[blackwasp]

Maruti Ertiga

What you'll like:

• A 7-seater MPV at the price of a C segment sedan. Sub 10-lakh petrol variants are well-priced
• Practical & spacious cabin, now with a usable 3rd row & larger boot
• A peppy petrol, efficient diesel & convenient automatic on offer = take your pick
• Car-like to drive and city-friendly size (unlike most other 7-seater MPVs)
• Features such as that sweet head-unit, projector headlamps, cooled cup-holders & more
• Dual airbags, ABS + EBD, Isofix anchors & parking sensors are standard. Automatic gets ESP too
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experience

What you won't:

• Build, quality & refinement are strictly average for a million-rupee car
• Diesel carries a whopping Rs ~1.9 lakh OTR premium over the petrol
• Small 1.3L diesel is unimpressive at this price point. Lag is obvious with a full load of passengers
• 3rd-row isn't for everyone as the 2nd-row doesn't tumble forward, making ingress / egress tricky
• 4-speed Automatic feels old & outdated. Not available in the top variant either
• Some missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM and auto headlamps + wipers (expected at this price)
• Waiting periods are already 3 months long for most variants

Link to Official Review

Mahindra Marazzo

What you'll like:

• A clean looking Mahindra (for a change!) with a robust, abuse-friendly build
• Nice & roomy cabin. 1st & 2nd seat rows are spacious, while the captain seats are terrific
• A 3rd-row seat that can actually be used by adults
• 1.5L diesel offers good driveability & fuel economy. 6-speed MT is smooth to use
• Compliant ride quality with neutral road manners for an MUV
• Impressively refined & more carlike-to-drive than other body-on-frame UVs
• Dual airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, Isofix & ABS are standard
• Features such as 2 front armrests, adjustable lumbar support, cruise control, rear window sunshades, rest reminder, economy mode etc.

What you won't:

• With the 3rd seat row in place, the boot is rather small for a vehicle of this size
• Concerns over niggles in a freshly baked product & engine from Mahindra
• M8 variant's price overlap with the XUV500 & Hexa (especially after discounts on the latter two)
• No automatic variant on sale. Almost all competitors have an AT in the line-up
• Some design errors such as the cramped engine bay (try accessing the battery) & hard-to-use handbrake
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Many important features missing (keyless entry & go, auto-dimming IRVM, leather-wrapped steering, telescopic steering adjustment, auto headlamps & wipers etc.)

Link to Official Review

Toyota Innova Crysta

What you'll like:

• Indestructible build & durability. The Innova is known for its bullet-proof reliability
• Spacious, flexible & practical cabin. An extremely comfortable long distance commuter
• Upmarket interiors. The ZX AT variant is very plush
• Powerful diesel engines with user-selectable driving modes
• Balanced suspension & road manners. High speed stability is rock solid
• Top-notch safety kit. 7 airbags, ABS, ESP, TC, Isofix & 3-point seatbelts for all
• Feature packed! Leather seats, LED headlamps, mood lighting, cruise control & lots more
• Toyota's excellent after-sales service and fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• Hefty price tag! 2 - 3 lakhs higher than the already expensive ol' Innova
• Top ZX variant is unavailable with a middle-row bench seat (8 seater)
• Lower variant's interior looks too basic
• 2.8's single-digit urban fuel economy due to the hefty kerb weight, engine size and AT
• 2.4's NVH package still has holes to fill (engine clatter, dancing gear lever)
• Heavy steering at parking / low speeds. Can get cumbersome in the city
• Poor sound quality from the ICE. Cheap speakers beg for an upgrade
• Short service interval of merely 5,000 km. Inconvenient for those with high usage

Link to Official Review

Link to BHPian VKumar's Innova Crysta 2.7L Petrol AT Review

Renault Lodgy

What you’ll like:

• An all-rounded & practical 7 seater MPV. 3rd seat row is usable too
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• 109 BHP diesel is fast, refined & fuel-efficient. 84 BHP variant has superb driveability
• Outstanding ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Car-like to drive. Balanced handling and dynamics
• Features: Touchscreen ICE, cruise control, navigation, adjustable lumbar support etc.
• Boot space of 207 - 1,861 liters. Innumerable passenger : cargo combinations possible

What you won’t:

• Limited 2nd row legroom. This seat lacks the fore & aft adjustment of its competitors
• 109 BHP diesel suffers from turbo-lag below 1,800 rpm
• Boxy, unappealing styling (especially the rear end)
• Low 3rd-row seat means you sit with your knees pointing upward
• Renault's service network isn't a patch on that of Maruti or Toyota
• Owners of the mechanically-identical Duster have reported the occasional niggles

Link to Official Review

Honda BR-V

What you'll like:

• A 7-seater SUV, unlike its direct competitors. Front & rear styling is nice
• Spacious, practical interiors. Excellent legroom and headroom in the 1st and 2nd rows
• Fast petrol, efficient diesel & smooth CVT - take your pick
• Compliant ride quality & neutral handling. 210 mm of ground clearance!
• Effortless to drive: light controls, sorted ergonomics & easy maneuverability for the city
• Airbags standard across the range. ABS + EBD on every variant, except base petrol
• Practical 223 liter boot with all seats up. 691 liters of capacity with the last row folded away
• Equipment includes projector headlamps + LED pilot lamps, leather upholstery, keyless entry & go, roof-mounted rear air-con, paddle shifters etc.

What you won't:

• Hit or miss design. MPV-like appearance from certain angles
• Interior part quality is ordinary. Also, build quality is very light
• Limited cabin width. Middle row good for 2 adults, not 3
• Low 3rd-row seat is best for kids or occasional usage only
• Poor rearward visibility.
• i-DTEC diesel can get noisy and isn't high-rpm friendly
• Priced above the City which is a more premium car overall
• Missing essentials (seatbelt height adjustment, auto-dimming IRVM, telescopic steering adjustment, phone controls on steering, proper dead pedal)

Link to Official Review

Mahindra TUV300 Plus

What you'll like:

• Brilliant 2.2L mHawk engine has transformed the TUV300! It's totally worth the price premium
• Increased length brings more seating space in the 3rd row
• A very viable alternative to the outdated Scorpio & antique Bolero
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction. Good road presence too
• Boot space has gone up to 696 litres (expandable to 888 litres)
• Features: 7-inch touchscreen system, 2 front armrests, adjustable lumbar support, ECO mode etc.

What you won't:

• 3rd seat row is only for kids or short adults. What's worse, 2nd row legroom has reduced in the Plus!
• Ride quality is nowhere as cushy as its car-based rivals. Can get bumpy
• Steering is on the heavier side at parking / low speeds. Requires effort to use
• No AMT Automatic. Sub-4m TUV300 gets it
• Some important features missing (rear a/c vents, seatbelt height adjustment, dead pedal, option of a 4x4 etc.)
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble

Link to Official Review

Tata Hexa

What you'll like:

• Smart styling & substantial presence. Solid build & paint quality too
• Spacious, high quality and comfortable interiors. Even 3rd row is rather useable
• 6-speed AT is smooth & competent. Perfectly mated to the 2.2L diesel
• Excellent ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Features such as selectable driving modes, auto headlamps & wipers, ORVM demister...
• Awesome 10-speaker JBL audio system. Sound quality is fantastic!
• Top-notch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, TC, ABS, EBD, hill hold / descent control etc.
• AWD with electronic wizardry & 200 mm of ground clearance

What you won't:

• Automatic variant unavailable with AWD, ESP & super drive modes
• Missing essentials (steering reach adjustment, smartkey entry & go, auto-dimming IRVM...)
• Access to the 3rd row is flawed in the captain seat (6-seater) version
• Heavy steering (low speeds), long travel MT shifter, big size & wide turning radius are annoying in the city
• Fat 2,280 kg kerb weight blunts performance & efficiency. Competition is 400 kilos lighter!
• Concerns over niggling issues & long-term reliability
• Tata's after-sales service remains a hit or miss

Link to Official Review

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the MUVs Section. Thanks for sharing!

Budget no bar, I would pick the Innova Crysta without a doubt. Am not an MPV guy, but if I ever buy one, it'll be for the family and I'll go with its reliability, comfort, safety & abuse-friendly nature.

If I was looking for something more value-for-money, it would be the Marazzo. The Ertiga has improved, yes, but it didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Can only choose based on budget IMHO!

For example - In Bangalore, the top end Ertiga is closer to 14 lakhs, the top end Marazzo is closer to 19 whereas the top end Innova Crysta is closer to 28 lakhs. So all three products cater to different spectrum of buyers, and I just can't pick one ignoring the budget.

Easy to knock out BRV, Lodgy, TUV3OO plus - as none of these are as well rounded as the other people movers. Hexa is a brilliant car, but may be soon be sandwiched between the Harrier and H7X and end up being discontinued - hence it makes sense spending a little more on the Crysta instead.

[AYP]

When it comes to MPV, only the Toyota Innova comes to the mind. Budget no bar, it is indeed the car which I would go for. Not only does it have the Toyota reliability, but it has got very capable and powerful engines and a fare amount of premium feeling(in the V and Z variants) to go along with its reliability. Innova is a rare Toyota about which you can say the above, at least in India.

That being said, if I were in this segment, I'd wait for the next gen XUV500 and its Ford counterpart. Yes, they are not MPVs but SUVs, which might make them appear more favourable for a majority of us Indians.

P.S.- I would really like to know if the Hexa is an MPV or an SUV. We have seen many such debates on the forum itself but I don't think that we have arrived at a conclusion yet. I would like to know the official categorisation of the Hexa and the BR-V as per body style. I hope this would end the debate once and for all.

[paragsachania]

The price range is vast and I don't know if this poll will in any way reflect the buyer sentiment. Rather, it will reflect the buying power based on requirements and budget.

As C_D rightly pointed out, the Ertiga comes as a VFM 7 Seater MUV (now) but as you go up the ladder, you have better products that comes at higher price. On the other hand, I would look forward to see how (and if) the 1.5D makes it into the Ertiga in near future and if that manages to improve the low end driveability aspects of it. This engine also means the price can go up a notch higher and will put it into the Marazzo category where the latter has quite impressively planted itself as of today. Heck, 5 years before I picked the 5+2 seater Ertiga only because of the VFM factor for the price of a sedan. There would be many today who would still think the way I did.

For this poll, there was absolutely no doubt that Crysta remains the ultimate choice for me given my usage pattern and the fact that I already own the Ertiga and driven it for more than 1.6L km. And I will always go with the bullet proof reliability of the T badge over the others.

If I had not bought the Ertiga, and If I had a tight budget even today, I would be thinking between the Ertiga and if possible stretch a little for the Marazzo too. As I said before, the range is wide for a poll like this and there is no clear winner if you just want to go by the responses to this poll as each are leaders in their own segment.

[SJM1214]

IMHO, the last row seat's comfort level (& usability) is one of the main factors for shortlisting an MPV. Innova and Hexa are best as far as third-row seat's usability is a concern. That makes Hexa and Inova two of the best MPVs currently in the market.

However, Innova is unnecessarily costly. Hexa is too heavy which ultimately affects its performance. And when the factor of VFM (budget) enters in the equation, Ertiga rules the list. As mentioned by GTO, Ertiga has improved a lot. However, my final choice is Team-BHP's COTY Marazzo. Marazzo's "What you'll like" points make it a complete package and it's "What you won't" points don't bother me much.

Voted for Marazzo.

[DPetrolHead]

Voted for Innova Crysta.

Budget constraints aside, it is probably the only MPV which provides comfort, convenience, reliability, status symbol all in one with a wide range of engine and transmission options.

There is no denying to the fact that the Crysta had its niggles which were suprising from a Toyota but other than that I believe it is the ideal MPV for your garage.

But if I have that money, I would stretch a little and rather go with the Endeavour

Cheers!

[Sophomore]

Voted for Toyota Innova Crysta.

If you want a people mover without sacrificing much on driving pleasure, it should be Innova Crysta. The engine is great and those different drive modes really works. One can immediately feel if the drive mode is changed from one to another. Normal mode itself is having much to offer. I think Innova Crysta is a segment of it's own.

[ani_meher]

The poll is only based on number of seats? Then even TUV300 should have been part of it, as it technically has 7 seats (2 jump seats).

It is like asking 'if you have unlimited budget, will you still buy the cheapest car?' Of course people will 25l+ budget will not look at Ertiga, and vice versa. Sure Marazzo is trying to be present in all the baskets, but sooner or later it will be pushed to either budget end or premium end of the segment.

Not voting because 'Number of seats' is not a good enough criteria to select winners within cars in distinctively different price baskets.

[Leoshashi]

Originally Posted by ani_meher

Not voting because 'Number of seats' is not a good enough criteria to select winners within cars in distinctively different price baskets.

+1 to that!

All three main MPVs cater to different segments and price brackets which cannot be compared. Having said that, when Innova Crysta is present in any MPV comparo, it has to win irrespective of the rivals. Hence for me, Crysta it is!

Regards,
Shashi

[AdityaDeane]

I've always loved the Lodgy for the amount of space and practicality it offers at a shade over the price of Ertiga. Yes, it did poorly in the NCAP Crash Tests, but I'm sure the top model will do better (I understand the unstable sheet metal quality won't change just that Airbags etc. may bring slightly better results). I have no issues with it's boxy design, we had 2 versions of the Tata Sumo one after the other when I learned how to drive. All 3 front facing rows for our family, with me being the tallest at 5'8" means that no one will have any issues in all the 3 rows. It is much cheaper than Marazzo, and offers similar levels of space and practicality. The new Ertiga is better than before, and it is in my radar only because of the Petrol AT combination it offers, if Renault brings in a Lodgy with Petrol CVT/AMT, it may tilt my scales to Lodgy and away from Ertiga just for the acres of space inside itself!!

[SmartCat]

Putting my practicality hat on, it looks like Maruti Ertiga and Toyota Innova are the clear winners.

I'm surprised by how much the new Ertiga offers for a typical MPV buyer, at such an affordable price. It is now feature packed, comes with various engine and transmission options and removes all shortcomings of previous gen Ertiga.

On the other end, Toyota Innova wins primarily because of its reputation and amazing resale value. When it is time to sell, the Rs. 25 Lakh Innova will work out to be cheaper than Rs. 20 Lakh Hexa.

Marazzo has couple of shortcomings:

- No petrol or automatic transmission
- Lack of boot space (Mahindra engineers do not realize the importance of bootspace. Just look at XUV 500, Marazzo, Xylo, XUV300 etc)

[Eddy]

It'll be a tough choice between Ertiga and BRV for me - the two most VFM petrol automatic options. But I think I'll go with the Ertiga.

[porsche_guy]

Voted for the Hexa

It was a tough call for me between the Marazzo and Hexa but Tata won since it has better quality and a significantly better engine. The Crysta is also a good choice but I feel it is quite overpriced for what it ultimately is.

The Ertiga seems cheap to me and more of a compromise. I would rather get a Marazzo M6 over an Ertiga ZDI+. The TUV was outrightly rejected since I find it to be crude for private operation. The Lodgy would also had made good sense a couple of years ago but frankly, it seems to be too dated now. As for the BR-V, it is nothing more than a glorified Mobilio which is not much better than the Ertiga.

Cheers!

[Bhatia.D17]

Voted for the Innova Crysta.

Although MPV is not a requirement in our family. Innova is itself a complete package and would be my pick. My father has done some outstation trips recently driving the Crysta 2.8 AT. He was very impressed with the already capable car.

My second choice would be the Ertiga in its petrol avatar. The ZXI+ Variant costs around 10.5L on road here in Delhi which is quite good. It can serve as a good 5 + 2 occasional passengers for inter city trips. The Ertiga is a big improvement from its previous generation although its rear looks are a bit of question for me.