The Citroen Berlingo has just been awarded the 2019 MPV of the Year title in the annual What Car? motoring Oscars. MPV multi-purpose vehicles, or ‘people carriers’, as we know them in their heydays of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s have lost out in terms of sales to the growing desirability of owing an SUV – ‘sports utility vehicle’. But manufacturers of MPV type vehicles, Citroen call their new … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Vauxhall Combo Life Energy 100ps
Vauxhall know a bit about big families or those with big demands, particularly now it’s part of the immense PSA Group. So it’s reflected in the range of models now coming to market with the famous long-lived Griffin badge, and that includes the immensely practical, roomy, agile Combo series of MPVs. For those with shorter memories, multi-purpose vehicles predate the sports utility vehicles … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer 160 diesel
Citroen earlier this year announced that the Picasso name for their mid to large sized MPV people-carrier models would be changed to the C4 SpaceTourer for the five seater versions and Grand C4 SpaceTourer for the larger seven seat models. The range also includes the Citroen SpaceTourer which styling wise and sliding rear side doors looks as if it is based on a commercial … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Peugeot Rifter 130ps diesel
A practical vehicle for all reasons with good looks is the new Peugeot Rifter which has just gone on sale from £19,650 for the five seater models available now, and £21,570 for the seven seat versions available early 2019. Speaking at the UK media launch last week David Peel, managing director of Peugeot UK, said, “As the spiritual successor to the Peugeot Partner Tepee, the all-new Rifter … [Read more...]
Vauxhall’s new model arrives September
Vauxhall’s all-new Combo Life will arrive in showrooms in September from £20,530. Aimed at active families and empty nesters, the Combo Life comes in two trims, Design and Energy, with Energy models available as either a five- or seven-seater. Customers can also choose between two wheelbases: standard and XL. It includes petrol and diesels with either manual or automatic transmission. Priced … [Read more...]
New Fiat 500L is appealing but struggles
The 500L launched in 2013 in the UK was an extension of the new generation Fiat 500 city car launched in 2007. That generation was a modern interpretation of the original Fiat 500, also known as The Cinquecento, launched 60 years ago in 1957. The family was further extended in 2015 with the introduction of the Fiat 500X Crossover. The Fiat 500L was introduced as a five seater MPV … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Peugeot Traveller MPV
A good big one always beats a good small one, and few MPVs come bigger than the Peugeot Traveller. Launched to compete in the executive travel market but considerably undercut the longer established players, the Traveller is a serious MPV. There is a massive 27-model range in the Traveller series, based on Active, Allure, Business and Business VIP trim levels using 95, 115, 150 or 180 hp … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: SEAT Alhambra Connect 150
It’s long in the tooth but can still give rivals a nasty bite, 21 years after the original SEAT Alhambra was launched. From that collaborative venture sired the Volkswagen Sharan and Ford Galaxy, and the Alhambra was conceived to take on French and Italian rivals but Ford withdrew in the early 2000s when it introduced the new Galaxy and now the MPV is solely made in Portugal for the two VW … [Read more...]
Sunday drive: Renault Grand Scenic
Sales of MPV ‘people carriers’ have in recent years dropped in popularity due to the public’s switch to the now more desirable but less practical people carrying SUVs and Crossover type vehicles, says David Miles. MPV sales dropped a further 4.3% in the UK last year and 3.1% in Europe. But the industry has responded by making the latest generation MPVs more stylish than just being a boxy family … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: Ford EcoSport Titanium 1500TDCi 5sp
The expression “needs must” is something that Ford assiduously adhere to in their model range. They simply cannot afford to not be represented in a model sector, particularly if it’s a growing sector. So the Ford EcoSport MPV based on the Fiesta platform was really a forgone conclusion. It had to happen. Ford make good workmanlike MPVs in the Galaxy or more sporting S-Max SUV and … [Read more...]