LARGER THAN LIFE – The new Vauxhall Vivaro Life Elite MPV. By Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). At a time when every motor manufacturer is rushing to produce popular crossover and SUV models, Vauxhall has delivered something different, in the shape of the Vivaro Life, a very large MPV with standard and longwheelbase choices. Prices start from £40,705 for the main selling Elite … [Read more...]
Citroën C5 Aircross – Road Test
Fit for purpose – the new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV cum MPV… …assessed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The new Citroën C5 Aircross was launched in the UK in early February this year and it gave the French brand its entry into the medium-sized SUV market. But this vehicle’s design comes with a twist thanks to Citroën’s expertise with producing a long-line of MPV people … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Combo Life – Road Test
VAUXHALL COMBO LIFE FIVE SEATER – VERSATILE AND VALUE FOR MONEY MOTORING. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his verdict… The Vauxhall Combo Life is one of a trilogy of new van derived MPV, multi-purpose vehicles also known as ‘people carriers’. Its stablemates are the Peugeot Rifter and Citroën Berlingo and they are all available with five and seven seat versions with standard or … [Read more...]
Revised Fiat 500X – Road Test
UPDATED FIAT 500X - FASHION AND FUNCTION COMBINED. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). With the on-going arrival of all-new SUVs of all sizes in full swing, the popular market sector also offers updated versions of SUVs which have been available for much longer. At the compact end of the SUV market one such revised and refreshed model range made its UK debut at the end of last … [Read more...]
Latest Citroën Berlingo seven seater MPV – Road Test
New Citroën Berlingo functional as well as potentially fashionable… David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) test drives a seven seater version. MPV multi-purpose vehicles, or ‘people carriers’, as we knew 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 … [Read more...]
Vauxhall Combo Life MPV – Road Test
Vauxhall Combo Life Energy 1.5 Turbodiesel 100hp MPV… Assessed by Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency). Vauxhall know 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 … [Read more...]
Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer seven seater MPV – Road Test
New name, same stylish and versatile MPV functionality – The Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer… …put through its paces in a week-long family use road test by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Citroën 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 … [Read more...]
Peugeot Rifter – First Impressions
Convenience, practicality, good looks – The new Peugeot Rifter. David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) gives his initial thoughts… A practical vehicle for all reasons with good looks is the new Peugeot Rifter which has just gone on sale in September with prices starting from £19,650 for the five seater models available now, and £21,570 for the seven seat versions which become available early … [Read more...]
Latest Fiat 500L – First Impressions
Moving with the times – The new Fiat 500L. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). The 500L launched in 2013 in the UK was an extension of the new generation Fiat 500 city car introduced 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 … [Read more...]
Peugeot Traveller MPV – Road Test
The Peugeot Traveller MPV – When Bigger is Best By Robin Roberts (Miles Better News Agency) 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, … [Read more...]
Renault Grand Scenic seven seater MPV Road Test
David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) assesses the new Renault Grand Scenic seven seater ‘people carrier’… 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. MPV sales dropped a further 4.3% in the UK last year and 3.1% in Europe. But the industry … [Read more...]
Peugeot Traveller Road Test
Chris Adamson test drives a Peugeot MPV bearing a name many will remember from the days of Morris… I am of an age where the name Traveller, in the automotive context, is one I automatically associate with those wood-clad wonders that were the stretched versions of the Morris Minor and Mini back when Britain was among the world’s leading car producers. So it is a bit of a throwback … [Read more...]
Citroën C4 Grand Picasso Road Test
A work of art – the latest Citroën Grand C4 Picasso seven seat MPV. By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency). Sales of MPV people carriers have taken a hit in recent years from the public’s move to must-have fashionable SUVs, soft-offroaders and crossover models, but there are signs of recovery prompted by the introduction of new models. In 2015 MPV sales in the UK were down by over 21% to … [Read more...]
Ford S-Max All Wheel Drive Seven Seater Road Test
Ford’s S-Max Seven Seater MPV – Now With AWD Reviewed by David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) Yes summer is officially here but remember the horrors of last winter’s weather; gales, floods, ice and for some long months, deep snow. How many of us were just wishing to have 4x4 traction for our family or work cars? Most of the major volume sales manufacturers are saying that up to 20% of … [Read more...]
Road Test – Volkswagen Touran Seven Seater MPV
All Aboard the latest VW Touran People-Carrier By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) We know MPVs or ‘people-carriers’ have lost out in terms of sales throughout Europe to the status-enhancing and fashionable SUV/Crossover type models. The tide could turn because customers who prefer practicality as opposed to following fashion now have available plenty of alternative new and revised MPV … [Read more...]
SEAT Alhambra MPV Road Test
A SEAT With Seven Seats – The Alhambra MPV By David Miles (Miles Better News Agency) What’s in a name? SEAT – pronounced ‘say-at’ was founded in 1950 and is now the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Group. SEAT’s largest model is their seven-seat Alhambra MPV, which takes its name from a medieval palace site in Granada. Moving to more modern times 2016 is the 20th anniversary year of Alhambra … [Read more...]
Mazda5
Kim Henson reports... Surveying the variety of people carriers, or ‘multi-purpose vehicles’ (MPVs) offered by today’s mainstream motor manufacturers, you could be forgiven for thinking that in some cases styling has not been a major consideration in their development. While these vehicles may be effective for the job that they have to do, they are hardly eye-catching, and often lack the ‘wow’ … [Read more...]
