MPV, or 'Multi-Purpose Vehicle', is a car classification curious to Europe (in America, the term 'minivan' is used). It describes a vehicle that has a large interior volume - allowing for plenty of storage - and a focus on practicality. An MPV is typically larger than an estate or hatchback, and makes use of a one-box or two-box design - the 'boxes' referring to the separate spaces set aside for storage or engine space. In other words, a multi-purpose vehicle will tend to look 'blockier' than a coup?, say, because it merges these spaces into one large compartment for maximum storage efficiency.
In addition, the seats are usually higher up than in a smaller car, and in many models, the seats can be folded down or removed in order to create even more space. They tend not to be four-wheel drive - instead, MPV manufacturers usually opt for front-wheel drive, as this allows for the inner floor of the vehicle to remain flat (otherwise, space would have to be sacrificed in order to accommodate for the driveshaft).
The MPV classification is itself further divided into sub categories relating to the vehicle's size - 'mini', 'compact' and 'large'. A brief rundown of each of these sub categories follows:
Mini MPV, as the name suggests, is the smallest subdivision of multi-purpose vehicle. These cars are a similar size to superminis, such as the Fiat Punto Evo, but are generally a little taller. Popular mini multi-purpose vehicles include the Nissan Note and the Ford Fusion.
Compact MPV, meanwhile, describes a car that is not large enough to be called a large multi-purpose vehicle, but is notably larger than a mini MPV. This category tends to be further subdivided according to the number of seats that the car contains. Some compact multi-purpose vehicles, such as the Honda FR-V, have six seats - three in the front and three in the back. However, this configuration is unusual, and it is more common to see five and seven-seater compact multi-purpose vehicles. In some of these cars, the rearmost seats are only suitable for children. The compact MPV is popular in Europe, but seen less elsewhere - in the UK, you can commonly spot models such as the Peugeot 3008, the Fiat Multipla and the Citro?n Xsara Picasso.
A large MPV toes the line between a family car and a van. These cars are, essentially, vans designed to carry people rather than cargo. That said, large multi-purpose vehicles do tend to be flexible enough to transport large items if necessary (hence the use of the term 'multi purpose'!). Larger types of multi-purpose vehicle include the Kia Sedona, the Volkswagen Sharan and the Ford Galaxy. The Peugeot 5008 is sometimes placed in this category, but it is marketed as a compact MPV with extremely flexible storage options.
Finally, there are several cars that take the MPV concept and meld it with features from other car types. Examples of this include the Toyota Corrola and the Peugeot 307, which mix elements of multi-purpose vehicles and estate vehicles.
MPV stands for multi-purpose vehicle - a type of car that puts practicality and storage space first. There are several different types of multi-purpose vehicles, from large 7 seater cars to models that are of a comparable size to superminis.