Let's be honest, we’ve all been there. Pinned in a tight supermarket parking space, trying to contort yourself like a Cirque du Soleil performer just to strap a toddler into their car seat, all while praying you don’t ding the door of the pristine Range Rover parked far too close. It’s a moment of pure parental stress. But what if there was a simple, elegant solution? Enter the sliding door, the unsung hero of family-friendly motoring.
Once the preserve of boxy, uninspiring vans, the sliding door has found its way onto a surprisingly diverse range of vehicles. From clever mini-MPVs to luxurious people carriers that feel more like private jets inside, these cars are designed with one thing in mind: making your life easier. They offer unrivalled access to the rear seats, eliminate the risk of car park calamities, and turn the daily school run from a battle into a breeze. If you’re tired of the car park door-ding dance, you’re in the right place.
The cars in this guide have been selected to represent the best options currently available. Our recommendations are the result of a unique three-part scoring system that takes into account real-world tests from our team of expert reviewers, ratings from real-life owners who live with these cars every day, and an analysis of market data from CarGurus UK to identify which models offer the highest percentage of good and great deals. This combined approach ensures our list highlights cars that are not only great to own but also good value to buy.
Best Cars with Sliding Doors 2026
- Ford B-Max
- Citroen Berlingo
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Mercedes-Benz V-Class
- Ford Grand C-Max
- Seat Alhambra
- Ford Tourneo Connect
- Volkswagen Multivan
- Toyota Proace Verso
- Volkswagen Caddy Life
1. 2012-2017 Ford B-Max
CarGurus expert rating: 5 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.4 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 35.4% Overall CarGurus rating: 4.5 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lots of space inside for such a small car | Iffy Powershift automatic gearbox |
| Sliding rear doors make getting in and out easy | Some electrical issues |
| Fun to drive | Not as fashionable as a small SUV |
The Ford B-Max isn’t just a car with sliding doors; it’s a magic trick on wheels. Its party piece is a fantastically clever door system where the central support pillar is integrated into the doors themselves. Open both front and rear doors and you’re greeted with a huge, completely unobstructed 1.5-metre opening. This makes clambering into the back or fitting a bulky child seat an absolute doddle, especially in those dreaded tight parking spaces. It’s a brilliantly executed piece of design that makes you wonder why more car manufacturers haven’t done it.
Better still, this practicality doesn’t come at the expense of driving pleasure. Because it’s based on the much-loved (and now much missed) Ford Fiesta, the B-Max is far more fun to drive than any mini-MPV has a right to be. The steering is sharp and the handling is agile, yet it remains comfortable and refined on long motorway stints. We’d recommend seeking out a model with the peppy 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. It’s smooth, surprisingly punchy, and offers a great blend of performance and fuel economy, making the B-Max a pleasingly complete and characterful small family car.
The CarGurus Verdict: "The B-Max is a clever car that addresses the needs of many family car buyers. Those sliding rear doors are the star of the show, but its Fiesta roots also make it surprisingly engaging to drive." - Craig Thomas, contributor
Read our full Ford B-Max review
2. 2026 Citroen Berlingo
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.4 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 32.8% Overall CarGurus rating: 4.4 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enormous boot and flexible seating | Some rivals have longer new-car warranties |
| Affordable to buy and run | Seven-seat XL models are expensive |
| Sliding rear doors | Leans a lot when cornering |
If your family motto is ‘go big or go home’, the Citroen Berlingo is the car for you. Forget stylish pretensions; this is practicality in its purest, most boxy form. At its heart are two huge sliding doors that grant access to a cabin of frankly cavernous proportions. Available as a standard five-seater or a longer seven-seat 'XL' model, the Berlingo is designed to swallow everything a family can throw at it. The boot in the standard car is a whopping 775 litres, the XL expands that to 1,050 litres, and with the seats folded, both versions become veritable vans.
Despite its commercial vehicle origins, the Berlingo is a surprisingly pleasant companion for daily life. It prioritises comfort above all else, with soft suspension that soaks up bumps and a quiet cabin that keeps road and wind noise at bay. While it’s not built for B-road blasts, the engines are more than up to the task of hauling a full load. The 1.2-litre petrol is fine, but the 1.5-litre diesels are the real stars, offering effortless, punchy performance and excellent fuel economy. For maximum space-per-pound, the Berlingo is very hard to beat.
The CarGurus Verdict: "The Berlingo does a very impressive job of disguising its boxy, humble roots, both in the way it looks and how it drives. As well as being comfortable and surprisingly quiet, its muscular engines are able to pull substantial loads with very little drama." - Pete Tullin, contributor
Read our full Citroen Berlingo review
3. 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 5.0 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 26.1% Overall CarGurus rating: 4.3 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good to drive | Hugely expensive |
| Beautifully finished interior | Charging cables cost extra |
| Fantastic retro styling | There’s still no official camper version |
The ID. Buzz is all about practicality, and its sliding doors are a huge part of that appeal. They provide fantastic access to the rear seats, even in the tightest of parking spaces, which is a game-changer for families. Once inside, the sheer space is what clinches the deal. The standard-wheelbase model offers a van-like 1,121 litres of boot space with the seats up, and the flat floor means even the middle-seat passenger has plenty of room. It’s this combination of easy access and cavernous interior that makes it a standout choice.
Behind the wheel, the ID. Buzz feels special. The high-set driving position and large glass area give you that unmistakable ‘bus’ feeling, but in a very cool, modern way. It’s a serene and comfortable car to drive, soaking up bumps with ease and remaining impressively quiet, even for an EV. The standard 282bhp rear-mounted motor provides more than enough poke for everyday driving, making it a delightfully confident and well-controlled family vehicle that’s perfect for long trips or the school run.
The CarGurus Verdict: "The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a brilliant EV, and an even better lifestyle van or MPV. Given the space and versatility the ID. Buzz offers, as well as its style kudos and tech features, it makes a convincing case." - Vicky Parrott, contributing editor
Read our full Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
4. 2026 Mercedes-Benz V-Class
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.3 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 35.8% Overall CarGurus rating: 4.3 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent space and practicality | Ludicrously expensive compared with rivals |
| Lots of standard equipment | Smartphone integration costs you extra |
| Poshest-feeling car in the class | Lofty running costs, too |
Who says practicality can't be posh? The Mercedes-Benz V-Class takes the humble van-based people carrier and gives it a full-blown luxury makeover. Think of it less as a minibus and more as a first-class lounge on wheels, complete with whisper-quiet electric sliding doors on both sides. Available in two lengths, it can seat up to eight people in an environment that feels genuinely special, with high-quality materials and a sophisticated design that lifts it far above its rivals. Opt for the seven-seat configuration and you get two swivelling captain's chairs in the middle row, perfect for on-the-go business meetings or family card games.
The luxury treatment extends beyond the passenger area. The 1,030-litre boot is enormous even with all seats occupied, and a clever independently opening rear window means you can drop smaller items in without having to heave open the huge tailgate. Under the bonnet, the powerful diesel engines, particularly the V300d, provide smooth and surprisingly brisk performance, making long journeys feel effortless. The V-Class successfully proves that you can have van-like space and saloon-like luxury in one very desirable, if pricey, package.
The CarGurus Verdict: "In most ways, the V-Class is really good. It ferries its occupants in a comfortable yet controlled manner, it has acres of space for people and bags, it comes with plenty of luxury kit and it’s - by some considerable distance - the classiest-feeling vehicle of its type." - Ivan Aistrop, senior editor
Read our full Mercedes-Benz V-Class review
5. 2011-2019 Ford Grand C-Max
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.7 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 34.0% Overall CarGurus rating: 4.0 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fun to drive for an MPV | Pre-facelift cars feel a bit cheap inside |
| Practical and roomy cabin | Models with an auto gearbox have worse fuel economy |
| Grand C-Max has room for seven and sliding doors | Not as many driver aids as some more modern MPVs |
Here’s further proof from Ford that having kids doesn't mean you have to give up on driving fun. The Grand C-Max takes everything we love about the sharp-handling Focus and stretches it into a more family-friendly, seven-seat package. The ace up its sleeve over rivals like the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is a pair of sliding rear doors, which take all the stress out of getting kids buckled up in tight parking bays. The rearmost seats are best for children, but the flexibility they offer is a huge bonus for growing families.
So the real joy of the Grand C-Max is in the combination of those clever doors, and how it drives. It’s far more nimble and engaging than you’d expect an MPV to be, yet the ride remains comfortable and supple over bumpy British roads. It’s a fantastic compromise for the parent who needs practicality but still wants to enjoy their time behind the wheel. The 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is a great all-rounder, but those who regularly travel with a full car might prefer the extra pulling power of the 1.5-litre diesel. It’s a cracking used buy that offers a rare blend of practicality and driving pleasure.
The CarGurus Verdict: "If you need to transport your family and all their paraphernalia, but don’t want to sacrifice that feeling of excitement behind the wheel, then the C-Max is an excellent option." - Phill Tromans, contributor
Read our full Ford C-MAX review
6. 2010-2020 Seat Alhambra
CarGurus expert rating: 5 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 3.9 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 11.7% Overall CarGurus rating: 3.9 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fantastically practical | Some potential reliability issues |
| Sliding doors a real boon | Ford S-Max is better to drive |
| Surprisingly enjoyable to drive | Luggage space tight with all seven seats in place |
For a long time, the Seat Alhambra was the undisputed king of the full-size, seven-seat MPV. Why? Because it just gets family life. The huge sliding rear doors – which can be electrically operated on some models – are just the start of a design that’s packed with thoughtful touches. Unlike many so-called seven-seaters, the Alhambra (which is a sister car to the Volkswagen Sharan) can genuinely accommodate seven full-grown adults in comfort. And for those with younger children, the five Isofix child seat mounts across the back two rows make it one of the most accommodating cars on the market.
While boot space is understandably tight with all seven seats in use, folding the third row flat creates a generous 809-litre luggage area. Need to move a wardrobe? The second and third rows fold neatly into the floor to create a vast, van-like 2,430-litre space. This level of easy-to-use flexibility puts many modern SUVs to shame. It’s this combination of cavernous space, supreme accessibility, and family-focused details that makes the Alhambra such a compelling and popular used buy for those who need maximum practicality.
The CarGurus Verdict: "Practicality is what an MPV is all about, and the Alhambra is one of the cleverest used MPVs you can buy. There's plenty of space and, just as importantly, that space has been put to good use, with seats that slide, recline and fold away as required." - David Motton, contributor
Read our full Seat Alhambra review
7. 2026 Ford Tourneo Connect
CarGurus expert rating: 3 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.3 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 26.8% Overall CarGurus rating: 3.7 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hugely spacious | Not as good to drive as most Fords |
| Economical diesels great for high-mileage drivers | Interior feels a bit utilitarian |
| Well equipped | Plug-in hybrid is the only electrified version |
Let's be honest, the Ford Tourneo Connect isn't going to win any beauty contests. But when you're trying to load two kids, a dog, and a week's worth of holiday gear, do you care? What you will care about are its huge, practical sliding doors and the simply vast interior they grant access to. This is a car bought with the head, not the heart, and it excels at its job of being an ultra-practical family workhorse. Available in a standard five-seat layout or as the longer, seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect, it offers an almost unbeatable amount of space for the money.
The boxy shape pays dividends inside. The boot is immense, with the Grand Tourneo Connect offering a cathedral-like 3,105 litres of space with the rear two rows of seats folded away. That’s more than enough for any trip to the DIY store or for moving a student into their university digs. While this latest version is actually a Volkswagen Caddy in disguise, it still offers a comfortable ride and decent equipment levels. The supportive front seats even come with standard lumbar adjustment, making it a great companion for the long-haul family road trips it was built for.
The CarGurus Verdict: "The practical, boxy Tourneo Connect is family motoring in thoroughly sensible shoes: it does a great job of hauling a family and all its stuff around effectively and without fuss." - Matt Rigby, contributor
Read our full Ford Tourneo Connect review
8. 2026 Volkswagen Multivan
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 21.9% Overall CarGurus rating: 3.7 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Magnificently flexible interior | Relatively pricey |
| About as cool-looking as a van-shaped vehicle can get | Plug-in hybrid is heavy – which makes it thirsty |
| Car-like driving experience | Infotainment system is flawed |
Volkswagen has taken the iconic campervan formula and dragged it kicking and screaming into the 21st century with the Multivan. It’s got the cool factor of a classic VW bus but, because it’s based on the same platform as a VW Golf, it drives with a surprising level of agility and composure. Access to the super-slick and incredibly flexible interior is via electric sliding doors, opening up a world of possibilities. The five rear seats are lighter than before and slide on rails, allowing you to configure the cabin as a mobile lounge, a people-carrier, or remove them entirely to create a van.
This car-like feel is the Multivan’s biggest selling point. It feels much lighter on its feet than the old Caravelle it replaced, making it far less intimidating to drive and park. The engine range includes petrol, diesel, and a clever plug-in hybrid eHybrid model, which offers up to 56 miles of electric-only driving – perfect for the school run. It’s a hugely desirable and stylish take on the people-carrier, blending massive practicality with a genuinely premium and car-like driving experience.
The CarGurus Verdict: "The Multivan is trying very hard - and it largely succeeds - to be the best of both worlds. It’s got the space, practicality and flexibility of a van, like the Caravelle before it." - Phill Tromans, contributor
Read our full Volkswagen Multivan review
9. 2016-present Toyota Proace Verso
CarGurus expert rating: 3 out of 5 CarGurus user rating: 4.1 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 31.9% Overall CarGurus rating: 3.7 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Enormously practical | Infotainment feels very out of date |
| Very solidly built | Not cheap |
| Comfortable and easy to drive | Entry model misses some important safety kit |
The Toyota Proace Verso is a car you buy with your head, and your head will thank you for it. It shares its underpinnings with the Citroen Spacetourer and Peugeot Traveller, but adds a reassuring layer of Toyota dependability and a new-car warranty that’s hard to argue with. Naturally, practicality is king, with wide-aperture sliding doors providing easy access to the cavernous interior. Top-spec VIP models even get electric operation for an extra touch of convenience. With seating for up to nine people, it’s a brilliant solution for the largest of families.
The cabin is a masterclass in flexibility. The seats slide on rails to juggle passenger and luggage space, and even in its least spacious setup, the boot offers more room than most large estate cars. Another clever touch is the rear window, which opens independently from the main tailgate – a godsend in tight car parks. While the infotainment system feels a bit dated, the Proace Verso makes up for it with its solid build quality, comfortable ride, and the peace of mind that comes with the Toyota badge on the nose.
The CarGurus Verdict: "Practicality and versatility are the two areas in which any MPV needs to dazzle, and the Toyota Proace does just that. It’s also solidly made, pleasant to drive, and comes with a cracking warranty, making it a very capable carry-all." - Ivan Aistrop, senior editor
Read our full Toyota Proace Verso review
10. 2026 Volkswagen Caddy Life
CarGurus expert rating: 4 out of 5 Percentage of good/great deals available on CarGurus: 13.8% Overall CarGurus rating: 3.3 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Practical no-nonsense motoring | Entry-level model a bit spartan |
| Feels very car-like to drive | No hybrid or electric options |
| Huge boot, even in seven-seat models | Seating layout not as flexible as some equivalent SUVs |
Think of the VW Caddy Life as the sensible, smaller brother to the flashy Multivan. It packs an incredible amount of space into a more manageable footprint and, because it too shares its engineering with the VW Golf, it drives with a sophistication that belies its van origins. The no-nonsense sliding doors are your gateway to a hugely practical cabin, with a cavernous boot and the option of a seven-seat ‘Maxi’ version. Even with all seven seats in place, the Maxi offers a very useful 446 litres of luggage space.
Where the Caddy Life really shines is on the road. It feels stable, composed, and surprisingly refined, making it a far more car-like experience than its boxy shape might suggest. While the 1.5-litre petrol engine is up to the job, the torquey 2.0-litre diesel engines are a better match for a car designed to be loaded up with people and their belongings. Paired with the smooth DSG automatic gearbox, the 121bhp diesel makes for effortless progress. It’s a superb choice for those who want maximum space without driving something massive.
The CarGurus Verdict: "If you want the most space possible, without getting something massive, then the Volkswagen Caddy is well worth a look. The Caddy has an edge of interior quality over most of its rivals, and is better to drive, too." - Chris Knapman, editorial director
Read our full Volkswagen Caddy Life review
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are sliding doors better for families? Sliding doors are a game-changer for families. Their biggest advantage is in tight parking spaces, where they slide alongside the car rather than swinging out. This gives you a much wider opening to get children in and out of their seats without any risk of hitting the car parked next to you. It makes the daily routine of strapping kids in much less stressful.
Are cars with sliding doors less safe in a crash? No. This is a common concern, but modern cars with sliding doors are designed and tested to meet the same stringent safety standards as cars with conventional doors. Manufacturers use high-strength steel and reinforced structures to ensure the car's body remains rigid and protects occupants in the event of a side impact. The Ford B-Max, for example, cleverly integrated the central pillar into the doors to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Are there any downsides to sliding doors? While hugely practical, they can have a couple of minor downsides. They are typically heavier than conventional doors, which can make manual versions a little harder to open on a steep hill. Electric sliding doors, while convenient, add complexity and can be expensive to repair if the mechanism fails outside of warranty.
Can you get an SUV with sliding doors? Currently, there are no mainstream SUVs on sale in the UK with sliding doors. This feature is almost exclusively found on MPVs (Multi-Purpose Vehicles) and van-based people carriers. The closest you might get is something like the Peugeot e-Rifter or Citroen Berlingo, which have rugged, SUV-like styling but are fundamentally MPVs.
Are electric sliding doors reliable? Generally, yes. The technology has been around for many years and is well-proven. However, like any complex electrical component, they can fail. Problems are more likely to occur on older, higher-mileage vehicles. It's always worth checking their operation thoroughly when viewing a used car.
What is the best small car with sliding doors? For those who want the benefit of sliding doors in a compact, easy-to-park package, the Ford B-Max is the standout choice. Its unique pillarless design creates an incredibly wide opening, and because it's based on the fun-to-drive Fiesta, it's far more enjoyable from behind the wheel than you might expect.
What Makes CarGurus Best Cars Guides Different?
Most car buying websites publish lists of the best cars across a variety of categories, with recommendations generally driven by editorial expertise. Here's what makes our best cars guides different: we combine the insights and verdicts of our team of car-testing experts with other factors that we know matter to buyers - real owner experiences and current market value.
To that end, our expert reviewers come from some of the UK's most trusted automotive publications including What Car?, The Telegraph, Auto Trader, Electrifying.com, and Carbuyer. They put each car through real-world testing, and create detailed reviews noting performance in a range of categories, from practicality and driving manners, to running costs and reliability.
But we don't stop there when it comes to creating our best cars guides; we also analyse hundreds of thousands of used car listings on CarGurus UK to track which models consistently offer the highest percentage of best deals relative to how many are listed for sale. Then we factor in user reviews and ratings gathered on CarGurus to get feedback from people who actually live with these cars every day. Our best cars algorithm then creates a final Overall CarGurus rating that combines expert ratings, user reviews, and the percentage of listings on CarGurus UK rated as good or great deals. This three-way approach reveals not just which cars excel on paper, but which ones deliver satisfaction and value when you're ready to buy.
The CarGurus UK market data in this guide was last updated in December 2025. Values were accurate at time of publication and should be used as a guide only.
