Best Motability cars for wheelchair users: WAVs
Whether you're after a classic family car or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV), here are our recommendations...
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV)
The Motability Scheme offers modified cars suitable for wheelchair access, defined as a ‘wheelchair accessible vehicles’, or WAVs. All small WAVs are fitted with a ramp for entry and usually have a lowered floor to reduce the angle of the access ramp. There’s also at least one passenger seat remaining in the rear, with the other one or two removed to make way for the wheelchair-accessible space. Buying a WAV through the Motability Scheme allows you to receive a modified vehicle in confidence, approved by Motability. Although we haven’t tested the cars in these forms, here are our recommendations of the best small WAVs based on our reviews of the cars on which they’re based.
As our current What Car? MPV of the Year, the Citroën Berlingo is one of the greats when it comes to practicality. Both the five and seven-seat versions of the Berlingo are available as adapted WAVs; the former allows four regular seats after modification, and the latter provides the option of six. A lofty ceiling means plenty of headroom and a reduced feeling of being hemmed in, while sliding side doors offer easy access to other rear passengers in tight parking spaces.
The Peugeot Rifter is available through the Motability scheme in both five and seven-seat guises with the same configurations as the Berlingo above. Despite its large size, the Rifter is comfortable to drive and handles like a much smaller car. It also has a stylish interior, lots of tech, and plenty of practical storage solutions.
Read our full Peugeot Rifter review >>
Vauxhall Combo Life
There are more adaptation options available for the Vauxhall Combo Life than with the two above, so you could create space for three, four, or five additional passengers, depending on which model you pick and the modifications you require. It’s cheaper than the more fashionable Berlingo, has a comfortable ride, and is well composed on the road making for relaxing journeys.
