The Indian MPV market is a consistent segment with some strong contenders. Though, the MPV segment has not seen much action as most MPVs are priced a little away from each other.
At present, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and the Maruti Suzuki XL6 dominate the under 15 lakh MPV segment and the Toyota Innova Crysta has the lion’s share of the MPV segment in the premium category.
That being said, the launch of Kia Carens in India will be a game-changer in the market and we think it is currently the best MPV you can buy in India for under 20 lakhs. So, here are the top 3 MPVs that you can buy in India and why you should buy it.
Kia Carens
Kia recently launched the Carens MPV in India and the MPV shocked the Indian automotive market with its super-aggressive starting price of just 8.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
This pricing puts the South Korean MPV at the thick of the volumes game. At this price point, the Kia Carens directly competes against the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki XL6 and the Mahindra Marazzo.
The Kia Carens is powered by three engine options, giving good flexibility to its customers. The base petrol engine is a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine and this engine produces 113bhp and 144Nm of torque, whereas the 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine produces 113.5bhp and 250Nm of torque.
The last engine option on the Kia Carens is a more powerful 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 138bhp and 242Nm of torque. Gearbox options include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed DCT.
Apart from that, the Kia Carens comes packed with many features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, full-digital driver’s display, air purifier, Kia’s UVO connected car tech, sunroof, roof-mounted AC, ambient lighting, cooled glove box, 8-speaker BOSE sound system, and many more.
In general, the Kia Carens will appeal to wide range of buyers who look for features, space, and comfort. Even, customers who prefer a bit of performance can opt for the turbocharged engine.
MARUTI SUZUKI ERTIGA
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is one of the best cars for a family currently available in the market. It offers space for 7 people and delivers decent comfort levels and excellent fuel efficiency.
Apart from that, the 7-seater MPV also offers a good feature list that will appeal to urban buyers and comes equipped with features such as an 8-touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air-cooled cup holders, AC vents on all three rows, Automatic Climate Control, and many more.
As mentioned above, the Ertiga delivers excellent fuel efficiency, thanks to its 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine. This engine in the Maruti Suzuki produces 103bhp and 138Nm of torque.
Transmission options in the Ertiga include a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
At present prices for the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga starts from Rs 8.13 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will suit anyone looking for a comfortable 7-seater for family use.
MAHINDRA MARAZZO
Though the Mahindra Marazzo is a great buy for anyone looking for a safe and spacious 7-seater MPV, it’s not been as popular as its rivals from Maruti Suzuki.
However, the Mahindra Marazzo is still somewhat popular among buyers who want a bit more space than the Ertiga and XL6, but can’t stretch their budget to buy a Toyota Innova Crysta.
Apart from that, the Mahindra Marazzo comes packed with all the necessary features such as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, fog lamps with cornering lamps, longitudinally-mounted roof AC with diffuse mode, eco drive mode, steering mounted controls, Dual airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, ISOFIX child seat mounts, rear camera, side-impact beams and many more.
Also, the Mahindra Marazzo comes with a powerful 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 120.96bhp and 300 Nm of torque. However, the Marazzo is a tad pricey and prices for the Mahindra Marzzo start from Rs 12.80 lakh (ex-showroom, India).
The Mahindra Marazzo will be well-suited for anyone looking for a slightly more spacious MPV and thanks to its ladder-frame construction, it is well-suited for rural areas.
Thoughts About MPV Segment In India
The MPV segment in India has always been a consistent sales generator for many automobile manufacturers and each manufacturer have priced their MPVs a little away from their competitors and have created their own segment. However, with the launch of Kia Carens, the MPV segment is set to become a lot more aggressive.
Keyword: Kia Carens Vs Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs Mahindra Marazzo: Top 3 MPVs In India