Need to replace my car. My mind says Renault Kangoo, but my heart says Multipla. Trouble is, I live in inner-city London with pinch-spots and central islands and buses etc etc. Top Gear Mag's review began with the line "too wide for Britain's roads". Do you agree or should I follow my heart?

Depends how good a driver you are I suppose. I've got mine through some very narrow spots. After a while you get a feel for it.

I find the width no problem at all whether it be Inner city streets or narrow country lanes and my previous car was a CLIO !!!

I too had heard the reports about how wide the car is, and was concious of before driving, however, as soon as took first drive, didn't even think about width.

It's not something personally I have ever noticed whilst driving and cannot understand the comments about it being too wide. I use mine as a cab and have never had any problems.

Put a Multipla next to a Mondeo and there's nothing in it width wise. I think reviewers just see the 3 front seats and automatically assume it's wide and going to be a problem.

surely transits can get through all of these pinch points etc?

Multipla has straight, 'flat' sides and there isn't much door/trim width between the inside and outside. You're also up high and sitting quite close to the door. I think this all allows you to easily judge the width because you can pretty much see it all from where you sit.

[email protected] said:

....central islands....

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yum yum... No prob with a Multi....line it up right and you won't even feel them!


go with the heart!

These reviews which comment on how wide the Multipla is have puzzled me too, but the following MPVs are all wider, by up to 10cm (according to What Car):
Ford S-Max, VW Sharan, SEAT Alhambra, Peugeot 807, Ford Galaxy, Hyundai Trajet, Renault Espace, Citroen C8, and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso.

The following are also wider:
Audi Q7; BMW 7 & X5; Chrysler Grand Voyager; Citroen C5; Honda Legend & CR-V; Hyundai Santa Fe; Jaguar XJ; Jeep Grand Cherokee; Land Rover Freelander, Discovery & Range Rover; Lexus LS & RX; Mercedes S-Class, CL, R-Class, M-Class & Viano; Nissan Qashqai, Murano & Pathfinder; Peugeot 407 Coupe; Porsche Cayenne; Toyota Land Cruiser; VW Phaeton, Caravelle & VW Touareg; Volvo S80 & XC90. (Not to mention Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, commercial vehicles, etc.)
Certain parts of London would be pretty empty without this lot, so don't worry about the Multipla's width.

I assume that the car 'feels' wider because it's much shorter, and because the driver sits closer to the door.

cardiff ulysse said:

These reviews which comment on how wide the Multipla is have puzzled me too, but the following MPVs are all wider, by up to 10cm (according to What Car):
Ford S-Max, VW Sharan, SEAT Alhambra,.

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I own a Seat Alhambra and would contest the above, as my Fiat Multipla is wider. My Seat will easily reverse through my narrow gates but even with the mirror ears tucked in the Fiat will not. I have also test driven an S Max and this is also narrower several inches.

Sorry to disagree,

Mags

Maggie said:

I own a Seat Alhambra and would contest the above, as my Fiat Multipla is wider. My Seat will easily reverse through my narrow gates but even with the mirror ears tucked in the Fiat will not. I have also test driven an S Max and this is also narrower several inches.

Sorry to disagree,

Mags

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Maybe What Car have the wrong figures, but it states:

"FIAT Multipla ... Width 2094mm (incl. mirrors)" (Fiat brochure shows 1870mm excl. mirrors)
"Ford S-MAX ... Width 2154mm (incl. mirrors)" (Ford website states 1884mm without mirrors 2154mm with mirrors)
"SEAT Alhambra ... Width 2120mm (incl. mirrors)" (SEAT website doesn't seem to reveal such information)

I'm comparing new cars here, so maybe you have an earlier, wider model ? Was the pre-facelift Multipla wider ?

There is not much in it but... According to my handbooks

Multipla 6'2 excluding mirrors
Alhambra 5'10 excluding mirrors
Don't know about the S Max though.

Hence Alhambra gets through my gates when I need to service it and the Multi does not.

Mags

Thanks for all your replies - I used to own a Puma - glad my new choice of car also has such a cult following!

When I was looking at buying one for myself I did some online research and I did read one report somewhere that the only standard production car on British roads that is wider than the Multipla is some old Roller. I bought one anyway (needed all 6 seats and space for 2 dogs so seats in the boot weren't an option). I've never looked back. The width just isn't noticable although for such a tall car I do find my hair brushing the roof a little irritating at times .

skeeta said:

When I was looking at buying one for myself I did some online research and I did read one report somewhere that the only standard production car on British roads that is wider than the Multipla is some old Roller. .

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I have read that somewhere, I think it was a Rolls Royce Silver Seraph that they quoted. They also said that the multi had more interior room as well, so I bet your dogs will thank you for their elevation above the 'common corgi' status!!

Mags

Yeah, the dogs are happy as larry. I have a German Shep and a Husky and for short journeys there's more than enough room for them both even with the rear seat's in the rear most position. For longer stints I'll sacrfice a little rear leg room to give the hounds more room to lie down but either way I don't struggle and they have so much more room than they did in my Mondeo hatch .

The width of a multipla only matters when you park on a busy road, it does stick out a bit, so you get used to using the excellent mirrors to park flush to the kerb.
In any case, as said above, how do trucks, buses, white vans, Limos, Buggatti Veyrons, Caravans etc get about London?, does anyone EVER say they are too wide?

I have no problem with mine, going down narrow lanes, narrow street etc. I have been round central london in mine with no problem. As long as you remeber the mirrors can go in you will be stunned were you can fit the thing though