Best MPVs & people carriers for 2026

Want an MPV that feels like a compact executive car to drive? You'll want the latest BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. The challenging design won't be to all tastes, but the quality, tech and driving experience are class-leading. 

The latest version, while far from the cheapest car on this list – new prices start from just over £36,000 – offers so much to like for the driver and passengers alike. For starters, there's that family-friendly cabin, with sliding and reclining rear seats that suit even six-footers, a big boot and useful storage solutions. But, being a BMW, you also get a high level of fit-and-finish, a smart design and the very latest infotainment: you'll think you're in a taller BMW 3 Series.

There's a variety of engines to choose from, including a powerful-yet-efficient plug-in hybrid versions. You also get smoothness and refinement in abundance, while the keen, almost hot hatch-like handling means even the most exhausted parent can enjoy themselves. Sure, the ride is a smidge on the firm side for an MPV, but it's never uncomfortable. 

Can't quite stomach the cost of the new one? The previous-generation BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is still a good value all-round choice and can be also had as the seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.

The Volkswagen Multivan is the firm's replacement for the old Volkswagen Caravelle, a car that was recognised as one of the finest van-based people carriers money can buy. Adding a degree of confusion is the fact that from the Multivan's summer 2026 facelift, its name was changed to... Volkswagen Caravelle.

However, unlike the old Caravelle, the new one on a VW car platform underneath. While it still looks like a van on the outside, this means that it's much less utilitarian to drive, with better refinement, handling and comfort. It also means you get the option of a plug-in hybrid version, giving you up to 56 miles of pure electric range for the latest models. 

With a lower roof than than its predecessor, the Caravelle will fit into most multi-storey car parks, but you still get plenty of space inside, with up to seven seats that can be configured in a wide variety of ways. Still not enough space? There's a 20cm longer version with a truly massive boot. 

You also get the latest gadgets and safety assistance features you'll find in VW's cars, but you pay a hefty whack for a Caravelle, with new prices starting at almost £51,000. Don't expect many used bargains, either.

A real breath of fresh air amidst the unrelenting onslaught of new electric SUVs, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is one of the most desirable battery-powered vehicles around. The way VW has managed this with an MPV, of all things, is by referencing its history. 

The ID. Buzz is inspired by the older Volkswagen Microbus, meaning it packs a whole lot of retro charm. It has plenty of substance, too, with plenty of practicality and a fun driving experience with a fabulous wrap-around view of the outside world from the tall windscreen. 

There's even a sporty ID. Buzz GTX with 340PS should you want to get around in a hurry, but the less powerful models are plenty appealing already. Just bear in mind that the real-world range isn't exactly stellar and that the short wheelbase models aren't as big on the inside as you might think.

We'd recommend sticking with the long-wheelbase VW ID. Buzz, which joined the range in 2024. It's short than the long-wheelbase Volkswagen Caravelle, and benefits from a much more flexible interior with the option of six or seven seats. And whatever you do, make sure you get one with a two-tone finish for maximum retro points. 

If you're after a seven-seater that won't break the bank, then stop scrolling now. The Dacia Jogger is it – and it's a bargain, even when bought brand new. Go for the entry-level Essential and it's only a shade under £19,000. Even the top of the line Hybrid 155 Extreme is sub-£25k.

There's a raised ride height giving you a better view of the road and the two third-row seats can be easily removed when not required to expand the boot space to a suitcase-gobbling 820 litres.

It's not a huge car, either, meaning the Jogger is easy to navigate down tight roads, while parking sensors are standard across the range. If you want better efficiency – and an automatic gearbox – the Hybrid 155 is the way to go with a claimed Combined cycle efficiency of up to 61mpg.

We'd recommend going for the Comfort or Extreme SE trim when buying used, as you’ll get a number of handy extras such as a reversing camera and infotainment display, which will make driving and owning the Jogger far more pleasant.

The Volkswagen Touran was finally retired at the start of 2026 without a direct replacement. It came with seven seats as standard, with the rearmost two folding flat into the floor when not in use, leaving you with a usable boot. The Touran was smaller than the Volkswagen Sharan, so there's less space overall for your seven passengers and luggage.

There are plenty of upsides to the Touran's more compact size, though. For starters, it's basically a previous-generation VW Golf underneath, which makes it not only easy, comfortable and surefooted to drive, but also much easier to park and thread through traffic than a full-size MPV.  

Most Volkswagen Tourans for sale on the used market come with either the 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines. They're not the most refined units by today's standards, but offer punchy performance and very strong fuel economy. However, if you want something smoother, then the 1.2- or 1.4-litre TSI petrol models are worth a look. The later 1.5 TSI petrol, which replaced the 1.4, is even better. 

Good used examples of Tourans without high mileage start at just over £10,000, with newer models likely to set you back over £25,000.

The Ford Tourneo Courier follows in a long line of Blue Oval vans that have been spun into very useful people carriers by adding windows, seats, and some decent interior accoutrements.

Being based on a van means the Tourneo Courier has masses of cabin space despite its relatively compact exterior dimensions. You can pack loads in the boot without bothering to fold the rear seats, so a family of five can head off on holiday trips very easily.

The van underpinnings also don't hinder the way the Tourneo Courier drives. It's nimble enough for an MPV and rides the bumps well, while the 125PS 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine can be had with six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic gearboxes. We'd take the manual in Titanium trim over the Active with its off-roader-ish cladding, which comes with a price starting at just shy of £28,500 for a new model.

While the previous-generation model was too flawed to recommend, the current Mercedes-Benz B-Class is far superior in every respect. Based on the excellent Mercedes A-Class, it's a comfortable and high-quality MPV with one of the best interior designs around. While there’s little in the way of excitement, it is very comfortable and relaxing, making this ideal for longer journeys as well as the school and nursery run of a morning.

There’s plenty of room in the back, so it’s ideal if you have toddlers in car seats or younger children with rear-facing car seats. Here, the flat seats are very helpful, with the base of the child seat able to sit flush with the seat cushion. 

The B-Class also gets Mercedes’ excellent MBUX infotainment system, which works like Amazon’s Alexa, allowing you – and more likely your children – to shout commands at the car. 'Hey Mercedes, drown out the kids' moaning with Radio 4' and so on...

The Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer is the artist formerly known as the Grand C4 Picasso, but fundamentally its the same car that was launched in 2014 barring a few tweaks. 

What didn't change was the fact this is one of the best seven-seat MPVs made. It’s also one of the better looking ones, hiding its 4.5-metre length with a neat and modern design. This is no box on  wheels.

Where the Citroen truly shines is when it comes to ride quality. The French firm has traditionally had a great reputation for comfort and the Grand C4 SpaceTourer continues that. The soft suspension set-up smooths out rough roads and doesn’t crash over potholes.

There’s generous room inside, too, which is noticeable in the second row. There's lots of legroom in particular, helped by the fact you can slide the seats back and forward and tilt the backrests. There are three individual seats in the middle row, too, meaning it's not too much of a squeeze with three abreast, while the big windows and light and airy feel really appeal. You can also have an extended windscreen to bring even more light in, plus luxury features such as massaging seats.

Citroen no longer sells the Grand C4 SpaceTourer, so you'll have to look to the used market if you want one, but that just means more affordable prices.

While traditional MPVs are thin on the ground these days, there are still quite a few van-based people carriers that fulfill the same role, albeit with less refinement. That's because sticking some seats in a commercial vehicle, giving it some windows and laying down a bit of carpet still doesn't hide the fact that you're driving... Well, a van. 

They're well worth considering if you value practicality above all else, though, and if you want to go down that route, the Citroen Berlingo is one of the best. The longer Berlingo XL can seat up to seven and can take anything from 1050 litres to a whopping 3500 litres of cargo depending on how you've configured the seats, while the shorter M model isn't all that far behind.

For a while, Citroen only sold the Berlingo as an EV and with a modest range figure, which counted the car out for a lot of people. Recently, though, petrol and diesel versions were reintroduced and the value is still excellent, with a starting price of around £25,000.

If you're considering a Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, then the Ford S-Max should also be on your shortlist. Both of these brilliant seven-seater MPVs are of the same vintage, and both provide similarly tempting value-for-money on the used car market. However, the two cars go about the business of fulfilling the MPV brief in rather different ways.

The Citroen is arguably the more stylish car of the pair, it's marginally more spacious and it has marginally more clever seat-folding mechanisms. When we say marginally, though, we really mean it: the Ford really isn't far behind in any of these areas and its still great in all of them.

Where the Ford stands out, though, is on the road. While the Citroen is comfortable, it can sometimes feel rather clumsy when changing direction. The S-Max, meanwhile, turns with the urgency and crispness of a small hatchback, so not only is it a lot more fun to drive, it's also more controlled and more confidence-inspiring. There's a wide choice of engines and trim level to choose from, so finding a car to suit you and your budget shouldn't be too difficult.