Will MPVs make a comeback?
Discussion
I've been thinking about buying an SUV for some time, to replace my Audi a4 Avant. I want a bit more space and a larger boot, whilst retaining the comfort. It then occurred to me that I should consider an MPV, rather than follow the herd. Will MPVs ever make a comeback in popularity? Any experiences and suggestions what to gt for space, refinement (very important to me) and quality?
MPVs are out of fashion. I have one as a family wagon for 2 toddlers and occasional 7 seat usability. They will stay out of fashion as if you look on the groups for new parents and car seats they all prefer to buy an SUV. The main benefits of an MPV like the C4 Grand Picasso I have, which aren't so obvious, is the 3 rear independent seats which means you can get 3 car seats next 2 each other, that they also slide independently, inbuilt window blinds and doors that open a fraction wider than normal. This 67 plate is way more refined and comfortable than a 12 Merc B class we had.
magpie215 said:
If you are open to owning a JDM there are loads of mpv options.
Nissan Elgrand Honda Elysion Honda Stepwagon Toyota Alphard to name a few.
Usually in great fettle and little to no rust
You missed the best one, the delica.Nissan Elgrand Honda Elysion Honda Stepwagon Toyota Alphard to name a few.
Usually in great fettle and little to no rust
Thought the MPVeyness detoxified the SUVeyness and the SUVeyness dedrearifed the MPVeyness.
Never understood why they didn't make a better go at pushing it.
It is a shame that carmakers decided to completly abandon this style of cars. It seems that most car designers have no children and therefore do not understand the needs of families. If they had only spent a fraction of the R&D money on refining MPV's I am sure they would have found customers.
The Renault Espace can be an option (not sure you get them in the UK).
Other than that most VW, Merc and Ford offerings are just overpriced commercial vehicles that have a few seats and some carpet thrown inside. I would love a Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna or a fully loaded Chrysler Pacifica.
The Renault Espace can be an option (not sure you get them in the UK).
Other than that most VW, Merc and Ford offerings are just overpriced commercial vehicles that have a few seats and some carpet thrown inside. I would love a Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna or a fully loaded Chrysler Pacifica.
I was watching a US documentary the other day about this but it definitely crossed over to the UK. Basically people are so heavily misled by the media and what's fashionable rather than what they need. I liked the point he made which is, ask a typical family to write down a list of their requirements/needs/wants for a car and he said 90% of the time those will be matched to an MPV. Show said family the MPV that matches their list and you can almost guarantee they'll turn those nose up to it in favour of an SUV, even though it'll be less practical for them.
It really is not that surprising, I mean if you can get people to wear pants with holes in them ( and pay serious money for) , or have them proudly wear clothes that are a few sizes too small and running shoes in winter, or proclaim that a square concrete box is the height of architectural achievment or a few chaotic disjointed lines the peak of artistic creation.
This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
Went on holiday recently where most people have 2+ kids and drive. The most common cars were SUVs with roof boxes and MPVs without. Both perfectly appropriate choices with different sets of compromises.
When's the last time you saw a TV advert for an MPV, the vauxhall little dad's overtired one? Quite a different image to the plethora of SUV adverts now. As mentioned above, I think we're all influenced more than we'd like by marketing.
When's the last time you saw a TV advert for an MPV, the vauxhall little dad's overtired one? Quite a different image to the plethora of SUV adverts now. As mentioned above, I think we're all influenced more than we'd like by marketing.
flatso said:
It really is not that surprising, I mean if you can get people to wear pants with holes in them ( and pay serious money for) , or have them proudly wear clothes that are a few sizes too small and running shoes in winter, or proclaim that a square concrete box is the height of architectural achievment or a few chaotic disjointed lines the peak of artistic creation.
This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
So what you’re trying to say is many people are consumerist zombies who buy stuff just so they won’t feel different among their peers?This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
You can’t blame car makers for following the zombies though.
Fastlane said:
The ID Buzz is most definitely an MPV and very trendy.
The pics I've seen show a rear bench like you get in most hatches or saloons and 99% of the time making it not workable to fit 3 child seats side by side or even 2 side by side leaving an outer seat free. Plus at £60k not exactly family budget friendly. Mr Whippy said:
flatso said:
It really is not that surprising, I mean if you can get people to wear pants with holes in them ( and pay serious money for) , or have them proudly wear clothes that are a few sizes too small and running shoes in winter, or proclaim that a square concrete box is the height of architectural achievment or a few chaotic disjointed lines the peak of artistic creation.
This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
So what you’re trying to say is many people are consumerist zombies who buy stuff just so they won’t feel different among their peers?This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
You can’t blame car makers for following the zombies though.
Mr Whippy said:
flatso said:
It really is not that surprising, I mean if you can get people to wear pants with holes in them ( and pay serious money for) , or have them proudly wear clothes that are a few sizes too small and running shoes in winter, or proclaim that a square concrete box is the height of architectural achievment or a few chaotic disjointed lines the peak of artistic creation.
This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
So what you’re trying to say is many people are consumerist zombies who buy stuff just so they won’t feel different among their peers?This is a symptom of the lowering or anihilation of standards.
You can’t blame car makers for following the zombies though.
We are looking for a compact family car, but my Mrs vetoed small MPV type vehicles. She said the Merc B class and BMW 2 Series Active tourer look dorky and much preferred how SUV’s look.
With little terrors and all the bending over I do fixing them in their car seats and cleaning up after them, I was looking for a raised roof line and raised seating position, which led to SUV’s.
Their chunkier profiles allow for taller boots with flat load bays, making pushing prams in and out easier, putting little bikes in easier etc.
They make a lot of sense!
Personally, I don’t think MPV’s will make a come back.
When they are older and don’t have the same quantity of gubbins, I’m going back to a normal hatchback.
With little terrors and all the bending over I do fixing them in their car seats and cleaning up after them, I was looking for a raised roof line and raised seating position, which led to SUV’s.
Their chunkier profiles allow for taller boots with flat load bays, making pushing prams in and out easier, putting little bikes in easier etc.
They make a lot of sense!
Personally, I don’t think MPV’s will make a come back.
When they are older and don’t have the same quantity of gubbins, I’m going back to a normal hatchback.
Edited by wyson on Sunday 6th August 23:10
I wouldn't even class a Merc B class or 2 series active tourer as MPVs. I had a W246 Bclass as I wanted a hatch that was not too big but had as big a boot as I could find. The shape of the boot is excellent but nowhere near as big as an MPV nor even an SUV like a Seat Ateca. It is much more like a swollen hatchback rather than an MPV.
As much as you can move a family in a MK1 Golf as my dad did if you have 2 toddlers and like days out, then a double buggy basically takes up most of the boot floor space of a B Class. In a C4 Grand Picasso it takes up less than half the available floor space.
As much as you can move a family in a MK1 Golf as my dad did if you have 2 toddlers and like days out, then a double buggy basically takes up most of the boot floor space of a B Class. In a C4 Grand Picasso it takes up less than half the available floor space.
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