Tried & Tested MPVs for Hire

Renting a people carrier is a great option if you’re going abroad as part of a larger group. To decide on the people carrier best suited to you, you will need to consider the number of people in your party and of course the amount of luggage you need to transport. If you are on a tape budget you will want to rent a diesel MPV or minivan, as this will save considerably on fuel costs.

To guarantee the best possible price when you’re hiring a minivan, get organised and book at least a few months in advance. Car hire comparison websites are available for you to check people carrier rental prices, so you have no excuses if you don’t hire before you fly. By researching ahead of your travel date, not only will you save money on your MPV rental rate, you will also have time to read the small print and avoid sneaky charges. In particular, you have to be aware of the fuel policy of the company you hire your minivan from, as fuel policies vary from supplier to supplier.

We cannot emphasise enough that you need to understand what you are insured for and what you are not insured for, be prepared and get cover to avoid nasty shocks. The following information will give you an idea about just some of the MPVs, minivans and people carriers you can hire all over the world nowadays.

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.

One of the most popular people carriers you can hire is the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, with good reason. It’s a comfortable seven seater MPV and like most Citroens today it’s good-looking and incorporates a lot of nice features.

There are automatic and manual options available and petrol and diesel engines to choose from in the Grand Picasso range. So slightly softer suspension on the grand Picasso compared to many of its rivals, which is not as pleasant for the driver as it is for the passengers. Having got around to suspension issue though, hiring a Citreon Grand Picasso 7 seater is pretty much a joy.

It’s certainly among the most comfortable people carriers we have experienced and if you’re travelling long distances when on holiday then this is the MPV for you. Some clever boffin has invented a fantastic seat mechanism that converts the seats in almost any formation you want. In terms of internal room, there’s decent legroom and headroom, even with the seven seats in use, but you may require a roof box if you have 7 adults with luggage as boot space will be tight.

Depending on the version you choose to hire, you can expect to achieve anything from 30mpg right up to 57mpg in the 1.6 e-HDI people carrier. The Citroen Grand Picasso ticks a lot of the right boxes when it comes to a reliable, comfortable MPV hire and is certainly worthy of being on most shortlists.

SEAT Alhambra

The SEAT Alhambra has a smooth and refined ride, with great comfort levels and is cheaper to run than many of its competitors. Petrol and diesel engines can be had and fuel economy is pretty decent throughout the range of models. For a large seven seater it’s amazingly quiet and inside the cabin is a pleasant experience. The Alhambra has an outstanding safety record and it is well equipped throughout with plenty of legroom and headroom for passengers. Not many negatives, but if you’re being picky, the sheer size of the vehicle can make parking a bit of a struggle. One small niggling point, the back seats take a bit of manoeuvring before folding away. Despite the odd niggle, as one of the cheapest people carriers you can hire today, the Alhambra can be forgiven.

Ford Galaxy – Still Going Strong.

Although it’s been over a long time now, the Ford Galaxy people carrier is still considered king of the hill by many people. The Galaxy is massive and has lots of space in the cabin and in the boot. There are loads of options when it comes to folding the seats down but with all the seats up seven adults can be transported in great style. Don’t let the external looks put you off, there’s no debate – this is a good car to drive.

The steering is fantastic and cornering is superb. There are all sorts of bells and whistles if you’re hiring the titanium model, but even the basic models are well-equipped. Several of the diesel vehicles will give you a very acceptable fuel economy of about 45mpg.

There were a few problems with this minivan when it first came onto the rental market but these have long since been ironed out. If you are traveling in a party with seven adults then you may want to consider hiring a roof box as you will not have enough luggage space. Summing up, the Galaxy ticks all the right boxes when it comes to people carrier rental, and it’s internal space and style will make it a popular choice for years to come.