Best people carriers and MPVs to buy 2026
These people carriers and MPVs are loaded with family-friendly features and acres of space
Multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) and people carriers have fallen out of fashion in recent years, with buyers preferring SUVs, but nothing can quite beat them for the space or sheer versatility they offer.
The number of available options on the new car-market isn’t as big as it once was, but the very best MPVs and people carriers combine space, family-friendly features and value for money to make family life that little bit easier.
There’s an MPV or people carrier out there to suit nearly every budget, from the wallet-friendly Dacia Jogger all the way through to the luxurious Lexus LM. If you’re ready to make the switch to electrified motoring, there’s also a good selection of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric MPVs and people carriers on the market, too.
Our expert road testers have driven every MPV and people carrier you can buy, and we’ve picked out the very best MPVs and people carriers below.
Compare the best people carriers and MPVs
| Best MPVs and people carrier ranking | Model | Prices from | Overall Auto Express star rating (out of 5) | Boot space from |
| 1. | Dacia Jogger | £18,995 | 4.5 | 160 litres |
| 2. | Citroen Berlingo/ Peugeot Rifter/ Toyota Proace City Verso/ Vauxhall Combo Life | £23,915 | 4.5 | 775 litres |
| 3. | Ford Tourneo Custom | £58,213 | 4.5 | 632 litres |
| 4. | Volkswagen Multivan | £50,633 | 4.0 | 469 litres |
| 5. | Ford Tourneo Connect | £34,620 | 4.0 | 1,213 litres |
| 6. | Volkswagen ID. Buzz | £60,005 | 4.5 | 1,121 litres |
| 7. | Kia PV5 | £32,995 | 4.5 | 1,320 litres |
| 8. | Toyota Proace Verso /Citroen SpaceTourer/Peugeot Traveller/Vauxhall Vivaro Life | £45,895 | 4.0 | 224 litres |
| 9. | Lexus LM | £94,595 | 3.5 | 110 litres |
| 10. | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer | £36,110 | 4.0 | 406 litres |
Keep reading to find out about the very best people carriers and MPVs in the UK. Alternatively, you can also click the links in our table to jump directly to a specific model..
1. Dacia Jogger
Need a seven-seat car but on a tight budget? The Dacia Jogger could be the perfect option.
- Prices from £18,995
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The Dacia Jogger is literally a lot of car for little money. Not only does it follow the Romanian brand’s popular approach of simplicity and low cost, but it’s also slightly unusual in that it blends MPV, small SUV and estate car attributes into one neat package.
The Jogger is a relatively compact car on the outside, but it is huge on the inside. Boot space is very generous, even when all seven-seats are in place, at 160 litres expanding to a van-like maximum of 1,807 litres of luggage space when all seats are folded down. There’s also plenty of storage cubbies dotted around the cabin.
On the road, it’s surprisingly nimble to drive and overall visibility is great. What makes the Jogger stand out against its rivals is that you really can use it as a seven-seat car regularly, with even taller adults being able to fit in the third row which is great if you need to make use of all the available space.
This definitely isn’t bad for a model that starts from around £19,000, and things get even better when you consider that the cabin comes with essentials such as air-conditioning, cruise control and smartphone connectivity as standard.
“One appealing aspect of the Jogger is that it feels just like a supermini to drive. Some people might be more intimidated by larger van-derived people carriers because of their size and boxy proportions, but with the Dacia, there aren’t any issues like that.” - Dean Gibson, senior road test editor.
- Who will like it: People who want a practical seven-seat car on a budget.
- Who won’t like it: The low Euro NCAP safety rating might put some off.
2. Citroen Berlingo/ Peugeot Rifter/ Toyota Proace City Verso/ Vauxhall Combo Life
If you value space and versatility from a people carrier, then the compact MPV range from Stellantis could be right up your street.
- Prices from £23,915
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Stellantis is a big player in the MPV world, and it has four closely-related contenders hoping to grab your attention: the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Rifter, Toyota Proace City Verso and Vauxhall Combo Life. All of these MPVs are essentially the same vehicle, so choosing between them will probably come down to the finance deal you can get, your closest dealership or any brand loyalty you might have.
Our current favourite of the bunch is the Citroen Berlingo. The original Berlingo managed to make the idea of a van-based family car rather appealing when it first arrived badged as the Berlingo Multispace. And today the latest model still offers plenty of practicality for a decent price.
While the fundamentals, such as space and low running costs, are more or less the same, we think the current Berlingo is better to drive than its predecessors, and in the top-spec car, you benefit from Citroen’s Advanced Comfort front seats which really are supportive and comfy on long journeys.
It can get a bit noisy on the move, but opting for the all-electric e-Berlingo helps to improve things. Citroen claims the e-Berlingo can go up to 206 miles WLTP on a single charge, so should be more than enough for most people day-to-day.
Whichever version of the Berlingo you choose, you’ll find a spacious 775-litre boot in the five-seat Berlingo’s in place, or 1,050 in the seven-seat XL. Perhaps even more useful are the numerous storage cubbies around the cabin. There’s a vast amount of room for every passenger, too.
“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 its width. The large sliding rear doors make it easy to get in, too.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.
- Who will like it: Anyone who’s after a no-nonsense MPV with acres of space.
- Who won’t like it: The van-like nature of the Berlingo might not be to everyone’s taste.
3. Ford Tourneo Custom
Want a van-based MPV with a car-like driving experience? The Ford Tourneo Custom is one of the best.
- Prices from £58,213
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When it comes to MPVs and people carriers, there’s plenty of choice for those seeking five and seven-seat options. While this is great for most people, larger families might feel like they’re being left out. The Ford Tourneo Custom can come to the rescue as it’s available with up to nine seats.
The Tourneo Custom might seem a little on the pricey side compared to other MPVs on this list, but if you need an eight or nine-seat car it really is one of the best options on the market. Not only is it hugely practical, with 632 litres worth of boot space when all nine seats are in place, the Ford also hides its van roots well. It’s quiet on the move and as refined as any car-based MPV.
Opt for the base Trend trim and you’ll get a generous amount of kit including LED headlights, a 10-speaker audio system, Ford’s 13-inch SYNC 4 infotainment system and automatic climate control.
“The seats now come on sliding rails (they were fixed in place in the last Tourneo Custom) so there is a wider range of configurations on offer, and all the chairs are removable, with four out of six being individual seats” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
- Who will like it: People who need more than seven-seats who value an engaging drive.
- Who won’t like it: The Tourneo Custom is over two metres wide, so some people might find it difficult to navigate down narrow streets.
4. Volkswagen Multivan
Volkswagen has a reputation for creating high-quality, dependable family cars and the Multivan is no different.
- Prices from £50,633
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While the Volkswagen ID. Buzz marked the introduction of fully electric power to VW’s MPV line-up for the first time, the Multivan offers more variety with its petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options.
As you can tell by its appearance, as well as its name, this seven-seater is shaped like a medium panel van, so there’s plenty of room inside. With all seven seats in place, the boot capacity is quoted at 469 litres, which is about 90 litres more than you’ll find in the Volkswagen Golf. If you plan on using all seven seats regularly, we recommend opting for the long-wheelbase version, because the boot space increases to a roomier 763 litres.
The best bit about the Multivan, though, is that it does a surprisingly good job of hiding its commercial physique. When we first tested the Multivan, we found it to be refined, very car-like to drive, and especially comfortable over a long-distance cruise. We did find the large cabin can act as an echo chamber for road noise, though.
“The major attraction of any van-based MPV is versatility, and the Multivan combines this with the premium appeal of VW’s passenger cars. The interior looks great, but the tricky infotainment menu system and touch-sensitive controls are still frustrating to use.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
- Who will like it: If you plan on doing a lot of long-distance driving, the Multivan excels.
- Who won’t like it: People who want an engaging driving experience or aren’t confident driving a larger vehicle.
Latest Volkswagen Multivan deals
5. Ford Tourneo Connect
The Ford Tourneo Connect is a great van-based MPV that’s good value-for-money.
- Prices from £33,820
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Available in five or seven-seat form, the current Ford Tourneo Connect is a result of Ford and Volkswagen’s recent partnership. It shares plenty with the Volkswagen Caddy van in terms of styling and technology, but opt for the Tourneo Connect and you’ll get better value for money, with more in-car kit fitted as standard.
The tech and design aren’t the only things to come from VW, either, because you’ll find plenty of Germanic influence inside – in the 10-inch screen and 10.25-inch driver’s display using Volkswagen’s infotainment system. Plus, it should be practical enough for most families, with the short-wheelbase model providing a maximum carrying capacity of 2,600 litres, increasing to 3,100 litres in the long-wheelbase variant.
“Being a van-based MPV means the Tourneo Connect can’t really avoid favouring function over form. However, the Active trim does at least try to spice things up with a number of rugged additions, giving the car an ‘outdoors adventure’ character.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
- Who will like it: People who like the Volkswagen Caddy van but want better value-for-money.
- Who won’t like it: Those who get annoyed by fiddly on-board tech.
Latest Ford Tourneo Connect deals
6. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is proof that MPVs can be both functional and stylish at the same time.
- Prices from £60,005
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The Volkswagen ID. Buzz can be thought of as a modern-day interpretation of the legendary Type 2 Kombi, so it’s definitely a head-turner. More importantly, though, it’s also one of Volkswagen’s best all-electric models to date.
Volkswagen has focused particular attention on maximising the amount of space inside the ID. Buzz, while keeping the large battery pack from being too intrusive.
This effort has paid off because there’s plenty of room for up to seven passengers, along with a number of cleverly designed storage areas. In five-seat form there’s up to 1,121 litres of space, so plenty of room for luggage. You need to be careful when opening the bootlid though, because it’s very large and electrically operated, so it could easily clatter into something when opening.
The 79kWh battery should also deliver a range of up to 283 miles, according to the WLTP cycle. When we had an ID. Buzz on our test fleet, we found it to be reasonably efficient; it returned 2.5 miles per kWh, which was impressive considering we took it on a long-distance European road trip during the cold winter months, as well as its brick-like shape.
“Heading back up the M20, another Lime Yellow Buzz drew alongside, a little girl waving from the passenger seat at her car’s twin. You don’t get that in regular models, and that’s one reason that I’m still so fond of the Buzz.” - Paul Barker, Editor.
- Who will like it: People who want some style from their practical MPV.
- Who won’t like it: Cost-sensitive buyers will prefer one of the cheaper options.
Latest Volkswagen ID.Buzz deals
7. Kia PV5 Passenger
If you thought SUVs were about to wipe out the MPV class, the Kia PV5 shows there’s still life in the humble people carrier.
- Prices from £32,995
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The Kia PV5 Passenger might look like it has come straight out of a sci-fi film, but it is an incredibly accomplished MPV that should slot into family life well.
Kia’s track record of making high-quality, practical family cars has clearly helped the South Korean brand when it comes to this boxy MPV offering. The PV5 is currently available as a five-seater, but a seven-seat layout is on the way.
Whichever version of the PV5 you opt for, you won’t exactly be short-changed on space. The rear of the cabin is incredibly airy and with 1,310 litres in the boot, it easily betters rivals like the Volkswagen ID.Buzz by almost 200 litres.
The PV5 feels well screwed together and most of the materials used feel high-quality. Some interior trim pieces do feel a bit on the cheap side, although this is something we can easily look past considering the price and the strong battery range.
Speaking of range, the 51kWh battery pack allows the PV5 to cover up to 183 miles on a single charge, which should prove plenty for day-to-day family duties. We would recommend you upgrade to the 71kWh pack if possible, as it can do 256 miles on a single charge and is only an extra £5,000.
“The Kia PV5 is remarkably car-like to drive. Sure, it’s big and boxy, but you sit high and the view out is excellent. Comfort and refinement are also very good for a vehicle such as this.” - Richard Ingram, deputy editor
- Who will like it: The PV5 should appeal to those who want the maximum space for their money.
- Who won’t like it: The space-age looks might be a bit too much for some people.
8. Toyota Proace Verso/ Citroen SpaceTourer/ Peugeot Traveller/ Vauxhall Vivaro
The mid-size van-based MPVs from Stellantis provide a breadth of choice at different price points.
- Prices from £45,895
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It may look like a vehicle that your parcels are delivered in, but the Toyota Proace Verso is worth considering if you need an awful lot of space or seats.
Seven-seat versions get two rear-facing seats, like a taxi, while you can have up to nine seats for minibus use or really big families. Fold a couple of seats down and you’ll have an enormous boot to work with, with up to 4,000 litres on offer if you don’t need to use the space for passengers.
Van designs are often shared between multiple brands, so the Proace Verso uses the same underpinnings and most of the same styling as the Citroen SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro Life and Peugeot Traveller. The Toyota is our personal favourite because if you get the Proace Verso serviced at a Toyota main- or approved dealership, you can extend the warranty by one year, or 10,000-miles up to 100,000 miles or ten years in total.
“The driving position is high by MPV standards, but it gives good all-round visibility. There’s also lots of adjustment in the driving position so it’s far from an intimidating car to drive.” Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
- Who will like it: People looking for a tough people carrier that’s cheap to run.
- Who won’t like it: The utilitarian feel both inside and out might be a deal breaker.
Latest Toyota Proace Verso deals
9. Lexus LM
The Lexus LM shows that MPVs and people carriers can be both practical and luxurious.
- Prices from £94,595
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Just when we thought the luxury SUV had all but killed off the MPV, Lexus unveiled the LM. If you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford the starting price of well over £90,000, this big Lexus is one of the poshest people carriers that you can buy.
Step inside the LM Takumi and you’ll find swathes of leather and soft-touch materials, while in the back there are two fully reclining, massaging seats and an enormous 48-inch screen. There’s also a divide between you and those in front for complete peace and quiet.
The 2.5-litre Toyota-sourced hybrid powertrain is effortlessly smooth and quiet, too. If we’re honest, this isn’t exactly the most family-friendly MPV on the market — or even on this list — but it’s certainly one of the finer ways to travel on four wheels with multiple passengers.
There’s the choice of a somewhat sensible seven-seater or a range-topping Takumi version with just four seats. Opt for the latter and your rear passengers will be living the high life.
“At urban speeds, the hybrid drivetrain is hushed if you take things easy. There’s virtual silence when coasting or on light throttle openings as the electric motor does the work, while there’s a distant hum from the petrol engine when it’s active.” - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
- Who will like it: Those who want to drive or be driven around in luxury.
- Who won’t like it: The near £100,000 price tag means it might be out of reach for most MPV buyers.
10. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Space and practicality are a must in an MPV, but the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer also serves up plenty of driving thrills.
- Prices from £36,110
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If you’re stuck with the quandary of wanting a reasonably sporty car but needing something sensible for the family, BMW might have the answer in the form of its 2 Series Active Tourer.
Even the least-powerful 225e version will accelerate from 0-62mph in a brisk 5.5 seconds thanks to its plug-in hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive. You also get a desirable badge.
When it comes to carrying your loved ones, the 2 Series Active Tourer is exclusively available as a five-seater. Inside, there is plenty of room and the overall level of build quality is very high.
There are a number of useful storage cubbies at your disposal, too, along with a 406-litre boot. The Active Tourer is fitted with BMW’s twin-screen dashboard, featuring the latest version of the firm’s iDrive software, which looks sharp and is easy to use.
“The Active Tourer handles more sharply than you’d expect from looking at it. Body control is composed; it turns into corners keenly, and there’s plenty of grip. The ride remains reasonably smooth on standard suspension and 17-inch wheels. Your passengers will thank you for doing so because they won’t feel unduly thrown about.” - Max Adams, online reviews editor.
- Who will like it: If driving engagement is just as important as practicality, the 2 Series Active Tourer can’t really be beaten.
- Who won’t like it: Anyone who needs a car with more than five-seats.
Latest BMW 2 Series Active Tourer deals
How to choose the best people carrier and MPV
The choice of people carriers and MPVs facing a family car buyer isn’t as broad as it once was, but the models that are on offer are hugely capable and versatile, especially if you need to ferry lots of people around.
However, there are a few key things to consider when building your shortlist…
How many seats do you need?
When choosing a people carrier or MPV, the first thing you need to consider is how many seats you might need.
If you never have a full car and only carry a maximum of four passengers, then a five-seat MPV is probably the best choice for you. This is because five-seat MPVs and people carriers generally have more legroom in the rear and a larger boot, because it isn’t taken up by an additional row of seats.
Seven-seat cars where the third row can be folded into the boot floor are great options if you need to transport more people occasionally. But these seats are best reserved for children because they can be quite tight and cramped and boot space suffers.
If you regularly carry more passengers, then it might be worth considering some of the van-based MPVs that have dedicated seating.
Is the boot space big enough?
MPVs and people carriers tend to be boxy in shape, which is great if you need to fit bulky luggage and large weekly shops in the back, but cars with seven or more seats might have smaller boots as a result of the extra seating.
If you have a large family, take them, as well as accompanying items like child seats, pushchairs and shopping bags, when test driving a car. This way you’ll be able to visualise and see how a potential purchase would withstand day-to-day family life.
Other features to consider
If you’ve come to the conclusion that an MPV or people carrier is the perfect workhorse for you, consider which features will be most useful.
Many cars come with the option of pop-up tables, window blinds, rear cup-holders and USB charging ports, which could all come in useful on longer drives or breaks away.
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