MPV – the family car of choice?

MPVs are popular family cars because they provide both space and flexibility for families who have to transport anything from baby seats to sports equipment, bikes and suitcases. Ever since the Renault Scenic entered the market as the first compact MPV in 1996 this type of car has risen in popularity throughout Britain.

Currently the most popular used MPV is the Vaxhall Zafira where the cabin offers clever foldaway rear seats and with good visibility for the driver and a decent ride. There are several engine sizes to choose from but as there are so many of the mid-range 1.6-litre petrol engine on the market you would be foolish not to try out one of them as you might get a bargain. This model also has low insurance costs. The Zafira doesn’t hold its value as well as a VW Touran or a Toyota Corolla Verso but as the overall service costs are respectably low, it still qualifies as a good buy.

If you live in Northern Ireland and want to test drive a used Vauxhall, Portadown has a dealership which should be able to help you.

The VW Touran holds its value better than the Zafira but is also more expensive to buy. It’s a well-built seven-seater and great to drive but some drivers apparently find it a bit bland.

The Toyota Corolla Verso is described as a sensible car but it’s smaller than the other two models with seating for five instead of seven. It holds it value pretty well so will be more expensive to buy but has low running costs and impressive fuel economy.

If you’re in the market for a used MPV all these three models could be worth checking out in addition to offers from other manufacturers such as Citroen and Ford.