Currently reading: Top 10 best MPVs and people carriers 2024
The best way to haul people and cargo is still with an MPV. These are the best ones currently on sale

Fashion and function are not always the happiest bedfellows – you only need to look at MPVs to see that.

Despite being among the most versatile and practical machines on the road (MPV means ‘multi-purpose vehicle’, after all), people carriers have had an unhappy lot recently.

With SUVs continuing to surge ahead in the sales charts, worthy people carriers are falling by the wayside as buyers clamour for street cred and a little ‘lifestyle’ sparkle instead.

In the past few years we've lost the Ford S-Max, Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Sharan to name but a few. Yet despite becoming marginalised, the MPV hasn’t slipped into obscurity just yet.

Moreover, for many large families with busy schedules, there’s still no substitute for these rational and thoughtfully designed models that put people and practicality at the heart of what they do.

Thanks to an extremely efficient use of space, they usually offer more value than vehicles with a similar footprint. They also tend to be packed with surprise-and-delight features that take the stress out of transporting families.

Traditionally MPVs are seen as seven-seaters, but the sector also includes five-seat models, and some even go up to nine seats. That's perfect for those who never need to carry extra passengers but do want the space and thoughtful design.

Increasingly, the class is seeing the arrival of van-based models, their boxy bodies and no-nonsense engineering making them the ultimate utilitarian family holdalls.

But which are the best? Here's our top 10 MPVs and people carriers…

1. Dacia Jogger

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The cost of living crisis isn’t getting any easier for families, which is why the existence of the Dacia Jogger is great news for buyers on a budget.

A genuine seven-seat family car you can buy for less than £15,000, the Romanian people carrier truly is a car for our times. Yet there’s so much more to this versatile machine than its bargain basement price.

Sure, the Jogger isn't the biggest, cleverest or most versatile car in its class, but once you get down to brass tacks you’ll discover that it’s arguably all the car your growing brood really needs.

It offers five decent-sized seats and a couple of more kiddy-sized ones in the boot, but the latter can easily be lifted out entirely when you've got big loads to carry.

Others are more glamorous, faster and offer greater technological gewgaws, yet drive the Jogger and you’ll realise that you don’t need any of these extras. In fact, you’re arguably better off without them.

The Jogger shares its model platform with the Dacia Sandero supermini (which in turn is based on the latest Renault Clio) as well as its 1.0-litre, 109bhp petrol engine.

Outright performance is pretty modest but also more than adequate, the thrummy three-cylinder delivering reasonable torque for mid-range hauling, while a tall top gear serves up economical long-distance driving.

Its bubbly energy takes a hit when you’re seven-up and fully loaded, but you’ll always be able to keep up with the flow. 

There’s also now the option of the 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid (essentially the Renault E-Tech system), which delivers 138bhp and some eye-catching fuel economy figures.

Performance is a little stronger (but not much), while the automatic-only gearbox option will appeal to many. However, in the real world it is barely any faster or more frugal than the 1.0-litre, so unless you must have a hybrid then we’d stick to the standard car.

Ride and handling are every bit as capable as you’d expect, with the longish travel suspension doing a decent job of soaking up pockmarked surfaces.

The steering is accurate and despite comical levels of body roll when pushing on, the Jogger clings on tenaciously. Yes, the Dacia is built in Romania, but there’s a loping, easy-going vibe about the Jogger that’s reminiscent of parent brand Renault’s comfier offerings.

The cabin is pretty sparsely fitted out in the case of lower-trim models, in which there's simply a built-in smartphone holder for in-car entertainment and navigation – but upper-level ones offer a fitted touchscreen system and factory navigation as standard. And there are even clever roof bars that can convert into a roof rack of their own, for the storage of bikes and roof boxes.

There hasn't been a new MPV with the potential to rejuvenate interest in this flagging class for a decade or more, but the Jogger's value alone could do that.

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2. Citroën Berlingo

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More than two decades and almost two million sales ago, Citroën pioneered the van-based MPV with the Berlingo, and this latest (but only third) generation model returns to the original's charm and oddball likeability.

What’s more, the French family wagon’s appeal has recently been enhanced by Citroën’s reversal of its decision to drop petrol and diesel versions, leaving just the all-electric models. 

Both the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-diesel have been reinstated, albeit only in the five-seat bodystyle. If you need the seven seats the longer XL version provides, then you’re restricted to the 134bhp electric powertrain with its 50kWh battery that provides a realistic range of around 110 miles.

Whatever the motive force, there are stout reasons to buy a Berlingo instead of a more conventional MPV. For starters, the interior is truly cavernous, with 186 litres of storage space in the various cubbies dotted about, and even with seven seats there's still generous room for luggage.

The sliding rear side doors are a real boon too, allowing easy access in tight parking spots and making it a doddle to load smaller children into child seats.

Best of all, the Berlingo rides with a languid calmness and steers intuitively, making it a relaxing companion regardless of the road. 

Factor in generous equipment levels for UK-spec cars, attractive pricing and all that space and you can’t help feeling you’re beating the system. And, of course, if you don’t want a Citroën badge (or there’s no dealer nearby), Peugeot and Vauxhall offer rebadged identical twin versions. A true everyday gem.

3. Volkswagen Multivan

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Another van-based MPV, but in this case it’s a full-sized job that’s perfect for the largest of families. Based on VW’s new T7, the Multivan is arguably the most stylish and car-like version to appear in ‘T’ history, which can trace its roots back nearly 80 years.

Underpinned by the brand’s MQB architecture rather than a dedicated commercial vehicle platform, the T7 drives with all the assurance, comfort and refinement of a very large Golf. The steering is accurate, body control is good and the ride pliant. 

If you weren’t sitting so high up and the rear of the car wasn’t so far away, you’d never know you were in a van. This is backed up by a punchy engine line-up that runs to a 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel, plus the 2.0 TSI from the Golf GTI.

There’s also a plug-in hybrid, complete with a claimed EV range of 31 miles.

Inside, the Multivan is simply vast with the sort of flexibility that other MPVs can only dream of. There are seven individual seats (you can have fewer if you wish) and those in the back slide, swivel and fold. Remove the chairs (at 15kg apiece they ain’t light) and you can run a removal service at the weekend.

There’s also loads of handy storage space to secrete all the usual odds and sods that are accumulated during busy family duties. Oh, and as ever the addition of sliding side doors offers unrivalled access and egress.

If there’s an issue (and we’re sorry to go on about it), then it’s the frustrating heating and ventilation controls, which like those of everything from the Golf to ID 3 are unlit and touch-sensitive. For a firm with such a focus on R&D, this set-up continues to be an ergonomic nightmare.

Other than that, this is a spacious, comfortable and brilliantly sorted people carrier. But with prices starting at just over £40,000 and rising to within an uncomfortable biscuit of £70,000, so it should be.

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4. Volkswagen ID Buzz

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The Volkswagen ID Buzz was one of the industry’s most hotly anticipated vehicles before it arrived. 

It sits on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, which means this big bus shares the same underpinnings as the ID 3, ID 4 and ID 5. Similarly to the Multivan, then, the ID Buzz is more of a car, as opposed to an actual van. 

That makes sense – the Buzz is available as either a five-seat passenger car or as a 2+1 Cargo commercial vehicle variant. There’s no camper variant yet, and while there’s plenty of space, we’ll also have to wait a bit longer for a seven-seater. 

Beneath the metal sits a 77kWh battery offering an official range of 255 miles – not the highest figure in the world, but easily supplemented thanks to a maximum charging speed of 170kW. 

For now, the Buzz is driven by a single 201bhp electric motor, but it won’t be long until the dual-motor GTX variant joins the range. That will add a second motor for all-wheel drive, upping performance to 335bhp. A larger long-wheelbase version will be added to the range soon, with a larger 110kWh battery. 

Whether you’re a devotee to Volkswagen’s traditional camper van or after a conventional people carrier, the Buzz offers a likeable package of versatility-first electric family motoring.

If there is one sticking point about the ID Buzz, it’s the price. It’s one of Volkswagen’s most pricey vehicles, with a starting price of £59,039. 

That said, you do get some good equipment as standard, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, a heated steering wheel and heated seats and LED headlights. 

5. Grand Ford Tourneo Custom

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While the recent arrival of the rugged, and VW co-developed, Ranger has been stealing all the headlines, it was actually the Ford Tourneo Connect that was the first fruit of the fairly freshly minted collaboration between the Blue Oval and its German rival (well, if we ignore the mid-1990s Sharan and Galaxy, also MPVs). 

A replacement for the previous Focus-based Connect, the newcomer picks up where its highly underrated predecessor left off. That car delivered Berlingo-style space and utility with genuine dynamic polish, and the latest version is no different.

Based on VW’s MQB platform, the Tourneo has been tuned by Ford’s people to give it a surprisingly poised and plush feel that allows it to scythe through corners as effortlessly as it soaks up bumps. Engine choice is limited to either 1.5-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel, but both serve up adequate get-up-and-go.

As before, there’s a choice of two bodystyles – a standard five-seater and longer (Grand Tourneo) seven-seat option. Both deliver acres of interior space and loads of handy storage, while the sliding rear side doors boost an already versatile package.

Go for the seven-seat version and with both rear benches removed there’s a cavernous 3100 litres of carrying capacity. There’s loads of kit too, including climate control and Apple CarPlay, while higher-ranking models add heated seats and keyless go. 

If there’s a niggle it’s that there’s a little too much VW in the Ford’s cabin design. Yes, that means smart style and strong quality, but the unlit touch-sensitive heating controls are a real bugbear and will make you grateful for the standard lane keeping assistance as you fumble to adjust the temperature on an unfamiliar road at night.

Still, it's not enough to blunt the practical Ford’s appeal. And if you’d rather have a VW badge on the nose, then there’s also the Caddy version.

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6. Volkswagen Touran

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The Touran feels like a car created from the very core of the MPV textbook, having been born to deliver great occupant space from a fairly compact footprint. And it's still going strong, outliving the larger Volkswagen Sharan. 

It can’t quite match the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer for premium-brand allure or driver appeal, while it also lacks a bit of charm in its design. But like all great VWs, it's functional in all respects, offering a versatile and pretty roomy seven-seat cabin without the risk of dwarfing your three-bedroom semi.

VW only offers the Touran with its 1.5-litre TSI Evo engine, which develops 148bhp but hauls the car along easily enough and with creditable refinement and decent economy. Handling is neat, contained and comfortable.

The Touran scores no less than eight out of 10 in every department, making it a strong all-rounder that does exactly what it says on the tin with fantastic consistency.

7. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

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It’s somewhat surprising that in such a declining sector, premium player BMW has stuck by the MPV.

In fact, the latest 2 Series Active Tourer isn’t a facelift of the previous model but an all-new machine built on the current 1 Series platform. And the result is a classy and composed hatchback that offers a decent dose of extra practicality.

The old seven-seat Gran Tourer has been dropped, so it’s only this five-seat model that remains. Sitting within a footprint not much larger than a 1 Series, it serves up plenty of space for most growing families, with generous room in the rear where a sliding bench allows you to choose between extra space for luggage or legs. There’s also plenty of handy storage, with deep door pockets and a handy lidded cubby between the front seats.

As you’d expect the fit and finish is excellent, plus the 2 Series gets the brand’s latest slick infotainment and advanced driver aids. It feels like a BMW on the move too, with just enough agility and engagement to satisfy the inner keen driver that family life shouldn’t mean sacrificing too much fun behind the wheel. 

There’s a pair of smooth and responsive 48V mild-hybrid petrols and a 218d diesel, plus the option of the four-wheel-drive 225xe and 230xe plug-in hybrids. The latter offers a hot-hatch humbling 322bhp while both claim an impressive 56 miles of EV range for an 8% company car tax banding.

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8. Ford Tourneo Custom

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If maximising the amount of space and passenger carrying capacity available to you is your number-one priority, you need to be looking at the passenger versions of medium-sized vans.

The best van to drive is the Ford Transit Custom and the Tourneo Custom is the same but made more habitable for carrying passengers.

One of our photographers ran a Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV for six months and found that the versatility fit his lifestyle perfectly, and while it was never going to rival a Focus for driver appeal, it never felt like a chore to drive, either.

We’d recommend a normal diesel, though. The pure-electric range of the PHEV is a paltry 30 miles, which is just not enough for a vehicle you want to take on long trips.

 

9. Mercedes-Benz EQV

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Mercedes has got the all-electric seven-seater market pretty well served between the EQB and this: the larger and more expensive EQV.

Effectively an electric V-Class, this is a big, tall, van-like vehicle with sliding side doors and captain's chairs in the second row that can spin to face either forwards or backwards.

It's powered by a 204bhp electric motor and has a usable range of just over 200 miles. And with air suspension and plenty of mass rolling along, it's surprisingly quiet and comfortable, and handles well for something so large and heavy.

You'd be lucky to pick up an airport transfer in an EQV – and, allowing for the tax advantages, your chauffeur would be pretty happy to run one, assuming they could charge one up easily.

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10. Lexus LM

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The Lexus LM is the classic sort of posh MPV you’d expect to see transporting the wealthy from one central London black-tie ball to another.

Starting from £89,995, it’s the most expensive MPV on this list by a considerable distance, but it’s easy to see why once you step inside. The LM’s interior has been designed for old-school luxury, and it certainly feels special.

Open the sliding doors and you enter the airy interior, revealing a vast lounging space.

The rear seats are airline-style recliners with heating and ventilation functions, and there are even seven massage functions, footrests and cushions. You can also lay them flat and use them as a sleeping area. 

Not enough? You’ll be interested in the 48in television, then. And if the TV is a bit old-school for you, you can use the LM’s phone-sized touchscreen to control all media functions and top up your phone using the wireless phone charger hidden in the armrest. Other hotel-room functions include a fridge and shoe storage.

While it might feel like travelling first class as a passenger, the LM isn’t the best to drive – or anywhere near it. It’s driven by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, paired either with a single electric motor or a dual-motor set-up. 

Both specifications struggle with the weight of the LM, and it often feels slow, unresponsive and generally underpowered. It’s also surprisingly noisy and isn’t quite refined enough. 

James Disdale

James Disdale
Title: Special correspondent

James is a special correspondent for Autocar, which means he turns his hand to pretty much anything, including delivering first drive verdicts, gathering together group tests, formulating features and keeping Autocar.co.uk topped-up with the latest news and reviews. He also co-hosts the odd podcast and occasional video with Autocar’s esteemed Editor-at-large, Matt Prior.

For more than a decade and a half James has been writing about cars, in which time he has driven pretty much everything from humble hatchbacks to the highest of high performance machines. Having started his automotive career on, ahem, another weekly automotive magazine, he rose through the ranks and spent many years running that title’s road test desk. This was followed by a stint doing the same job for monthly title, evo, before starting a freelance career in 2019. The less said about his wilderness, post-university years selling mobile phones and insurance, the better.

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