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Best used MPVs

If you're looking for a practical and good value used family car, don't discount an MPV. Here we count down our top 10 buys...

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by
Mark Pearson
Published11 January 2024

It may well have been comprehensively trounced in the sales charts and in people's affections over the last few years by that young upstart the SUV, but the good old MPV is still well worth a punt on the used market. 

Used MPVs

After all, if you're looking for a car at a reasonable price that can carry up to seven people and leave space for their luggage a used MPV is still a force to be reckoned with. Some are much better to drive than you'd expect, too, and some even look more stylish than you might think a car of such practicality should. 

So, which one to choose? Fortunately, there are plenty of options for varying budgets. So here’s our round-up of the very best you can buy.

Strengths

  • Huge interior
  • Excellent visibility
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Ride could be more composed
  • Touchscreen not as good as some

Fancy an MPV with a little panache? The Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer is well-equipped, stylish and one of the most comfortable MPVs around. Being the Grand version means it's blessed with versatile seating for seven, and you get a huge boot when the third row is folded into the floor. The engine range is strong and fuel-efficient, plus it rides and handles well for a car of this size. Refinement is good, too, making long trips with the family just that bit more bearable. 

"You might think the Spacetourer would be a bit flaky but in fact its reliability record is good. Nothing matches the style for the money." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer 1.2 Puretech 130 Touch, 20,000 miles,  £17,999

Read our used Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer review

Search for a used Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer for sale

Strengths

  • Practical interior
  • Good to drive
  • Plenty of neat options

Weaknesses

  • Automatic emergency braking isn't standard
  • Infotainment system poor

The Ford Galaxy is, quite simply, enormous. It's got seating for seven adults and even a bit of space left over for your luggage. On top of that, it's good to drive and comfortable, too. Powershift automatics can be troublesome and need frequent fluid changes, so check the history for evidence of this, and avoid ex-taxis, which will have huge mileages. Find a good one, though, and this is one great all-rounder and a deeply impressive MPV.

"I love the spaciousness of the Galaxy and the surprising thing is it's not that bad to drive either." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2019 Ford Galaxy 2.0TDCi 150 Zetec, 69,000 miles, £12,995

Read our used Ford Galaxy review

Search for a used Ford Galaxy for sale

Strengths

  • Hugely practical
  • Comfortable
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Frustrating infotainment system
  • Disappointing interior plastics
  • Range could be better

Our former What Car? Car of the Year now makes for an excellent MPV bought at a couple of years old. It's a thoroughly modern electric car, powered by a punchy, 201bhp electric motor and a 77kWh (usable capacity) battery pack. That battery officially gives the Buzz a range of up to 260 miles, depending on which trim you choose, but we found around 236 miles is more achievable in real-world conditions. The ID Buzz is one of the most spacious and versatile cars you can buy. Plus, it drives really well.

"The ID Buzz might look ungainly but believe me when you drive it you'll really like it. So much space you can party in it all night." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Volkswagen ID Buzz, 20,000 miles, £44,900

Read our used Volkswagen ID Buzz review

Search for a used Volkswagen ID Buzz for sale

Strengths

  • Tidy handling
  • Comfortable ride
  • Standard Zetec trim well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Third row seats best for children, not adults
  • Interior quality could be better
  • Thirsty petrol engine

We’ve always been big fans of the lively Ford S-Max, and it isn’t hard to see why. It looks great, for a start, and underneath that sporty-looking styling sits a people carrier that’s enormously enjoyable to drive. And while you can’t fit quite as much into it as its sister car, the Ford Galaxy, there’s still more than enough room for seven people. Ex-taxis are to be avoided and cars with automatic gearboxes need evidence of frequent fluid changes. On the whole, overall reliability can be a little mixed.

"An oldie but a goldie, and one of my favourite MPVs. Good-looking thing, too." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2018 Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi Titanium, 60,000 miles, £11,000

Read our used Ford S-Max review

Search for a used Ford S-Max for sale

Our pick: 1.0 TCe Expression 5dr

0-62mph: 11.2 sec
MPG/range: 47.9mpg
CO2 emissions: 132g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 212 litres
Insurance group: 13E

Strengths

  • Good seven-seater
  • Affordability
  • Nice to drive

Weaknesses

  • Safety ratings are an issue
  • Engines can be noisy
  • Not quite as practical as one or two rivals

The Dacia Jogger offers lots of practicality for not a lot of money. 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 finishing higher, but remember that every Jogger still comes with six airbags, Isofix child-seat mounts for the outermost seats in the second row, and automatic emergency braking.

"New as a piece of haddock freshly bought at a seaside fish and chip shop. The Jogger is highly practical and, oh, er, yes it's cheap as chips." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2022 Dacia Jogger 1.0 TCe Expression, 25,000 miles, £12,995

Read our used Dacia Jogger review

Search for a used Dacia Jogger for sale

Strengths

  • Comfortable ride
  • Flexible 1.2-litre petrol engine
  • Hugely practical

Weaknesses

  • Fiddly infotainment
  • Some useful storage solution weren't standard
  • Mainstream MPV rivals are nicer to drive

Okay, it's the same as the Peugeot Rifter also featured here and the Vauxhall Combo Life underneath, but the Berlingo’s better level of standard equipment and slightly plusher feel make it an even better used buy. Add in its hugely spacious interior and a decent ride and you’ll find the Berlingo a relaxing place in which to cover miles. Put simply, cars don’t get much more practical than this, or as good value when bought used.

"Speak-a the lingo? Definitely got the Berlingo. It's a fab MPV with plenty of space and it's good to drive." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Citroën Berlingo 1.5 BlueHDi Flair, 40,000 miles, £14,950

Read our used Citroën Berlingo review

Search for a used Citroën Berlingo for sale

Strengths

  • Easy to drive
  • Lots of practicality
  • Comfy ride

Weaknesses

  • Some cheap interior trim
  • Infotainment system is a little fiddly

The Peugeot Rifter is basically a Vauxhall Combo Life and Citroen Berlingo wearing Peugeot badges, but it feels slightly classier inside than the Vauxhall. It offers the same comfort, practicality and value while adding a touch more style to the mix. There's a hugely spacious interior, a comfortable ride and a good driving position, although some will need to acclimatise to the Rifter's small steering wheel and high-up instrument pod dashboard. 

"I don't mind admitting I like the Rifter. The interior's smart and I like the driving position and the set-up inside." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 Peugeot Rifter 1.5 BlueHDi 100 Allure, 20,000 miles, £15,000

Read our used Peugeot Rifter review

Search for a used Peugeot Rifter for sale

Strengths

  • Superb space and practicality
  • Strong engines
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Unrefined diesels
  • Firm ride

The Seat Alhambra is great to drive and comes with sliding rear doors – a boon in tight parking spaces because you shouldn't be able to clonk the car next to you when getting out. It also leaves a wide aperture that helps when strapping small children into the middle row. It’s a large car, of course, but it comes with a range of punchy engines that are more than up to the job of hauling it around. It rides and handles well, too, and is reasonably refined and efficient. 

"Getting on a bit but still so impressive. It's huge inside and those doors make like so easy." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2020 Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI Ecomotive SE, 50,000 miles, £14,995

Read our used Seat Alhambra review

Search for a used Seat Alhambra for sale

Our pick: 1.5 TSI EVO SE Family 5dr

0-62mph: 8.9 sec
MPG/range: 44.1mpg
CO2 emissions: 146g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 633 litres
Insurance group: 19E

Strengths

  • Spacious interior
  • Versatile seating
  • Satisfying to drive

Weaknesses

  • Some rivals are cheaper
  • Mixed reliability record
  • Others beat it for economy

The versatile VW Touran is a spacious, refined and classy all-rounder, with a dashboard and interior that is both elegant to behold and easy to use. Perhaps most important of all, though, is how brilliantly clever the Touran’s seating flexibility is. For a start, the second row is made up of three individual seats so that it is possible to carry three child seats side by side, and these chairs all slide and fold independently of one another. With the third row stowed away, the boot is huge, too. Its reliability record is poor, though, otherwise the Touran would have finished up at the top of this list. 

"Oh pity the poor Touran. It's one of the best cars here easily but its reliability is way below average, hence we can't put it higher. I love them." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2019 Volkswagen Touran 1.5 TSI Evo 150 SE, 45,000 miles, £13,995

Read our used Volkswagen Touran review

Search for a used Volkswagen Touran for sale

Strengths

  • Plenty of rear seat space
  • High-quality interior
  • Good balance of ride & handling

Weaknesses

  • There are more versatile five-seat MPV’s
  • 218d engine feels a bit flat at low revs
  • Still a little pricey

The 2 Series Active Tourer is based on Mini's front-wheel-drive mechanicals, which means it's better to drive than some of its contemporaries. It's the five-seat version that offers the best value for our money compared with a used version of the bigger seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. It might be smaller on the outside, but a lot of effort has gone into making the most of the available space inside. Reliability is good, though watch out for some electrical issues. 

"Oh a BMW for this money and in this class? I can't resist it so if I needed one car from this list..." - George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 1.5 218i Sport Nav, 52,000 miles, £15,995

Read our used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer review

Search for a used BMW 2 Series Active Tourer for sale

 

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