[ani_meher]

Originally Posted by HighwayofLife

Not really- the Ertiga or the Marazzo have very sedan-like driving manners and aren't much bigger than most sedans, and yet offer more space with higher ground clearance. They're definitely more practical than a sedan or an SUV

Agree. The previous gen Ertiga was as long as Ford Ecosport or Toyota Etios and yet packed 7 seats. New gen is only 10cm longer, so should be similarly manageable. I think 4.3m is the sweet spot to roam around in city as well as carry reasonable luggage/people.


The huge space welcoming you every time you open the car is really refreshing, whether or not you are going to fill it up with people.

[indusboy]

Here is my theory!

One other thing to keep in mind is that "most" of the people did not buy hatchbacks because they wanted one, but rather they could afford only a hatchback. With rising income levels we will see a usage based car purchases happening in India. A couple with 2 kids and parents/inlaws nearby need a car that seats more people than a sedan. And if all they can afford/park 1 car, they will go for a MPV.

[HighwayofLife]

Originally Posted by indusboy

Here is my theory!

One other thing to keep in mind is that "most" of the people did not buy hatchbacks because they wanted one, but rather they could afford only a hatchback. With rising income levels we will see a usage based car purchases happening in India. A couple with 2 kids and parents/inlaws nearby need a car that seats more people than a sedan. And if all they can afford/park 1 car, they will go for a MPV.

I have a slightly different take- in places like Gurugram, with poor roads and aggressive driver behaviour, which necessitate vehicles with better road presence, two classes of vehicle make sense- SUVs or MUVs, since both have ground clearance and road presence. Most SUVs below Rs 15 lakhs are glorified 5 seaters, with compromised 7 seats, and if in a 7 seat config, offer zero boot space. Hence, anyone who wants 7 seats with usable boot space will invariably opt for an MUV, which is exactly why I bought a Marazzo. This trend will only grow, especially if Toyota reduces prices of the Innova to compete with the Marazzo

[volkman10]

Here is how MPV's are back and companies (Toyota, Maruti and Mahindra's)are making the most out of it.

Toyota Innova Crysta generates ₹ 2,200 crore business in December. Bookings in December alone amounts to 11,200, which is almost 50% jump as compared to the average monthly orders.

The bookings received in December is almost double the average monthly volumes the company did over the last calendar year

Maruti Suzuki's Ertiga gets 60000 bookings, and all this indicates that people are coming back to MPVs over more flamboyant (pseudo)SUV's in the market.

Source:

[mohansrides]

https://youtu.be/TXH68NrZI6c

https://youtu.be/NtcQTb5a2GE

Just a thought. Both of these minivans in the US cost roughly the same as a base Innova GX manual. And considering that the higher trims of the Innova push the price up by another 6 or 7 lacs ($10k), I'd say that we Indians are getting royally rogered for the money we pay through our nose. FYI even the Ertiga comes to approximately $16.5 k. That’s a lot of money for what is comparatively a cramped car with comparatively less features and almost no identifiable safety ratings. Indeed, when it comes to automotive manufacturers, it certainly looks like we Indians are being viewed as pond scum in the global consumer food chain.

Makes me mad as hell.

[SmartCat]

Wow, really fun reviews by this guy. Subscribed to Kelley Blue Book Youtube channel!

Originally Posted by mohansrides

That’s a lot of money for what is comparatively a cramped car with comparatively less features and almost no identifiable safety ratings. Indeed, when it comes to automotive manufacturers, it certainly looks like we Indians are being viewed as pond scum in the global consumer food chain. Makes me mad as hell.

It is the Evil Government, not the Evil Manufacturer. If you are paying Rs. 15 Lakhs on road price for a car, the manufacturer gets to pocket just about Rs. 8 Lakhs. There are multiple layers of taxes (GST on car and insurance, cess on GST, import duties on components etc) that are eventually paid by the consumer.

[mohansrides]

Originally Posted by smartcat

It is the Evil Government, not the Evil Manufacturer. If you are paying Rs. 15 Lakhs on road price for a car, the manufacturer gets to pocket just about Rs. 8 Lakhs. There are multiple layers of taxes (GST on car and insurance, cess on GST, import duties on components etc) that are eventually paid by the consumer.

You're right. However, even if we set aside the exorbidant prices in India and look at these vehicles purely in the absolute, I feel absolutely cheated.

I mean look at the tech on these minivans - external cameras with multiple view angles, cabin camera, cabin calling, memory seats, streaming audio, three row climate control, DVD players, wireless charging... the list appears endless!! But, let us go further and set even all this tech aside and look at just the non-tech stuff; i.e. space management inside the car. Look at the space in the 3 rows on these cars. Literally acres!!! One can argue that Americans are larger folk. But, demographic data shows that the anthropometric measurements are getting evened out across the globe. But ok, let us set aside even this aspect. Now, look at how those 3rd and 2nd rows move, flip, fold and contort at the touch of buttons to free up space. Look at those cavernous boots and the other storage spaces in the front row and the second and third rows. Look at the window sunshades that are offered in all three rows. Literally, an Indian family could live out of the Honda Odyssey in relative comfort.

By contrast, what do we get in the supposedly premium Innova Crysta for USD 30k? A cramped interior where we have to rationalize every little inch of space lost, a smoky and foul diesel engine with poor NVH, a dancing gear lever, and until October 2018, the GX didn't even offer a HU!!! I may be being a bit harsh on the Innova for effect. But really, I am not that far off point. And let us not even take stock of the Ertiga or even the newly minted Marazzo which is another premium offering. If the Innova falls short, those cars do not have a hope in hell. In India, most of us are crying to be given just a decent sized boot with all rows up. That's how deprived we are here with respect to MPVs. The story is just about the same in other segments of automobiles I am sure. Everywhere else in the world, people pay less than us to get more than what we get. Way more.

[SmartCat]

India review of Kia Carnival by NDTV Car & Bike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWtrkFeMXAA

900 litres of boot space with 3rd row in place!

[srishiva]

The fascinating things that Honda does with seats ! I think its time for someone to upstage Toyota in the MPV area. The ground clearance could be something that they need to work on. They are still minivans and not the kind of MPVs we need.

[volkman10]

MPV segment grows 14% as new models fuel demand . Toyota, Maruti and Mahindra's reap success.

SUV's register a decline in sales for the first time in the past decade in FY19 .

The multi-purpose vehicle segment, boxy people movers, that lost out to more attractive sports utility vehicles over the past few years, has bounced back with a handsome 14% growth in FY19 led by launches, rise in demand for inter-city travel and increased acceptance by personal buyers, especially families, with models becoming more attractive and feature-rich

The incremental sales from the new launches of the Mahindra Marazzo and the Maruti SuzukiNSE -3.72 % Ertiga and the sustained demand for the Toyota Innova turned the tide for the MPVs making it the fastest growing segment in the Indian auto industry.

Earlier, MPVs were bare-bone vehicles with minimum features.

But now manufacturers have realised that customers are ready to pay a premium for more comfort, space and features and that is reflected in the sales of Marazzo and the new Ertiga

Link