The rise of the SUV might have signalled the death of the
once-beloved 7-seater MPV, but that doesn’t mean big families have to be stuck
by the roadside for alternatives.
If six is a crowd and seven’s company, up to about a decade
ago the choice for larger families started with the MPV and ended with the
minivan, of which both have become practically extinct overnight. Although SUVs
have taken over the mantle as the people-carriers of choice, today several
alternatives exist for every budget.
1. An
expensive SUV (Volvo XC90)
Fitting a third row of usable seats into anything not
resembling an airplane fuselage or a bus is clearly quite a challenging
endeavour for carmakers. BMW and Mercedes may be German companies, but no-one
does seven-seater SUVs quite like the svelte Swedes. Current-gen or
previous-gen, the Volvo XC90 (from R932k) is opulent, stylish, spacious, able
to transport seven full-sized adults and comes without the performance angst of
its self-conscious German competitors. However, considering that XC90s also
depreciate faster, they might make for great second-hand buys, but think twice
about buying it new or used.
2. A
slightly less expensive but slightly more capable SUV (Land Rover Discovery
Sport)
You wouldn’t normally go off-roading in a seven-seater, but
this one – available from R660k – can. This Freelander successor is really a
poor man’s Range Rover: while its third row of seats is erected by the push of
a button (though admittedly it does diminish boot space when up), ground
clearance and wading depth is 212mm and 600mm, respectively. Loaded with oodles
of techy toys, it also features the brand’s Terrain Response system, which
adjusts drivetrain programming according to the (off)road surface. Smart stuff;
smart buy.
3. A bus
(Nissan NV200)
OK, if R700k-odd for a go-anywhere SUV seems a stretch for
your budget – as it would no doubt be for many – why not try a bread (and
butter) van instead? It’s not as simple as that, though – most vans remain on
the wrong side of affordable, with VW’s range of people-movers (Kombi: from
R535k; and Caravelle: from R847k) and even Hyundai’s aging H1 (R539k) out of
reach for most people. Enter the Nissan NV200 Combi. Available in either petrol
or super-frugal diesel, you can have a NV200 for under R350 000. With a
comparatively compact footprint (it’s shorter than a Toyota Corolla), a sliding
door on either side and dollops of space, this is a winner.
4. King-sized
Korean value (Kia Sorento)
When considering future purchases, all too often we leave
Korean cars out of the discussion. Most people will only consider a Kia
Picanto, but have you seen what the Sorento (from R458k) offers? By virtue of
falling into the “missing middle” bracket (between R400k compact SUVs and R1m
large, luxury SUVs), the Sorento too offers size, practicality and spec - if
perhaps not quite the badge cachet - of SUVs costing double its price.
5. Budget
alternatives
This is where things get difficult; yet some bargains are
too be had that aren’t too ungainly. On paper, the humble Suzuki Ertiga (from
R196k) and the more handsome-looking Honda BR-V (R246k) are the most
theoretical of seven-seaters. Other alternatives are the Toyota Avanza (from
R222k) or the Mahindra Xylo (from R255k).
Find your own 7-seater car for the whole family at AutoTrader South Africa. For the past 25 years, AutoTrader South Africa has been the leading media marketplace for the buying and selling
of cars, bikes, boats, and commercial vehicles. Whether you are looking for a
brand new car or are in the
market for a pre-loved model, you’re sure to find your ideal set of wheels on
AutoTrader.