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Are MPVs today a better option to buy, compared to other body styles?

27th December 2023, 09:32 by Rahul Nagaraj

Opinions on opting to buy a MUV over SUVs, sedans and hatchbacks.

BHPian Aditya recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Today, most car buyers prefer SUVs over anything else. This is mainly because these vehicles offer:

Higher seating which means a better view of the road
Seating for 5-7 people
Large size & butch styling along with commanding road presence which is important in India where "might is right" on the road
Large and powerful engines and
High ground clearance which is necessary to deal with the large bumps and uneven & unpaved patches of road - a common problem in India.

Sedans are considered a waste of space by many as they are long and wide but can seat only 5 at best. Besides, in many sedans, the seating is low and headroom is restricted. While they offer good luggage space, their boots are not as versatile as SUVs due to their limited height and (in most cases) fixed rear seatbacks. Ground clearance too can be an issue.

Hatchbacks are practical to use in the city, but they have their limitations. They are small in size and like sedans, can carry 5 people at best. Again, like sedans, the seating is low and headroom is limited. Then there is another problem. Their boots are not large enough to carry most Indian families' vacation luggage. You can fold the rear seatbacks to increase luggage space, but then, it's either 2 people onboard with lots of luggage or 4 people with limited luggage.

These factors made SUVs and crossovers very popular on our roads. However, they are among the more expensive cars in a manufacturer's model line-up making them more difficult to access than other body styles for people.

That's where MUVs come in. Let's see how these cars are the most sensible choice for people looking to buy a vehicle today.

Size & styling

MUVs are only slightly smaller in size than SUVs. This means they are still large and road presence is not really compromised. They are still given a lot of respect by other road users, particularly sedans and hatchbacks.

Coming to styling, MUVs do not offer the butch styling of SUVs, but they are no longer unappealing. With time, their styling has become a lot more modern and in some cases, even classy.

Space for people and luggage

MUVs can carry 7 people and luggage in sufficient comfort. There is enough headroom and legroom in all rows of seats. Some come with captain seats for the second row that offer excellent comfort.

In terms of useable third rows, your best options are among the MUVs. A variety of seating combinations is available which gives them a lot of versatility. Most can carry enough luggage for 5-6 people as well making them excellent cars for touring with the family.

Ingress & egress

MUVs typically have a floor that's not as high as traditional SUVs. This makes getting in and out easier than SUVs. You don't need to climb into the car as you would do in an SUV. At the same time, their roofs are not low like in a sedan or hatchback. So there is no need to bend down to get in. You simply walk in and out of the car.

Powertrains

If you think MUVs aren't as powerful as SUVs or they're slower than SUVs, that's not at all the case anymore. The Kia Carens boasts of a 158 BHP, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 7-speed DCT while Toyota claims that the Innova Hycross hits 100 km/h from a standstill in under 10 seconds, which is faster than the Fortuner! Even the Maruti Ertiga gets the same powertrain as the Vitara Brezza. Some of the earlier cars like the Innova Crysta shared its 2.8L diesel engine with the Fortuner and it was only marginally less powerful in the Crysta. However, the Innova's lower kerb weight gave it a better power-to-weight ratio.

Fuel efficiency

MUVs generally do not come with four-wheel drive systems like SUVs, which means they have less weight to carry. They are also lower and more aerodynamic than SUVs. These factors help MUVs best SUVs when it comes to fuel efficiency.

Ride & Handling

MUVs tend to ride better than SUVs. While the Scorpio and Fortuner feel bouncy, the Marazzo and Innova Crysta feel a lot more compliant. Monocoque MUVs like the Innova Hycross, Kia Karens and Maruti Ertiga have a very absorbent ride. The lower height compared to SUVs also means MUVs have a lower centre of gravity, which makes them better handlers.

Ground clearance

This is one area every new car buyer asks about. With constant digging and high & unmarked speed breakers, our roads are anything but smooth and predictable. While MUVs do not have the ground clearance of true blue SUVs, they are still sufficiently high off the ground to clear bumps and irregularities on the road. Sedans and hatchbacks are outclassed comfortably. Most MUVs can even handle a fair bit of rough roads without scraping their bellies.

Price

You will always find MUVs priced lower than equivalent SUVs which makes them comparatively affordable.

Status

MUVs have come a long way from the Sumo / Armada of yesteryears. Recent MUVs, such as the Innova Hycross and Carnival have become luxurious and fairly aspirational vehicles loaded with all the features one needs and more. This along with the space and comfort make them excellent chauffeur-driven cars. The improved looks make them appealing and as a result, they are now being used by even political figures, businessmen and industrialists.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

SUVs have just 3 advantages over MPVs:
Style & image (no.1 advantage)
AWD or 4x4 (applicable to 1% of owners)
Tougher body-on-frame construction for some SUVs like the Scorpio-N & Fortuner, as almost all MPVs are monocoques today. That being said, even a monocoque is tough enough for 99% of owners.
In almost every other way, MPVs are superior. Especially the space packaging = nothing can beat an XL6, Carens, Innova Crysta, Innova Hycross or Carnival for space & cargo room. Plus, today's MPVs are fast (Carens turbo-petrol, Innova Hycross does 0 - 100 in 9.xx seconds), good-looking, well-equipped, have neutral suspension setups and are generally better priced than their SUV counterparts.
I would buy an MPV if I needed something for the family. I love the Innova Hycross as well as Carens at their respective price points. As my primary self-drive vehicle though, I'd get an AWD / 4x4 SUV. I'm a sucker for vanity and as my personal car, I'd always pick an SUV over a Van.

Here's what BHPian DriverLess had to say on the matter:

No. I transitioned from MUV to sedan after selling my Innova and buying Vento.
MUVs have a heavy boat-like feeling and this is especially true when they are fully loaded with 6+ passengers and luggage.
They are not fun and you feel the bulk you are carrying every time you are doing anything other than straight-line driving.
They are the worst when it comes to panic-breaking / quick avoidance direction changes.
Fuel inefficient for the same engine power class.
MUVs are the worst for a passenger. Ask anyone using the 3rd row paired with a slightly aggressive driver.
Sedans have their flaws. But I would any day pick a sedan over MUV to drive/being driven.
My sedan can take more luggage than my Innova (without obstructing rear visibility)
There is no loss of power even when fully loaded with 5 + luggage.
I don't worry too much about road presence. I'm happy with less footprint on the road/parking for my primary highway use.
I do worry about low GC. But if you drive sensibly even the worst speed-breakers/potholes are not a problem for a sedan.

Here's what BHPian Bhodrolok had to say on the matter:

Oh god! NO.
MPVs otherwise known as minivans have as much driving pleasure as riding a boat, plus they are too big and a huge pain to manoeuvre in our congested cities and an absolute pain to park.
Great for highway trips with family yes but that use case seems to be quite rare for most living in our cities.

Here's what BHPian ChauhanSaurabh had to say on the matter:

Until last year I would have voted a big no but a profound yes now. But tastes change and more so after owning one.
We researched a lot in the year 2022 for the next change after enjoying a remapped Figo. But owning hatchbacks like Punto, and Polo had spoiled us so much that nothing in the 10-15L bracket was striking a chord. I had this notion in mind that I would never own an MPV back until then. After discussions and showroom visits, I finally handed over it to my wife as I was unable to pick any. With work from home opening up, we were thinking of slowly coming back to 2 car garage which we had given up in covid. My wife chose the XL6 and this last 1 year has been nothing short of a dramatic shift in my mindset, driving style and judging cars.
Pros of an MPV:
Loads of space inside. We carried almost 8 bags for a 15-day trip. XL6 secret storage within the boot is as big as my Figo's entire boot
Seating combinations. This is with almost every MPV nowadays I guess. The sheer number of combinations possible with seats to achieve a comfortable tour is unmatched.
Mileage. Even with all seats occupied, I don't see mileage taking a serious hit which would have a double expense if 2 cars were used for the same trip.
Touring range. For me, vacation within India has to be through roads. I have done all this in hatchbacks but MPV has just given me the extra comfort and realistic higher range from occupants comfort point.
Cons of an MPV:
Handling is not the forte. I used to be the guy who would play with tyres, and suspension to get the handling perfect on hatchbacks. It's a shift in my mindset now and I have also become a sedate driver with the max being 120-130 kmph
Looks. They do not look butch. And I don't care about how people perceive it. But yes, looks seel in our country.
Grunt. May be specific to XL6, but it does lack the outright grunt of a turbo-powered engine. But for me, its compensated by the sheer refinement this engine has and within 80kmph the battery assist works great. No lag under 80kmph.
I would like to keep this for the longest time even if another car joins us.
Lastly, two shots should speak for the purpose or capability of such a car.
Detour to Kishangarh on a trip to Goa.
OT, back in 2022 I was thinking we would get an MPV now and I get a 4WD car later. No matter how much I am yearning for Jimny right now I find it hard to justify to myself the additional capabilities apart from snow trips or I develop a taste for off-roading weekends.