Automobile Classification - Multi-purpose Vehicles/Minivans

Multi-purpose Vehicles/Minivans

Also known as "people carriers", this class of cars resembles tall estate cars. Larger MPVs may have seating for up to eight passengers. (Beyond that size, similar vehicles tend to be derived from vans (see below) and in Europe are called minibuses.)

Being taller than a family car improves visibility for the driver (while reducing visibility for other road users) and may help access for the elderly or disabled. They also offer more seats and increased load capacity than hatchbacks or estate cars.

Examples of mini MPVs:

  • Ford B-Max
  • Citroën C3 Picasso
  • Opel/Vauxhall Meriva

Examples of compact MPVs:

  • SEAT Altea
  • Opel Zafira Tourer
  • Ford C-MAX

Both categories are equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "Small MPVs".

Examples of large MPVs / minivans:

  • Mazda5
  • Ford Galaxy
  • SEAT Alhambra

This category is equivalent to the EuroNCAP class "MPVs".

Read more about this topic:  Automobile Classification

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