7 seat MPV car segment gone

eusap

I noticed this year there is very little options for a Full 7 seater, Citroen C4 Grand Space tourer gone, Galaxy - S-Max Gone it leaves little left with 3 ISO-fix seats.

Has this car segment fell away with smaller families are are more people opting for the SUV and trying badly to fit 3 car seats in

Flinty997

Just not selling. One trend is Family sizes are getting smaller in Europe. Also many MPVs aren't that stylish for the fashion conscious.

Personally I like them. Its like the swiss army knife of cars/vans.

MPVs become an endangered species

The situation for MPVs is even more complex. They are less appealing to consumers than SUVs, being less comfortable and simultaneously more expensive than the van-derived passenger cars. Through June, their registrations volume dropped by 28% to just 92,600 units, or 1.67% of total market. In H1 2015, their market share was 10.86%.

In 2015, there were 42 different MPVs available, while today consumers can choose from just 20 models. Similarly, in H1 2015, there were 3.9 MPVs for every van sold, while today there were just 1.8 vans sold for every MPV.

https://www.jato.com/h1-2022-europe-by-segments/

https://www.just-auto.com/features/mpvs-running-on-empty-in-the-european-market/

colm_mcm

Back in the late 00s, tonnes of 7 seaters were sold to people who didn’t particularly need them, but for who the alternative of a saloon or estate didn’t appeal. Then crossovers and SUVs came, and those buyers traded into those, then 7 seat crossovers like the Qashqai+2 came along and ticked the box for those that only occasionally needed the seats but wanted a “jeep” and not a mumsy Corolla Verso or Zafira.

The likes of the S-Max and Galaxy soldiered on, but most people didn’t need them in the first place, and they were more desirable to their target buyers as a used car.

Flinty997

Need them?

I would argue for most people a MPV (many are 5+2) is more useful than a compromised SUV. But they have chosen fashion over utility.

But here we are.

eusap

I guess family size had something to do it, average number of kids was 2 for many years, but in recent times that is growing again and there defiantly seems to be more people having more than 2 children so the need for 3 ISOFIX and a bit more room is starting to come back again.

Yesterday i had a conversation with somebody who bought a new Kodiaq and then realized they needed to buy 3 new cars seats that would "FIT" across the back seat, Yes its possible but what a pain

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120264453#Comment_120264453

They are less appealing to consumers than SUVs, being less comfortable and simultaneously more expensive than the van-derived passenger cars.

I do not buy that at all.

Van derived passenger cars or vans with windows are more expensive, less comfortable and no where near as clever or nice to drive as a proper MPV.

It is sad that the MPV segment has died but it has.

MPVs were much more comfortable and much better to drive than many modern CUVs and SUVs too.

Flinty997

I didn't get the less comfortable but. But the numbers steak for themselves.

elperello

I used to get to drive a Citroen C7 petrol occasionally some time ago.

I loved the driving position, the space, the ergonomics and the general feel of it.

Nothing like it on the market now.

( I should add I didn't have to pay for the upkeep)

Toots

I've had a 7 seater for the last 10 years. Got it not long after I had my first child - we planned on having more kids so I figured future proofing by having 3 individual seats across the back was wise. Also the massive boot with the 3rd row folded down meant I could fit the buggy in without having to completely disassemble it, along with a full grocery shop. We also had 2 dogs at the time, so if we were ever going out with the dogs, there was plenty of room for them in the boot.

One thing I noticed is the 3rd row in 7 seaters seems to be getting progressively smaller as the years go on. Back when I was a kid we had a ford galaxy and it had 5 full size seats in the back. You could take individual ones out and swap around as needed. When I had my first Scenic (08) the back row was smaller than the middle row, but you could still fit 2 adults in it for a short journey. My second Scenic (12) had an even smaller back row and you couldn't fit an adult in it at all, unless they had no legs. My 11 year old son even found it uncomfortable unless it was a short journey. I actually found that the middle row in the 2012 scenic was smaller as well - whereas I could fit 3 child seats across the back of the 2008 version (or a child seat on each side and an adult in the middle) - on the 2012 model, with a child seat on either side, the middle seat wasn't usable.

Fast forward 10 years, we've got 2 kids and won't be having any more, youngest is 5 so no need to cart a massive pram around. We now have 1 small/medium sized dog as opposed to 2 massive dogs. I changed my car in January and bought a VW Taigo. I'd have liked another 7 seater, because I like the high driving position and the flexibility of having oodles of boot space, especially if I fold down all the seats, however the cost of buying a new one is crazy, and the second hand ones are huge money too. When I actually sat down and thought about it, I don't really need it. I'd be paying a massive premium for 2 seats that may be used once or twice a year, if even that. I wonder did a lot of people who bought 7 seaters do it for the added boot space, as opposed to the extra 2 seats, and now that their kids are older and they don't need to accommodate the same amount of baggage, the 7 seaters aren't as in demand.

Flinty997

There is/was a regular scenic and a grand scenic. There are basically 3 sizes of MPV, the small ones, mid sized, and full sized. We used our 7 seats a good bit. Once the kids became teens, the bigger size interior still handy. For a time we were also carrying grandparents, walkers and wheelchairs. Handy for use as van as well. If I had a choice I'd keep the 7 seater as 2nd car, and replace our other car with something cheap to run for all the local trips.

Toots

Both mine were Grand Scenic. It came in really handy when we were moving house as I could fold down all the seats and it was like a small van.

Flinty997

Haven't been in the later Grand Scenics, the older ones seem very usable for an adult in any of the seats, for occasionally journeys.

Ford still do large MPVs like the Galaxy. They also have a new 9 seater. I think the S-Max is best compromise for most people though. I would have like a Galaxy but the other half wanted something smaller and easier to park, as we are mostly in the city.

bazz26

Ford already announced that the S-Max and Galaxy will end production in April.

Bubonic

I've been driving an Alhambra for the past 8 years and its a fantastic car. Basically a VW Sharan, but both have ended production now, the Sharan stopped last year.

I don't really want a crossover or SUV, so I guess I'll drive the Alhambra into the ground and buy something electric when the time comes.

Flinty997

I know a few with big families have downsized from MPVs to two small cars. Actually take both on Irish holidays.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120293510#Comment_120293510

I honestly thought it was gone already.

I just looked up the Ford Ireland website and it's still there starting at 42k.

Maybe a bargain if you need one.

eusap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120294018#Comment_120294018

no orders are being taken and none have been delivered since December which actually pushed up the prices of used ones because there is a demand

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120294097#Comment_120294097

That explains it, thanks.

Fair old lump of car for the money all the same.

creedp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120294250#Comment_120294250

I imported a 2017 smax titanium sport in late 2020 just before Brexit hit for €23k on the road. Great value at the time and even better now. Family of 6 so even with 6 seats in use there is still loads of room for luggage. Great yoke for going on holidays, carting furniture and doing trips to recycling centre, etc. I'll be holding onto it for the long run as there is nothing out there reasonably affordable at the moment to replace it with

Instead I'll be looking to upgrade my old Leaf to an EV that has decent range.

RINO87

Twins on the way to join a 3 year old so I find myself doing something I thought I would never do and am looking for a 7 seater. 4-7k budget, the options are depressing...anyone seen any hidden gems out there??

Car would be a daily for the better half too for a 40km round trip daily commute so would need to be fairly reliable. Thinking 2 litre diesel is the way to go as a 1.5/1.6 would be well clapped out at our budget lugging what is essentially a van about the place.

Is it worth stretching to a Galaxy over an S-Max??

Flinty997

An S-Max is more car like. The Galaxy more van like. It's all a compromise the bigger you go more space, less fuel efficient. Harder to park etc. There's no right answer.

eusap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120297508#Comment_120297508

both are similar dimensions (length/width), its the shape and styling that is different. For kids i think the smax is fine, if it was teenagers/adults i would go Galaxy all day

Flinty997

Galaxy is more van like, much taller, squarer, much more space in the rear. Especially with back seats up. I dunno about the external dimensions.

Eimearryan32

I've heard the S Max can cause trouble and can be difficult to fix. Has anyone had issues with theirs? I was all set to buy one until my mechanic mentioned this. Looking at a Picasso now instead as found the Touran/Sharan quite expensive and the Seats are hard to come by.

eusap

If you think an S-max might give you trouble drive a Citroen for awhile! Never heard of too many problems with the S-max some of the earlier automatics had issues but i think the manual where ok.

bazz26

Yeah, it's the older Powershift automatic in any Ford you really want to avoid. Some nasty repairs costs with them.

Eimearryan32

Thanks. So should be ok with a 2016/2017 manual?

swai

There is a still a big MPV market in Japan so likely will still get imported here.

I've a Mitsubishi Outlander 7 seat, albeit 2 seats are quite small but always a good option to have. Was actually looking for used cars for the wife, she is changing from a small honda fit. The Honda Freed 6/7 seat looked nice. We settled on a Toyota Sienta from Japan.

There are also some Toyota Alphard / Vellfire I've seen driving around recently.

Guess with the amount of Japanese imports these days that will still be easy enough to get if you want a MPV.