When the school holidays arrive, Britain hits the road in MPVs to get away from it all. Now is the time to buy, and these seven-seaters can be had from just £4000.
1 - Ford Galaxy (2006-2015)
Whether it’s a supermini, family hatch or large MPV, Ford usually delivers excellent driving cars in a great package. The Galaxy may not be as fine-handling as its S-Max sibling, but it corners well and remains composed over bumps.
Inside, there’s plenty of leg and head room throughout, and you’ll even get a couple of bags in the boot when all the seats are occupied. Usefully, the five rear seats fold flat into the floor, giving van-like space.
The Galaxy is pretty reliable, but look out for power steering pump failures and alarm faults. A base Edge trim gets air-con, electric windows and a heated windscreen. We found a 2010 2.0-litre diesel with 52,000 miles for £8850.
2 - Renault Grand Scenic (2003-2009)
There aren’t too many better or cheaper ways into a used seven-seat MPV than a Grand Scenic. It’ll accommodate you and your clan in supreme comfort due to a supple ride and great refinement.
You get plenty of space and storage. The middle row of seats can be folded or removed and the third row folds into the floor for extra load carrying. It promises to be a safe car, too, achieving a five-star Euro NCAP rating when tested in 2003.
It’s affordable to run and maintain and there are few reports of major faults, but the build quality can be sketchy and keep an eye out for electrical glitches.We found a 2010 1.5 dCi Expression with less than 60,000 miles on the clock for just £5295.
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