more composed on the road. The Galaxy is also one of the best-handling MPVs out there and has a comfortable ride. Sure, it doesn't have the most luxurious interior you'll ever see, plus there are newer options on this list – this generation of the model has been around since 2015 – but the Galaxy remains a sound choice. 

 

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Pros

  • Practical seating flexibility with heaps of boot space
  • Handles surprisingly well on the road
  • Quiet on the motorway

Cons

  • Not that well equipped
  • Infotainment system is sluggish
  • Top trim pushes up the price
7

Peugeot Rifter

The Peugeot Rifter is essentially a Vauxhall Combo Life wearing Peugeot badges, but it feels slightly classier inside and this pushes it one place higher on this list. Unlike the Combo Life, you don't have to have it as an electric car – although you can if you want (Peugeot e-Rifter). There's a good range of petrol and diesel engines to choose from, with our favourite being the 128bhp diesel option (badged Blue HDi 130). Apart from that, you have class-leading space and a surprisingly good driving experience here. Just remember to opt for the XL version if you need seven seats. 

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Pros

  • Tremendous space
  • Lots of practicality
  • Comfy ride

Cons

  • Slightly more expensive than the Citroën Berlingo
  • Infotainment system is fiddly
  • Some cheap feeling interior trim
8

Vauxhall Combo Life

The Vauxhall Combo Life doesn't hide its van roots. It's unashamedly devoid of pizzazz, but this helps keep its price down and its practicality up. It delivers more space per pound than just about any other new car. Both five and seven-seat versions are available, sliding rear doors make it easy to get kids in and out in tight spaces, and this is one of the most comfortable MPVs around. The electric version's official range of 174 miles is decent for the class and price point, although it's not great overall. 

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Pros

  • Great practicality
  • Decent performance despite its size
  • Lots of standard safety kit

Cons

  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • Low-rent interior
  • The range could be better
9

Ford S-Max

If you're looking for an MPV that won't cost an arm and a leg to run, the economical Ford S-Max is well worth considering. Like most of the best modern Fords, such as the Ford Focus, it's also one of the best-handling cars in its class, combining precise steering with excellent body control. And while the interior isn't as classy as some rivals' – think VW Touran – it's as practical as you'd expect from a family car of its size. You will find more space inside the larger Ford Galaxy, mind you, and that's reflected in its higher place on this list. 

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Pros

  • Decent handling
  • Comfortable ride
  • Practical interior

Cons

  • Interior quality could be better
  • Some rivals are cheaper
  • Third-row seats best for children
10

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

The first, 2014-2022 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer was a controversial car when it first went on sale. Not only was it BMW's first MPV, but it was the first BMW to feature front-wheel drive rather than the sportier rear-wheel drive setup that the brand has traditionally been associated with. This second generation version of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer caused less of a commotion upon its arrival. It has a robust, high-quality interior, what's more it’s good to drive and offers impressive engines (including two plug-in hybrid options). There are much more spacious MPVs out there, mind you, and you can't get it with seven seats. 

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Pros

  • Plenty of rear space
  • Good balance of ride and handling
  • Class-leading infotainment system

Cons

  • Firm ride for an MPV
  • Tyre roar on coarse surfaces
  • Expensive, especially top-end models

And the MPV to avoid...

Mercedes EQV

For VIP transportation at large events, a lot of companies will rightly think the EQV makes a lot of sense. Private buyers won't find much of value here, though, because it's very expensive, yet will officially travel just 230 miles on a single charge. Read our review

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