If that's the sort of thing you're looking at then consider the Citroen C8/Pug 807.
Look for a later model (post 2006 IIRC) with orange clocks, older green clock models had a drainage issue that meant cam belts were needed every 30k or so! 120hp diesel with no FAP (fuel additive) is another maintainence worry gone (plus Eolys is nasty stuff). Underslung fuel cooler needs care in fields and floods but manageable. Engine is also a pig to work on from the top back thanks to the recessed bay.
On the other hand all seats are easily removable in seconds, the front ones spin in better specced (anything but basic I think) models, they have sliding doors and with luck a working Webasto diesel heater. If an MPV works for you then its under rated even if I do slag them rotten.
I run mine in a 3 seat configuration, load space behind the passenger seats is 2050 x 1370 and the back door is approx 1.1m wide by about 1m tall. I can get my Trailstar (26" but a lot of stack) in upright with the forks wound down or I can tilt it about and get it by the hatch. Once inside there is loads of head room and it's a flat floor.
The second generation – which will be the majority on the road now- have a terrible pedal position for taller drivers. But thats the case of all the Citroen /peugeots of that era. Its not a van-based thing its an NCAP thing – all the cars on that platform move the drivers feet back into the cabin and behind the door pillar out of harms way. In the Berlingo that moves your heals back and your knees up but the seat position /shape doesn’t account for that so your thighs are unsupported by the seat base. In their other cars on that platform you can never really find a balance between with the pedals being too close and the steering wheel too far away.
Odd, I’ve driven most of the cars from both Citroen and Peugeot, as well as Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Vauxhall, Mini, BMW, Mercedes, VW, Seat, Audi, Skoda, Smart, Mazda, as well as many of the vans from car-sized up to high-top long wheel-based, and the Partner and Berlingo are the worst driving position of any, apart from some of the bigger commercials.
It’s the very nature of my job to drive whatever turns up, regardless of condition or mods for disability, and those two are by far the worst driving experience I’ve had to endure over the last four years.
Even the gearboxes are crap.
