What type of car do you think has outperformed all others in the used car market recently? SUVs? Hatchbacks? Surely not convertibles? Okay, you’ve read the headline so you’ve probably guessed the answer: MPVs. According to the CarGurus Price Trends index, the average price for a used MPV rose by 3.77% over the past 90 days*, compared with a rise of 0.93% across the market.
Does that mean MPVs are on-trend? It would be quite the turnaround, given their dramatic decline in popularity since the heady days of the late nineties and early noughties, when car brands were rushing to produce people carriers (as they were often called then) of all shapes and sizes to satisfy demand. There were diddy ones like the Vauxhall Meriva, fun-to-drive ones like the Ford S-MAX, posh ones like the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and downright weird ones like the Fiat Multipla. Anyone looking for a car that put practicality front and centre had never had it so good.
We all know what happened next. SUVs came along, kicking those nerdy MPVs into touch and becoming the family cars to be seen in at the school gates. Never mind that most SUVs couldn’t match an equivalent MPV for space or versatility – buyers loved their commanding driving position, the feeling of safety they gave them and, of course, their more aspirational image.
MPVs never went away, though, and even now they remain unbeatable for outright practicality. With seating for anything between five and nine people, the ability to fold or remove seats and, in many cases, sliding side doors, MPVs remain the go-to choice if functionality – not fashion – is top of your list. Got a big family or one of those ‘active lifestyles’ where you genuinely need to lug around lots of bulky kit or sports gear? Then an MPV is your friend.
That unique skill-set means there’s always been a dedicated market for MPVs, yet availability has decreased as brands have shifted their focus to more profitable SUVs. In fact, CarGurus data shows a 50% drop in SUV listings from January 2023 to January 2026, and that combination of limited supply and steady demand has kept used prices stable.
So does this mean MPVs due a comeback of Oasis proportions, and can we expect a flood of exciting new MPV models to hit showrooms? Well, maybe a trickle. Citroen, an undisputed champion of the MPV thanks to models such as the Xsara Picasso, C4 Picasso, Berlingo and many others down the years, recently revealed its ELO concept car – an all-electric, supermini-sized six-seater, pictured below.
The brand says the ELO (nothing to do with the Jeff Lynne-fronted band, by the way) ‘reinterprets the spirit of the MPVs and leisure activity vehicles that have shaped its history’ and its ‘monobox’ shape and highly flexible interior are, indeed, pure MPV. It’s also very much a show car, however, with wild design elements such as train-style double-opening side doors, a central driver’s seat and an entirely orange interior. But it does suggest that Citroen believes there’s life in the MPV yet.
Other brands seem to agree. Lexus and Volvo both launched their first-ever MPV models in recent years, in the shape of the Lexus LM and Volvo EM90 (only the Lexus is sold in the UK). Both are essentially luxury taxis used for ferrying VIPs around, highlighting the fact that if you want to move people and luggage in maximum comfort, an MPV is a great way to do it. Then there’s the Kia PV5 Passenger (on sale from late 2025, pictured below) and Hyundai Staria Electric (due in mid-2026). These are the first MPVs that either brand has sold in the UK for many years, so the hints of a full-scale revival are there.
MPVs do have a couple of things in their favour as we move towards an all-electric future, too. The most obvious is packaging, because an EV powertrain is perfectly suited to creating the elongated cabin, flat floor and tall body of the typical MPV. Also, as driving appeal becomes less important (either through whisper-quiet EVs or self-driving tech), so there’s an increasing focus on creating car interiors with a ‘lounge-like’ atmosphere. And what’s more lounge-like than the individual chairs, fold-out tables and generally airiness of an MPV?
Whether or not an MPV resurgence is on the cards, a used MPV looks a safe bet and there are plenty of great options that combine comfort and practicality with at least some semblance of ‘cool’. Top of the list has to be the Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Even after more than two years on sale, its retro-modern looks still give it more school-run cred than any MPV in history. Yes, It’s eye-wateringly expensive new, especially when that must-have two-tone paint job adds nearly £3,000 to the price. Used prices, however, start from a more palatable £33,000 and there’s only a tiny premium for the long-wheel base version that gives you up to seven – rather than six – seats.
The less-celebrated Volkswagen Touran is another fine VW MPV. The latest model has been on sale since 2015 with only minor updates so you can pick up an early car that still looks current for a fraction of the price. Sub-100k mileage examples start at about £10,000, and offer the same core qualities as one fresh out of the showroom. Namely, Golf-like looks, running costs and driving appeal, but seven-seat versatility.
It was tempting to include the Volkswagen Sharan here, too, but instead I’ve plumped for the closely-related Seat Alhambra. And the family connection really is quite strong, because some minor cosmetic differences are all that separate the two. You pay a bit less for the Alhambra, though, with prices for the newest version starting at about £11,000 if you want one with sensible miles on the clock. For that you get vast interior space, car park-friendly sliding doors and a surprisingly responsive drive for a big car.
Circling back to Citroen, its dedication to the MPV cause means that it’s produced some of the best MPVs of recent years. The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso/Space Tourer is a case in point. Introduced as the Grand C4 Picasso in 2014, then renamed Grand C4 Space Tourer in 2018, prices for the earliest models are now in the sub-£5k region and even low-mileage 2022 models won’t set you back much more than £12,000. Trendy split-level headlamps mean all versions look surprisingly up to date, while the interior has a wonderfully open feel thanks to large side windows and an extra-large windscreen that stretches back into the roof.
There has to be a place for the Citroen Berlingo here, too. It’s one of a surprisingly large number of van-based MPVs you can buy, new or used, and like most of the breed its commercial origins mean vast headroom, sliding side doors and a huge, washable load area.
The current Berlingo has been around since 2018 and it’s available with five or seven seats, in standard or long-wheelbase form, and with petrol, diesel or pure-electric power. The Peugeot Partner, Toyota Proace City Verso and Vauxhall Combo Life are essentially the same car with some different cosmetic bits, but to me the Citroen looks better, with proper ‘French campsite’ vibes and characteristic Citroen quirkiness. It’s cool, basically. Well, as cool as any MPV can be.
*As of mid-January 2026
