Seat Tarraco

With SUVs, flexibility is often one of the first things people look for. While the Tarraco is available only in a seven-seat configuration it nonetheless has the flexibility of seating you’d expect from an SUV, with both rows of rear seats able to slide and fold forwards – increasing the boot space to 1,775 litres. Even so, when the seats are in use, it has 700 litres of space which compares well with many other SUVs on the market.

The Tarraco is brimming with technology, based around an 8” touchscreen display. It also comes with Bluetooth and can be linked to your phone, as well as a DAB digital radio. A neat feature is that the main dash behind the steering wheel can be customised, so you can include your music choices or a navigation aid on the display.

The Tarraco comes with a host of equipment as standard, including rear parking sensors, cruise control, front assist and city emergency braking as well as pedestrian protection, lane assist and tiredness recognition.

You can purchase a Tarraco with a 1.5 litre TSI petrol engine or 2 litre TDI diesel engine. Both come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although a seven-speed dual clutch automatic is also available. The Tarraco can go from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, according to Seat.

Advance Motability Payment: from £799

Vauxhall Crossland X

The Crossland X is a fi ve-door, family-friendly SUV crossover, but it has many of the attributes of an MPV. For instance, with the rear seats folded down, the Crossland X has 1,255 litres of boot space – more than enough for all the paraphernalia that families bring with them. The rear seat also slides, so the boot can be made bigger even when all the seats are occupied.

It comes with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and a 7” colour touchscreen, as you would expect, but also includes a wireless charging spot and a WiFi hotspot, so everyone in the car can stay connected. There are also two USB ports, which is a small but welcome feature.

Other bits of technology, such as a 180-degree panoramic rearview camera, are handy as they help take some of the stress – and neck strain – out of parking.

With family cars safety is always paramount, and the Crossland X has an abundance of features including traffi c sign recognition and lane departure warning as standard. The Crossland X also comes with Vauxhall’s OnStar app, which connects the car to the outside world and, importantly, will summon help in the event of an accident or breakdown.

Vauxhall say that drivers can get 40-44mpg from the Crossland X, depending on which engine spec is selected.

Advance Motability Payment: from £0

Alfa Romeo Giulia

The Giulia has been presented to compete with the likes of the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series in the mid-sized saloon arena. It certainly has the looks to rival those established names, with sleek lines giving it a sporty feel.

But the Giulia isn’t a case of style over substance, as its performance is a match for others in its class. Drivers can choose from a 2-litre petrol or a 2.2-litre diesel engine, and Alfa says it goes from 0-62mph in a more than respectable 6.8 seconds.

The Giulia is a rear-wheel drive, with quick and nimble steering. It is well balanced, helped by the doors, wings, brakes, suspension and engines being made of aluminium, which helps to keep the overall weight down.

It also comes complete with more than its fair share of in-car technology. For instance, there is the Alfa Connect 8.8” 3D Nav screen with DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Giulia’s infotainment system is controlled by voice commands, steering wheel controls or a rotary pad. As is standard on many new cars, it has Apple CarPlay for iPhone and with Android Auto for Android devices, giving you access to apps on your smartphone.

Advance Motability Payment: £3,750

25 years…

Motoring

The biggest motoring trend of the 1990s was the increasing popularity of MPV (or people carriers as they were often known). Their practical qualities have been hugely popular on Motability.

By the end of the 1990s, the Ford Fiesta was the most popular car in the UK and in 2014 it became the UK’s bestselling car ever. Today there are 52 versions available on the Motability Scheme, starting at just £45 advance payment.