Help! I need a £13k family MPV that's spacious and versatile
Dear Auto Express, I've got £13,000 to spend and I'm looking for a spacious people carrier. What do you recommend? - Rayyan Malik, E-mail
Second-hand MPVs are often more practical, easier to find and cheaper to buy than their SUV counterparts, even if they are a bit less fashionable. If you're not too fussed by style, though, the good news is that modern people carriers are well-equipped and often surprisingly pleasant to drive. Advertisement - Article continues below
The SEAT Alhambra is a versatile option, with a spacious cabin, sliding doors and strong build quality. You can also specify a snappy DSG gearbox for effortless town driving.
But for refined road manners, the Mk3 Ford Galaxy could be the choice. It was launched four years before the SEAT, but it's a roomy, relaxing option with a compliant ride. It's impressively slick for an MPV, and most of the engines are strong performers.
The SsangYong Turismo replaced the unloved Rodius people mover when it arrived in 2013. It's far better than its predecessor, and has a cavernous interior. But which of this trio makes the best used purchase?
Here's our expert pick of the three best family MPVs available for a budget of £13,000, together with links to buy them through our Find a Car service… For: Roomy cabin, sliding doors, decent to drive
Roomy cabin, sliding doors, decent to drive Against: Boring looks, firm ride, boot could be bigger Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
With a clean-cut design, the SEAT Alhambra is by no means ugly but it is dull, and the sliding-door runners on the rear-quarter panels don't help.
But the steering is accurate enough to thread the car along narrow lanes, and the optional DSG gearbox improves both economy and performance. The ride is unsettled over rough roads, though. With lots of power to carry seven people and their luggage, the 175bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is our preferred unit, but this falls a little outside of our budget here. Instead, you can bag a 2016 138bhp variant with 75,000 miles for just under £13,000. Advertisement - Article continues below
The Alhambra's no-nonsense design is carried through to its interior. The layout is logical and build quality is solid, with some models getting a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Like its rivals here, the SEAT majors on versatility. There's a huge amount of legroom for rear-seat passengers, and while the third row is better suited to children, you can carry seven adults for short trips.
The second-row seats can independently slide forwards or backwards and recline, and the sliding rear doors make access easy. With the rearmost seats folded, there's a sizable 1,167- litre boot, but this reduces to 267 litres with them up. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Used SEAT Alhambra deals For: Refined, practical, enjoyable to drive
Refined, practical, enjoyable to drive Against: Dated looks, feels cheaper than the SEAT
Given that the Mk3 Ford Galaxy arrived back in 2006, the styling is showing its age a little, but the defined wheelarches and chrome door trim break up the design. Where it wears its age very well, however, is from behind the wheel.
The Ford Galaxy is one of the best MPVs to drive, due to its positive steering and composed stance in the corners. And thanks to its compliant ride and well isolated cabin, the Ford is a great motorway companion. We'd recommend a Galaxy with a 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine, and you can get a 2014 Mk3 Ford Galaxy with 37,500-miles on the clock for well under £10,000. Advertisement - Article continues below
Despite its age, the Ford Galaxy's cabin is arguably more stylish than the SEAT's, with silver trim spanning the dashboard and a trio of circular air vents. It isn't quite as sturdy as the Alhambra inside, however, even though both cars are a step beyond the SsangYong in this regard.
There are plenty of storage cubbies scattered around the cabin, and the Galaxy can accommodate seven adults in relative comfort, with sliding and reclining rear seats. The boot is bigger than the SEAT's, at 308 litres, which increases to 1,301 litres with the rear seats folded – impressive, but not as vast as the SsangYong's load bay. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Used Ford Galaxy deals For: Spacious interior, torquey engine, comfortable ride
Spacious interior, torquey engine, comfortable ride Against: Patchy interior quality, wallowy handling, thirsty
The SsangYong Turismo was a step in the right direction for SsangYong, but the ungainly Rodius wasn't a hard act to follow. Its replacement looks more cohesive, but there's no real depth to the shape.
On the move, the SsangYong is cumbersome in corners and falls far short of the Ford in particular, with vague steering and lots of roll. The soft suspension provides a supple ride at speed, but the Turismo crashes into potholes in town and shimmies over sudden imperfections. The 176bhp 2.2-litre diesel motor has enough power to shift the Turismo without straining. A 2016 model with 65,000 miles on the clock is well within the £13k budget.
When it comes to practicality, the SsangYong claws points back, with a cavernous interior that can easily carry seven adults in comfort. There are two seats in the middle row, with a full-sized bench to seat three in the rear, meaning those sitting at the back won't be as cramped as they would in many other MPVs.
Not only this, but the Turismo also offers a huge 875-litre boot, even with all three rows of seats up, making it far more accommodating for luggage than its rivals in this test. With the seats lifted out, meanwhile, there's a van-like 3,146-litre load space. The cabin isn't built to the same standards as the SEAT or Ford, though, with frail trims and flimsy plastics littered around. The design isn't particularly attractive, either.
Used SsangYong Turismo deals
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too .
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