Kia Sedona 2.9 CRDi

As long as you aren’t bothered about badge kudos, the Kia could be the ultimate space saver, because even the range-topping seven-seat LE costs very little used. At 4.9 metres, it’s longer than the Renault Grand Espace, and boasts a mix of swivelling and folding seats, plus a rear bench which slides according to how much leg/luggage room you need. With everything folded, the boot area swells to a mammoth 3,616 litres. Equipment is generous, with air-con, alloy wheels and ABS on most models. The SE gains leather trim and the LE sat-nav and parking sensors – the latter a particularly useful feature on a vehicle this size.

The quad-cam 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine’s relaxed power delivery suits the Sedona’s laid-back feel, but the common-sense option is the 143bhp 2.9 CRDi common-rail diesel, which can do 36.2mpg – very impressive for something this big. The 0-60mph benchmark takes a full 15.5 seconds, but with an auto gearbox (a £500 option) and soft suspension, it will be comfortable.

Kia’s build quality is quite good, so there will be few worries reliability wise. However, check the auto box shifts smoothly, and stay clear of low-spec examples. Undoubtedly, the Korean’s trump card is its price. Being a fraction of the cost of its posh rivals new, it’s even more spectacular value used. Glass’s Guide says buyers should expect to pay as little as £4,000 for a 51-plate 2.9 CRDi SE auto on a
forecourt, while only £4,275 will be enough to get a 53-plate LE model privately.