What is MPV?

You've probably heard some cars referred to as "MPV" but what does that term mean? Whether you need five seats, nine seats, or something in between, a high-quality used minivan can be a great option if you want the most practicality for your money. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of minivans and whether you should consider buying one.

What does MPV stand for?

MPV stands for Multi Purpose Vehicle. Minivans are also sometimes referred to as "human vehicles", which is perhaps a more accurate name. They have tall box bodies designed to create as much interior space as possible and often have more seating than a comparable hatchback or sedan. Most allow you to fold or remove the rear seats in a variety of ways to highlight passenger space, cargo space, or a combination of the two. 

Minivans come in a variety of sizes. Smaller ones like the Renault Scenic are relatively compact, about the same size as the Ford Focus. The biggest ones, like the Mercedes V-Class, are huge, as much as 17 feet long and over six feet tall.

Renault Scenic

How many seats are there in the minivan?

All minivans have at least five seats. The largest of these have as many as nine, which is the maximum a car can have before a driver needs a commercial vehicle license.

Five-seat minivans such as the Ford C-Max have two rows of seats with two seats in the front and three in the back.

Minivans with more than five seats have three rows. The seven-seat MPV has a 2-3-2 layout. The eight-seat MPV has a 2-3-3 layout. The nine-seater MPV has a 3-3-3 layout. There are also several six-seater minivans with a 2-2-2 layout.

Ford Galaxy

How practical is a minivan?

A minivan is usually more practical than a hatchback or sedan because it has a taller body with squarer sides, giving you extra interior space and making it easier to get people and goods in and out. 

The best used minivans make great family cars. Even small minivans like the Ford C-MAX have more passenger space than a similarly sized regular car. And because minivans are made for families, they often have features designed specifically for kids (and their parents). These can include fold-out tables to keep the kids occupied, a floor to store toys and kits, and most importantly, the ability to fit three Isofix child seats in the second row.

MPV seats are also often quite high off the ground. This can make access easier for people with reduced mobility, and also means they have to bend over less to put their children in child seats. Some minivans have sliding side doors that make it easier to get in and out, especially in tight parking lots.

Citroen Berlingo

How big is the trunk of a minivan?

Minivans can transport not only people - after all, they are multi-purpose vehicles. Their tall, square shape means they also have unusually large boots. 

Of course, the size of the trunk of a minivan depends on whether all the seats are in place. Five-seat minivans always have a huge trunk, but many minivans with more than five seats have a rather small trunk after installing the third row of seats. However, when they are folded up, you get a huge amount of cargo space.

Most minivans have "individual" seats in the second and third rows that can be folded, split or in blocks to create more cargo space. In some cases, these seats can be removed entirely, freeing up even more space.

Because a minivan is tall and wide, you can usually pack more than a station wagon or similarly sized SUV will fit. Some minivans are as roomy as a van when all of their rear seats are removed or folded down, and some are even sold as vans - minus the rear windows and various other features.

Volkswagen Turan

Is the MPV a car or a van?

The Citroen Berlingo is one of several minivans available both as a minivan and as a van. The difference is that the Berlingo minivan has rear windows and seats, while the Berlingo van has all-metal sides from the front doors back and huge cargo space inside.

Van-based minivans tend to have a slightly wider and taller body, as well as more room for passengers and cargo. So, if space is more important to you, a van-based minivan will suit you better than another type of car. All van-based minivans also have sliding rear doors for easier access to the rear seats. Of minivans that are not based on vans, only the Ford Grand C-MAX, Seat Alhambra, and Volkswagen Sharan have sliding rear doors.

Van-based minivans have huge windows that let in plenty of light and give everyone a great view. They are often just as good to drive as any other type of car and usually have a very good value. One thing to keep in mind is that the largest nine-seater models like the Ford Tourneo Custom are huge, even bigger than the biggest SUVs. So you need to carefully consider how to drive on narrow roads and where to park.

Citroen Berlingo

What is the difference between a minivan and an SUV?

There is a cross between minivans and SUVs: some SUVs, like the Land Rover Discovery, have seven seats and very large cargo spaces. The difference, however, is that SUVs are designed for off-road driving over rough terrain. Therefore, they have high ground clearance and many have four-wheel drive.

Minivans are often as tall as SUVs but have lower ground clearance. Only a few minivans are available with all-wheel drive, and this is done to improve safety on slippery roads and improve towing, not to increase their off-road capabilities.

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer

Are there any disadvantages to a minivan?

Minivans cost more than many similarly sized hatchbacks or sedans, and the sheer size of the largest models can be a problem when driving through narrow roads or trying to park. But that's a small price to pay if you value practicality above all else, in which case minivans can't be beat.

At Cazoo you will find a wide range of high quality minivans for sale. Take advantage of our Search tool to find what's right for you, then buy online for home delivery or choose to pick up from one of our customer service centers.

We are constantly updating and expanding our range. If you can't find one within your budget today, check back later to see what's available or set up promotional alerts to be the first to know when we have minivans available to suit your needs.