MPVs for 2012

Chevrolet Orlando

Big, seven-seat people carrier with low starting price and basic level of equipment. Solid and reliable with hard-wearing materials and plenty of space.

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Chrysler Voyager

Bordering on minibus levels of space, the Voyager is one of the biggest cars on the market today. A workhorse vehicle which will stay reliable for year, but running costs are high.

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Citroen Berlingo Multispace

Costs the same as a supermini but with plenty of space for five and a boxy rear end for luggage. Van shape does not help driving dynamics.

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Citroen Nemo Multispace

Based on a van and as such isn't the best-looking car. Spacious and practical as a result of its shape. Prices are low and newer engines pull down running costs.

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Citroen C3 Picasso

Based on the C3 hatchback and comes with supermini-like ride in terms of handling. However, the price is quite high and equipment is sparse.

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Citroen C4 Picasso

Stylish and spacious people carrier capable of seating five in comfort. That's the good points. Vague steering and poor residuals are the downside. Choose trim and engines carefully.

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Fiat Doblo

Boxy five-seat people carrier with plenty of practicality in terms of space but little in the way of desirability. It does come cheap and 3,000 litres of space is massive.

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Fiat Qubo

The Fiat Qubo is a tiny, van-like car with plenty of space for four despite its small dimensions. It's practical and clever but it isn't the best-looking small car on the road.

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Ford B-Max

Compact Fiesta-based MPV with clever sliding doors and a huge amount of technology. Good to drive and frugal engines, but better for carrying four.

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Ford C-Max

Spacious Focus-based people carrier capable of carrying five. Handling is superb. Also comes in larger, seven-seat Grand C-Max version.

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Ford S-Max

Sporty MPV focused on stylish looks and plenty of gadgets. Drives well too and comes with some clever folding seats and cubby holes. One of the best MPVs around.

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Ford Galaxy

Vast seven-seat people carrier. A bit long in the tooth but its sheer practicality more than makes up for it. Plenty of bargains around.

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Hyundai ix20

Kia Venga-based five-seat MPV which comes ahead of its sibling because of sharper looks and impressive ride quality. A good all-rounder.

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Kia Carens

Spacious and affordable five- or seven-seat MPV. Unfortunately launched before Kia's new styling direction and this, along with low levels of equipment, goes against it. Good, cheap transport.

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Kia Sedona

Vast seven-seater with huge amounts of space for passengers and luggage.

Low price and good warranty, but the drive and standard kit is very poor.

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Kia Soul

Love it or loath it styling in this quirky, boxy SUV/MPV mash up. Plenty of customisation options and an excellent seven-year warranty as standard.

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Kia Venga

Supermini-based MPV. Older model now and fairly basic, but prices are very cheap and the warranty is very good.

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Mazda5

Dramatic styling includes wave-like flanks and a lower roofline. Looks great and the ride is not a let-down. High quality interior is a plus, as are the five spacious seats.

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Mercedes R-Class

A luxury MPV with SUV-like styling, 4x4 setup and six seats. It's a strange car, but comes with the usual strong engines and build quality of a Mercedes. It also comes with the high price tag.

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Mercedes Viano

A van with windows. Albeit a spacious, premium, well-built van with windows.

Comes with enough space for seven and plenty of equipment. It is very expensive, however.

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Nissan Note

Likeable compact people carrier with a clever interior giving plenty of space. Affordable, but the Note never really excels at anything. Soon to be replaced.

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Peugeot Bipper Tepee

Cheap to buy and cheap to run. Practical and small, the four-seat Bipper Tepee won't set the pulse racing, but it will save you some money.

Based on a van, so don't expect stunning looks.

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Peugeot Partner Tepee

Solid and dependable van-based MPV with boxy dimensions and plenty of space.

The downside is the fact it still looks very much like a van.

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Peugeot 5008

Seven-seat MPV with SUV-like styling. Can be classed as a crossover. Versatile and better-looking than many other seven-seat cars.

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Renault Scenic

The five-seat Scenic is big in the back - leaving plenty of room for a spacious boot. The engines are good and prices are middle-of-the-road.

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Seat Alhambra

Multi-award-winning seven-seat MPV with good looks inside and out, plenty of equipment as standard and a strong set of engines. A superb car to drive and travel in.

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Seat Altea

Great to drive and seats five thanks to a raised roof height. Not the most practical but it looks good and a bigger model is available in Altea XL.

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Skoda Roomster

The Roomster is a practical, no-nonsense, five-seat MPV. Prices are low but it won't set the heart racing in terms of style. It will be reliable and hard-wearing.

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Ssangyong Rodius

Cheap, big people carrier from niche manufacturer Ssangyong. Relatively rugged but very basic. A lot of car for the money, but don't expect street cred due to its bizarre looks.

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Toyota Verso

Compact, supermini-based MPV. Reliable and comes with bomb-proof build quality. However, not particularly spacious with five people in.

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Vauxhall Meriva

Clever compact MPV with ultra-low running costs, practical rear-hinged doors and a modern design. Perfect for a family looking for a practical five-seater with space to spare in the boot.

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Vauxhall Zafira

Huge seven-seater which is almost van-like in its proportions. Low starting prices and strong residuals are a bonus, but equipment isn't as good as more modern competitors.

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Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

An executive take on the Zafira with superb levels of equipment and luxurious materials throughout. Snappy styling and an impressive drive. Can get expensive.

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Volkswagen Caddy

Well-built MPV with seven seats and decent handling. However, prices are far too high for what is a basic van. At least residuals will be ok.

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Volkswagen Caravelle

Expensive and almost indistinguishable from the VW Transporter van.

The plus side is its sheer size and space it offers due to those van origins.

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Volkswagen Golf Plus

Five-seat MPV which is essentially an extended Golf. This means it looks good and drives well, but apart from a higher roofline doesn't offer much over the standard Golf.

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Volkswagen Sharan

The Sharan is a big seven-seat people carrier with easy access, spacious seating and superb build quality. It can get expensive but this is helped by strong residual values.

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Volkswagen Touran

Seven-seat MPV with plenty of space but seats can be a difficult to move around. It is one of the better large MPVs on the road and the badge ensures resale values are strong.

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