28 Nov 08
4. Mitsubishi Grandis
A well-kept secret within MPV circles, the mean-faced Grandis is as visually striking as it is good to drive and boasts rear seats that fold completely flat.
The best bet in the range is the 2.0-litre diesel engine (sourced from Volkswagen). How can you argue with punchy performance and an average 42.8mpg?
Pricing is around £20,000 but there are plenty of deals, discounts and special offers out there to be had. We easily found brokers offering brand-new models with a substantial £3,000 off the list price.
5. Vauxhall Zafira
It's been around a while but the Zafira is still excellent at being small, economical and affordable.
The 1.9-litre diesels are the best choices, but if an outright low purchase price is more important than speed, go with the 1.6 or 1.8 petrols.
Whichever one you plump for, the Zafira boasts good load-space and clever fold-in-the-floor seating - but it's not perfect. The seats in the third row are for kids only and the cabin is terminally dull and grey.
But these problems pale beside the five-star Euro NCAP test rating and the fact that there are stunning offers available on new cars. Brokers are currently offering £4,500 off list price, making the Zafira one of the cheapest and best-value MPVs around.
