If you need to move people plus luggage, and a 7-seater bakkie-based SUV won’t cut it, then this is the Buyer’s Guide for you! Multi-Seater MPVs are hugely practical, but what products are available in South Africa and what should you consider buying? Read on…
For the purpose of this Buyer’s Guide, we have focused on vehicles that offer 7 seats and come in at a low price. Offroad credentials are not required, but the focus here is rather on value, passenger comfort and practicality. There’s something on this list for everyone!
Pricing is accurate as of September 2022.
Multi-seater MPVs in South Africa
Renault Triber
The Renault Triber offers a lot of standard specification for not an unreasonable amount of money.
The Renault Triber is the French brand’s offering to a price-sensitive market. There are 5 derivatives on offer, all sharing the same 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated 3-cylinder petrol engine which produces 52 kW and 96 Nm. The Triber’s road manners are decent, it’s stable at speed and rides bumps well. The steering could be more communicative at low speed but that’s expected in this segment.
Read our full review of the Renault Triber here
- Price Range: R197 400 – R233 400
- Pick of the Range: 1.0 Intens
- Reason to Buy: Value for money, seating configurations, features galore
- Criticisms: Not the fastest thing around
Toyota Rumion/Suzuki Ertiga
The Toyota Rumion and Suzuki Ertiga are the same car, separated by badges and pricing.
The third product from the Toyota Suzuki partnership is a 7-seater vehicle. Powered by a 1.5-litre engine which summons 77 kW and 138 Nm, the vehicle never lags in performance. The Ertiga/Rumion offers not only exceptional value for money but is simply a product that is hard to beat in the areas where it matters most – space, practicality and comfort. You also have the might of the Suzuki and Toyota after-sales network to back up your purchase.
Read our full review of the Suzuki Ertiga here
- Rumion Price Range: R260 600 – R336 500
- Ertiga Price Range: R254 900 – R312 900
- Pick of the Range: The manual derivatives are pleasant to drive and are impressively fuel-efficient
- Reason to Buy: Mechanically solid, Suzuki and Toyota partnership means excellent value, reliability and dealership backup.
- Criticisms: The 4-speed auto is only suitable for double-digit speeds.
See specification and pricing details for the Toyota Rumion
Buy a Toyota Rumion on Cars.co.za
See specification and pricing details for the Suzuki Ertiga
Buy a Suzuki Ertiga on Cars.co.za
Mitsubishi Xpander
Futuristic styling makes the Xpander one of the more interesting-looking models in the segment.
If you’re after something that doesn’t look like a ride-sharing vehicle, then the recently-updated Mitsubishi Xpander may be of interest. There’s a 1.5-litre engine with 77 kW and 141 Nm, with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic to choose from. The latter really blunts the car’s performance, so be mindful if you must have the convenience of a two-pedal setup. Standard features are generous, with all-round electric windows, 3x 12V sockets and full-automatic air conditioning to name but a few.
- Price range: R329 995 – R349 995
- Pick of the range: 1.5 Manual
- Reason to buy: Versatile cabin, looks great
- Criticisms: Some cheap cabin touches, powertrain not the most eager, warranty could be better
Mahindra Scorpio S11
The Mahindra Scorpio has 8 seats and offers an SUV experience, unlike the others on this list.
Mahindra is a brand that’s quietly doing rather well for itself. Its latest products like the XUV 300 are all good, and sales are on the up. Mahindra’s Scorpio may not be the latest, but continuous refinement has seen it become quite a popular (and cost-effective) alternative for adventurous families in need of a rugged, spacious SUV. Interestingly, the rearmost row is a bench and not 2 individual seats, which makes the Scorpio an 8-seater. With a commanding view of the road, great outward visibility and a soft ride set-up, the Scorpio is a relaxed touring vehicle. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine delivers 88 kW / 280 Nm.
- Price range: R381 999 – R453 999
- Pick of the Range: Mid-spec 4×4 model (R406 999)
- Reason to Buy: Comfortable, excellent visibility, value for money,
- Criticisms: Small boot with the third row of seats deployed, a little too old-school for some
See specification and pricing details for the Mahindra Scorpio on Cars.co.za
Buy a Mahindra Scorpio on Cars.co.za
Honda BR-V
The new Honda BR-V has moved upmarket to cater for the family car buyer.
A new Honda BR-V has arrived in South Africa and it’s bigger and better than the model it replaces! It’s still equipped with a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine with 89 kW and 145 Nm. There are three levels of trim (Trend, Comfort and Elegance). The Honda BR-V is a well-packaged crossover SUV that offers lots of space and versatility for a variety of family tasks, with decent performance in most applications.
Read our Honda BR-V (2022) Launch Review
- Price Range: R379 900 – R459 900
- Pick of the Range: 1.5 Elegance
- Reason to Buy: Good engine, pleasant to drive, feels solid
- Criticisms: Become pricey
See specification and pricing details for the Honda BR-V
Buy a used Honda BR-V on Cars.co.za
