If practicality and versatility are your priorities, you can't beat an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), also known as a people carrier. Roomy cabins, clever storage solutions, and flexible seating options mark out people carriers as just about the most family-friendly cars around. With space for five-, six-, seven- or even more inside, MPVs or people carriers are ideal if you need to get lots of people from A-to-B, and they're generally cheaper to buy and run than an SUV. Here's our rundown of the best people carriers out there, including links to our expert car reviews for each. Plus, you can search for great deals on all our chosen cars, all at once, right here.
Best MPVs and People Carriers 2024
- BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2014-2021)
- Citroen Grand C4 Picasso / Grand C4 Spacetourer (2013-2022)
- Ford S-Max (2015-)
- Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2019-)
- Peugeot Rifter (2018-)
- Renault Grand Scenic (2016-2020)
- Seat Alhambra (2010-2020)
- Toyota Proace Verso (2017-)
- Vauxhall Combo Life (2018-)
- Volkswagen Touran (2015-)
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2014-2021)
BMW upset the purists with the 2 Series Gran Tourer. Like the five-seat BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, this model sends power to the front wheels, whereas BMW is renowned for the handling of its rear-wheel drive cars. But if you're more interested in practicality than steering feel and hard cornering, whether the seven-seat Gran Tourer is front-, rear-, or even four-wheel drive won't make a blind bit of difference to your everyday driving experience.
And although the Gran Tourer doesn't please BMW fanatics, it still handles well despite driving the 'wrong' wheels. What's more, the 2 Series rides quite comfortably so long as you avoid examples with really large alloy wheels. In fact, as far as MPV cars go, this is one of the best for driver enjoyment.
Inside, the Gran Tourer is roomy for five, but a little snug for seven. The folding third row of seats is best kept for kids or emergencies. With the third row stowed in the floor, there's lots of boot space for a family holiday.
There's a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines to choose between. The 220d diesel would be our pick for its blend of brisk performance and fuel economy. You can expect MPG figures in the 50s or even 60s if you drive carefully. For a premium car, it's affordable to buy as well as to run.
BMW 2 Series Review
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Citroen Grand C4 Picasso / Grand C4 Spacetourer (2013-2022)
The French know a thing or two about people carriers. Cars like the Renault Espace were around at the beginning of the MPV trend, and the Citroen Picasso wasn't far behind. While the original Picasso may have gone off sale years ago, its descendants still fly the tricolore for French MPVs. The Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer (formerly known as the Grand C4 Picasso) is the finest example. Few people carriers look as good inside and out as the Citroen.
There's real substance behind the style, with lots of storage, a flexible cabin layout, and plenty of space. Seven can travel comfortably so long as the rearmost seats are reserved for children, and five adults can be accommodated with ease. With every seat upright, boot space is on the tight side, but with five seats in place the boot is huge, easily large enough for a family holiday.
A broad choice of petrol and diesel engines have been offered over the years. For a low daily mileage we'd go for a petrol, but for regular long drives a diesel is better, especially if the car is fully loaded with passengers and bags.
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Review
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Ford S-Max (2015-)
Bringing up a family can be tough. You owe it to yourself to have a little fun sometimes, and if you enjoy driving, the Ford S-Max obliges. Yes, you can buy people carriers with roomier third-row seating, and there are MPVs with more luggage space, but none are as much fun to drive as the S-Max. The steering is accurate, the suspension firmly controlled, and the S-Max is more agile than any rival.
That wouldn't count for a lot if the S-Max didn't deliver the practicality and functionality you'd expect of a seven-seat MPV, but this is a spacious and versatile family car. All three of the individual middle-row seats have Isofix mounting points for child seats, and all five of the second- and third-row seats can fold away into the floor when not needed, so there are lots of seating configurations to choose from.
It's tempting to recommend the 237bhp twin-turbo diesel, which makes the S-Max a very swift car. But the 178bhp diesel is more than adequate in performance terms, but with better mpg figures than the twin-turbo. If you're buying a new S-Max, however, it's only available with a 187bhp hybrid powertrain that is pretty economical and quiet, but isn't quite as well suited to hauling people as the older diesel.
Ford S-Max Review
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Mercedes-Benz B-Class (2019-)
Is the Mercedes B-Class a true MPV? Or is it a really practical family hatchback? Well, the rear seats don't necessarily perform as many tricks as those in other people carriers like the bigger (and vastly more expensive) V-Class, but the latest B-Class is certainly a very fine family car. You can buy MPVs with roomier cabins for less, but they won't have the stunning design or plush finish of the B-Class. It really is a very pleasant place to spend time, whether you are a driver or passenger. The dashboard is dominated by the twin-screen MBUX touchscreen infotainment system. It can be a bit daunting at first, but it's worth persevering with as it's a very clever bit of kit. In the back of the car, there's enough space for adults and the seats split 40/20/40. Boot space is good rather than great, though.
The B-Class is one of the safest MPVs you can buy. It has a five-star rating from Euro NCAP, with an excellent score of 96% for adult occupant protection. Which engine is best? If the budget stretches far enough, the B250e plug-in hybrid is very economical, but otherwise we'd choose the B200d diesel.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Review
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Peugeot Rifter (2018-)
Van-based MPVs like the Peugeot Rifter and Citroen Berlingo don't appeal to the fashion-conscious. Peugeot has tried to address this with some SUV styling cues. Full marks for trying, but really the Rifter is all about interior space and practicality. Being based on a small van is no bad thing if you want lots of space in a small package. There's lots of room for five passengers and huge amount of luggage capacity.
The Rifter is a surprisingly pleasant car to drive. Clearly, it's not going to be fun or nippy like a Mini or a Fiat 500, but if you value a comfortable ride there's plenty to like. If you're buying new, the Rifter comes with a zero-emissions electric motor (badged e-Rifter, and a Citroen e-Berlingo is offered as well) and a range of up to 172 miles. If you’re one of those people for whom electric cars won’t work, there are plenty of older examples available on the used market with a choice of efficient PureTech petrol engines and frugal BlueHDi diesels, both of which suit the Rifter very well. As a broad guide for which to choose, the petrol plays the value-for-money card, but the diesels are better for high-mileage driving.
Safety isn't always a strong point for this style of people carrier, but the Rifter has a respectable four-star rating from Euro NCAP. And whether you are considering the Rifter as a new or a used car, it's keenly priced. In fact, if you don't mind a car that's covered a lot of miles you can pick one up for less than the cost of a brand new supermini.
Peugeot Rifter Review
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Renault Grand Scenic (2016-2020)
The first-generation Renault Scenic was ground-breaking when it arrived in 1996. The five-seat MPV template it established has been much copied since. The Grand Scenic added an extra row of seats when it arrived in 2003, making it even better for large families. As SUVs have rocketed in popularity, the Scenic has gone from hero to zero in the UK market, with the five-seat car going off sale in 2019 and the Grand Scenic dropped from the range in 2020. But just because it's no longer on sale as a new car, it doesn't mean you should avoid buying a used example.
There's lots of space in the first two rows of seats, and the large glass area gives an airy feel to the cabin. Space in the third row is tighter, but it's fine for kids.
Buyers have the choice of petrol or diesel power. We'd steer you in the direction of one of the diesels, which return excellent real-world MPG figures. The 1.5 dCi diesel should be capable of 50mpg or better. For a similar take on a great value seven-seat MPV, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is worth considering, too.
Renault Grand Scenic Review
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Seat Alhambra (2010-2020)
If you don't mind a car that's covered 100,000 miles or more, you can pick up a Seat Alhambra for around £6,000 or so. You'll be getting a lot of car for your money. This is a big seven-seater, with space for adults in seats six and seven, although the knees-up seating position won't be very comfortable on a long journey. On the plus side, the sliding doors make it easy to get in and out, and the middle seats move out of the way so it doesn't take too much athleticism to reach the third row.
The Alhambra was sold with a variety of TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines throughout its decade on sale. We'd go for one of the diesels for better economy and stronger performance when loaded up with people and luggage.
Talking of luggage, boot space is relatively tight with all seven seats upright, but huge with the third row folded away in the floor. The big Seat is good to drive as well as practical, with tidy handling and a firm but comfortable ride.
Seat Alhambra Review
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Toyota Proace Verso (2017-)
There are large MPVs, and then there's the Toyota Proace Verso. It makes the likes of the Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan look small. Like the Citroen SpaceTourer and Peugeot Traveller, which are similar vehicles under the skin, the Proace Verso is all about space and practicality. It's based on a commercial vehicle, and you can tell that from its upright shape and slab-sided appearance. But while the Verso won't win any beauty pageants, it's a very practical people carrier.
Inside, the massive cabin has space for up to nine in three rows, depending on the seating configuration specified. Those seats can't be folded away though; you'll have to remove them completely to maximise luggage space. However, as there's generous luggage space even with all three rows in place, that shouldn't really be a problem.
And don't think the spec is stingy just because the Proace Verso is based on a van. Pick the VIP trim and standard equipment includes a head-up display, sat-nav, adaptive cruise control and massaging front seats. Of course, there are downsides to running a car this big. Fuel bills will be steep compared with a smaller and lighter MPVs, and on-street parking will require a large space.
Toyota Proace Verso Review
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Vauxhall Combo Life (2018-)
If we all chose cars using rational criteria, there would be a lot more people carriers like the Vauxhall Combo Life on the roads. It's a thoroughly sensible, practical car. The upright driving position is comfy on long journeys, and there's plenty of head- and legroom in the first and second rows. It's a shame the interior isn't better finished, though. Five- and seven-seat versions are available, as well as the long-wheelbase XL. We'd certainly recommend the XL to anyone needing a third row of seats, but for travelling with five, the standard-length Combo Life is fine. Sticking with just two rows of seats helps with luggage space; there's loads of room for bags in the five-seater.
The Combo Life is great value as well as spacious. It's a cheap car if you are looking to buy new (and now comes exclusively with electric power), but loses its value quite quickly on the used market. That makes it an even better buy second-hand. You can pick up a two-year-old example for similar money to a brand new city car, and we know which one will cope better with family life.
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Volkswagen Touran (2015-)
The Volkswagen Touran is one of those cars that does almost everything well and nothing badly. You want practicality and space for seven? The Touran has you covered. It's very roomy in the first two rows, and seats six and seven aren't too cramped considering the Touran's compact size, so you can carry seven people without having to upgrade to the bigger and more expensive Volkswagen Multivan. Boot space is predictably meagre with all three rows of seats upright, but much more family-friendly with the rearmost seats folded away.
You want a people carrier that's good to drive? Well, you'll have more fun in a Ford S-Max, but the Touran strikes a well-judged balance between taut handling and ride comfort. It certainly doesn't feel at all cumbersome; it drives much like a VW Golf.
You want an MPV that's affordable to buy and run? Well, you often pay a bit more for a car with a VW badge, but since MPVs aren't as popular as they used to be you can pick up a Touran at a keen price on the used market. Ignore fashion a second time, and go for a diesel rather than a petrol, and you'll benefit from excellent MPG figures.
Volkswagen Touran Review
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Related Topics:
Best Family Cars What is an MPV or People Carrier? Best People Carrier Van-Based MPVs