MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles) have fallen out of favour with car buyers in recent years, and they now play second fiddle to SUVs and crossovers. While large SUVs often have seven seats, and sometimes the added ability to go off-road, MPVs – also known as people carriers – tend to be more spacious, more practical and more flexible, so for large families, an MPV is hard to beat as an affordable and roomy used car.
It’s easy enough to find a relatively new model with plenty of modern equipment and safety systems for £10,000, so here’s our pick of the best used MPVs at that price point.
Best Used MPVs Under £10,000 in 2024
- BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2014-2022)
- Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2018)
- Citroen Berlingo Multispace mk2 (2010-2017)
- Kia Carens mk3 (2013-2019)
- Ford S-Max mk1 (2006-2015)
- Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic (2011-2016)
- Seat Alhambra (2012-2020)
- Volkswagen Caravelle (1994-2005)
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2014-2022)
The first-generation BMW 2 Series was a car with a bit of aidentity crisis. The 2 Series range was based around the two-door coupe and convertible models, but it also contained a five-seat MPV called the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and a seven-seat people carrier called the 2 Series Gran Tourer. There were certainly more aspirational models in the 2 Series line-up, then, but for anyone after a premium MPV, the Gran Tourer should not be overlooked.
OK, so it’s somewhat frumpy to look at, and many models are front-wheel drive rather than having BMW's trademark rear-wheel-drive layout (the latter almost always makes for a more entertaining drive), but the 2 Series Gran Tourer still has a bit of dynamic sparkle. In the world of seven-seater MPVs, this is one of the best to drive.
The petrol and diesel engines offer strong performance, even with seven-people on board, while the automatic gearboxes are slick and smooth. For those who want the assurance of all-wheel drive the 2 Series is one of the few MPVs to offer it in the form of BMW's xDrive system.
Inside, you get BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment system, and build quality to match anything from Audi, Mercedes or Lexus. There are roomier seven-seat MPVs, in terms of both passenger space and luggage space, but the Gran Tourer doesn’t disgrace itself in this regard, so it’s an excellent family car. When the 2 Series was replaced by the second-generation model in 2022, the Active Tourer model was resurrected, but the Gran Tourer wasn’t, so you’ll be looking for one on the used car market only.
BMW 2 Series Review
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Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2018)
French automotive manufacturers have been fully invested in MPV cars since the Renault Espace first launched in the 1980s, and Citroen has long been one of the leaders in the MPV market. Its five-seat C4 Picasso and 7-seater C4 Grand Picasso (subsequently known as the C4 Spacetourer and Grand C4 Spacetourer) have proved very popular with British buyers, thanks in part to attractive exteriors and an equally stylish cabin, and they’re also practical, well made and well equipped.
Petrol engines in either version of the car are very rare indeed, and most used examples will be powered by one of the 1.6-litre HDi diesel units. These are available with a number of different power outputs, which were tweaked throughout the production run. Whatever the power available, fuel economy from this engine is always impressive, leaving the Picasso with low running costs.
Citroen C4 Picasso Review
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Review
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Citroen Berlingo Multispace mk2 (2010-2017)
MPVs based on commercial vehicles are not uncommon, and the Citroen Berlingo Multispace is a good example of how manufacturers adapt vans to become people carriers. The Berlingo Multispace is based on a van, but it also incorporates elements of Citroen and Peugeot passenger cars. The boxy shape affords it a great deal of boot space and it’s very practical; the high roofline creates a number of clever storage options, such as overhead shelves and a 50-litre locker above the boot.
The seats have a degree of flexibility – although not as much as some rival MPVs such as the Seat Alhambra – and they’re very comfortable. Don't expect anything too plush, though, because the hard-wearing materials reflect its commercial vehicle roots. A 2015 facelift updated much of the equipment, such as the infotainment system, so it’s worth looking at what’s fitted to the example you’re thinking of buying. Unsurprisingly, most used Berlingo Multispace models are powered by diesel engines, but they’re also about as aerodynamic as a brick wall, which takes the edge off fuel efficiency.
If for some reason you don’t fancy the Citroen version, Peugeot made equivalents called the Partner Combi and Partner Teepee, both of which were early equivalents of the current-day Peugeot Rifter.
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Kia Carens mk3 (2013-2019)
The seven-seat Carens is a great example of how Kia has increasingly defied its budget roots. Examples of the third-generation Carens, first launched in 2013, have now dipped below the £10,000 mark, which makes them a very promising proposition. This generation of the Carens is a lot more sophisticated than its predecessor, with a smart exterior and a practical interior.
It’s not what you’d call a riot to drive, but it isn’t unpleasant, courtesy of predictable handling and direct steering. The Carens is also covered by Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty, which is transferable from owner to owner – which dwarfs the three years of cover offered by rivals such as the Volkswagen Touran. Of the mainstream motoring manufacturers, it’s really only Hyundai and Toyota that can hold a candle to Kia in terms of warranty. Warranties on the earliest cars have now expired, but we’ve seen cars advertised for less than £10,000 that will still be covered for a year or so, which makes them particularly good buys.
Kia Carens Review
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Ford S-Max mk1 (2006-2015)
There’s been a longstanding joke that buying an MPV meant an end to driving a fun car, but it lost its punchline when the Ford S-Max was launched. It’s an MPV, but one that demonstrated how Ford could make any kind of car a hoot from behind the wheel, whatever its size. Launched at the same time as the Ford Galaxy in 2006, the S-Max was an MPV that perhaps wasn’t as practical as its sibling – the roofline was noticeably lower, for example, meaning less headroom in the back seats – but it more than made up for that in other areas.
It’s really well designed, with a solid, functional and attractive cabin, featuring technology that was pretty cutting edge at the time. It manages to scale up the handling abilities that make Ford’s hatchbacks – chiefly the Fiesta and the Focus – leaders of their respective classes for handling, while the diesel engines provide plenty of power. If your budget is lower and you can handle less space, then the smaller Ford C-Max people carrier is also worth a look.
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Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic (2011-2016)
Renault is arguably the daddy of the MPV sector, so its pair of people carriers – the five-seat Scenic and seven-seat Grand Scenic – deserve consideration. The Scenic models are particularly stylish – far more so than an equivalent Vauxhall Zafira – and for less than £10,000, you can find third-generation cars that are smart, comfortable and exceptionally well equipped.
Standard equipment includes satnav, air-conditioning, a big touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, LED running lights and keyless entry, with rear-seat passengers getting fold-out tables and sun blinds. The spacious interior, partially created by a high roof, means passengers in the first two rows have plenty of room. You can’t say the same for the third row of the Grand Scenic, but you can fold and slide the rear seats for greater flexibility. Diesel engines again constitute the vast majority of powertrains in used Scenics and Grand Scenics, and you can choose between 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre units, which should return more than 50mpg.
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Seat Alhambra (2012-2020)
It’s usually the Skoda brand that gets the most practical models that the Volkswagen Group has to offer, but not in this case. The Alhambra shares its platform with the Volkswagen Sharan, so many of the same mechanical parts are shared on both vehicles, but its blend of people-carrier practicality and a smart design makes it one of the best seven-seat MPVs on the market. For less than £10,000, you can pick up a four- or five-year-old Alhambra, which may include the later infotainment system with better smartphone compatibility.
The interior is incredibly flexible, with seats that slide, roll and fold into whatever configuration you need. There are petrol-engined versions of the Alhambra but they’re rare, as cars fitted with the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine were the popular choice among original buyers. The earlier models had 138bhp or 168bhp, while post-2015 facelifted cars increased power to 148bhp and 181bhp, respectively, but they all offer punchy performance and good fuel economy. Rear sliding doors make it even more practical than the competition.
Seat Alhambra Review
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Volkswagen Caravelle (1994-2005)
The passenger version of the Volkswagen Caravelle van can seat up to eight people, so you get more chairs for your money. The seats and benches can also be turned around, folded and even removed completely, depending on what the vehicle is being used for, while sliding rear doors mean access is a doddle, even in a tight parking space.
It’s also comfortable and easy to drive, once you get used to its lofty dimensions. The bad news is that Caravelles are in so much demand on the used market that, for £10,000, you’re looking at a vehicle that is at least 15 years old, so it’s far from being a new car and won’t have some of the mod cons you’ll find in more recent cars. Mileages are likely to be in six figures, with many having racked up 200,000 miles. That said, Caravelles are in such demand for several good reasons, including practicality, flexibility, build quality and equipment levels.
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