Best MPVs for Motability 2024
MPVs offer some of the best accessibility, but this does tend to come at a higher cost
While there are loads of superminis and city cars on offer to Motability scheme members, you won't necessarily find the same nil advance payment deals on MPVs. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more up front, though, you can find some great cars.
As many customers have flocked to SUVs, the MPV market is a lot smaller than it used to be. The cars that do remain, though, still make a great case for themselves as practical and dependable family cars which offer top-notch accessibility. Thanks to advances in technology, many modern MPVs are far better to drive and much more luxurious to sit in than their predecessors, too – even the van-based ones.
Best MPVs for Motability 2024
What are the best MPVs available on Motability right now? Read on to find out.
Dacia Jogger
Our 2023 Family Car of the Year faces a bit of an identity crisis; at face value it’s something of a combination of MPV, SUV and estate car. Take another look at that mixture, though, and you’ll quickly realise that the Dacia Jogger is essentially a blend of three hugely-practical types of car. With seven-seats, up to 1,087 litres of cargo space, and even the option of a Sleep Pack including a roof-tent, the Jogger is one of the most versatile cars out there.
In typical Dacia fashion, the Jogger’s materials and design are very simplistic and budget-oriented, meaning there are few frills to be found. The upside, though, is that all the essentials are present. The entire lineup is fitted with air-conditioning, cruise control and parking sensors, and all but the base ‘Essential’ trim feature a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The materials aren’t particularly plush, but they should prove hard-wearing in the face of even the most rambunctious passengers.
Perhaps the biggest surprise up the Jogger’s sleeve is that it’s very engaging to drive for a car of its bulk. Sharing a platform with the Renault Clio supermini means that the Jogger is far more nimble than its looks would suggest – although it’s still a long way from being a Lotus. Underneath, there’s the choice of either a 1.0-litre petrol or 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain. Neither is particularly fast, and we found both engines feel a bit stretched at motorway speeds. The Hybrid is the more powerful of the two and will return better fuel economy.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
If you’re after an MPV but don’t fancy a model that’s based on a van, your choices are rather limited. One of the few options that you do have, though, is BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer. This is one of the more luxurious offerings on the dwindling MPV market, but it has a smaller stature than most of its rivals and only five seats. However, if you can live with fewer seats, you can enjoy a high level of build quality, a suite of useful technology and even a driving experience that’s befitting of an ‘ultimate driving machine’.
The plug-in hybrid 225e XDrive variant is the only 2 Series Active Tourer that’s currently available via the Motability scheme, but this version offers an impressive blend of performance and economy that’s rather unusual in its class. A 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds is a strong number for a people carrier, and the 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV is also surprisingly agile when faced with a corner. Not only is this probably the most fun you’re realistically going to get from a sensible family car, but with a claimed all-electric range of up to 54 miles, it should prove very economical to run, too.
Citroen Berlingo
The Berlingo majors on all the things that make a great MPV – brilliant passenger and boot space, low running costs and great value.
Most MPVs are designed with practicality at the forefront, but few others execute this thinking as well as the Berlingo. In every interior dimension, the Berlingo is huge: head, leg and shoulder room are vast, and there’s enough width to the second row that three child seats can be fitted across. The large sliding rear doors make it easy to get in, too.
A wide range of Berlingo variants are available via Motability. There’s the choice of petrol or diesel power, as well as manual or automatic gearboxes, or you could even opt for the all-electric E-Berlingo. This offers up to 175 miles of battery range on the WLTP combined cycle, so it should prove plenty for most day-to-day needs. Choosing petrol power will incur the lowest advance payment, though. Whichever version you choose, the Berlingo should prove easily accessible, hugely practical and easy to live with.
Lots of quality and even more seats, these are the best MPVs you can buy...
