The 7 cheapest new 7 seaters on the market
Whether you run an airport shuttle company or need to cart a whole clutter of children to school, the chances are that some of you might need more than the 5 seats you'll get with a normal car. Manufacturers are happy to oblige, by offering a wide variety of 7-seaters to suit every budget. Some are more compelling than others, though. To simplify your choice, here are 7 of the least expensive ways to move all those people around.
We have compiled a list of the cheapest and best new 7-seat cars in South Africa, with 7 contenders worthy of your consideration.
| Model | Renault Triber | Suzuki Ertiga | Toyota Rumion | Mitsubishi Xpander | Volkswagen Caddy | Mahindra Scorpio-N | Honda BR-V |
| Engine | 1.0-litre petrol | 1.5-litre petrol | 1.5-litre petrol | 1.5-litre petrol | 1.6-litre petrol | 2.2-litre turbodiesel | 1.5-litre petrol |
| Fuel economy* | 5.5 L/100km | 6.2 L/100km | 6.2 L/100km | 7.0 L/100km | 7.3 L/100km | 6.9 L/100km | 6.8 L/100km |
| Boot space | 624-litres | 153-550-803-litres | 153-550-803-litres | 781-1 608-litres | 191-1 213-2 556-litres | 460-litres | 244-691-1 164-litres |
| Wheelbase | 2 626mm | 2 740mm | 2 740mm | 2 775mm | 2 755mm | 2 750mm | 2 700mm |
| Service plan | 2 yr/30 000km | 4yr/60 000km | 4-service/60 000km | 2 yr/30 000km | Optional | 5 yr/100 000km | Optional |
| Price (from) | R224 999 | R273 900 | R301 400 | R375 995 | R433 400 | R473 999 | R399 900 |
* Claimed
Related: Everything you should know about the Renault Triber
Renault Triber 1.0 Expression (from R224 999)
One of the newer vehicles on this list is also the least expensive. The Renault Triber offers a lot of space and versatility for the money. It's also a genuine 7-seater car, with even the rearmost seating row offering enough room for average-sized adults. The base trim is bare, although a basic USB/Bluetooth-compatible audio system, front electric windows, ABS and two airbags are included as standard.
The only real downsides to the Triber involve its dynamics: the 1.0-litre non-turbo petrol 3-cylinder (with 52 kW and 96 Nm) is rough-running and gutless, and the handling could be more confidence-inspiring. But, for about-town usage and cheap space, the Renault Triber brings SUV/MPV practicality and funky styling to complete an appealing package at budget-car prices. If you're going to test drive a Renault Triber, be sure to check out these features.
Related: Renault Triber 1.0 Prestige review (2021): Surprise sales hit micro-MPV has found its niche
Volkswagen Caddy Kombi (from R433 400)
The 5th Generation Volkswagen Caddy has much more space and a whole new interior design. This is one of the best-looking Caddy yet. The entry-level Caddy has a short wheelbase, but the 7-seat selection is optional. The entry-level 1.6 petrol engine churns out 81 kW and 152 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, returning a decent claimed fuel consumption of 7.3 L /100km. You can check out our Caddy review here.
Related: Volkswagen Caddy colour and price guide
Mitsubishi Xpander (from R355 995)
The often forgotten Xpander offers one of the most affordable 7-seat new vehicle packages in the local market and is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 77kW/141Nm and is available with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The Xpander excels with its turning circle, akin to a smaller vehicle. Inside, the Xpander is rugged but doesn't compromise on comfort, making it great for daily family commutes. Adding to that is the extra 120mm of length, which sounds small but enhances the interior space with ample space for 7 adults to travel comfortably. Is the Xpander suitable for families?
Related: Mitsubishi Xpander 1.5 auto review (2021): A spacious MPV that lacks quality
Suzuki Ertiga (from R273 900)
Now into its second (local) generation, the latest Suzuki Ertiga is a bit more powerful and even more versatile than the old model. It's also rather more expensive than the cheapest three cars on this list, but that extra money gets you into a completely different world of extra class and refinement. Like the Go+ and Triber, the Ertiga is based on a smaller, mass-market car (in this case, the Swift), but unlike Datsun (and like the Triber), Suzuki reworked it from top to bottom. The roofline is higher, and the wheelbase is stretched, leading to a considerable chunk more cabin space than you'd find inside the Go+.
It also comes with a bigger engine (a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder) delivering 77 kW and 138 Nm, which endows the Ertiga with surprisingly peppy performance. It's still not a hot hatch, but there are definite clues about its Swift genes in how it drives. In the cheapest GA trim, you'll have to wind the windows by hand, and there's no standard-fit radio. GL specification adds these items (and a few other niceties) but bumps the price from the GA's R 228 900 price tag to R 255 900 for the GL. The Ertiga can also be had in plush GLX spec, which adds alloy wheels and keyless entry, but it's also R 26 000 more expensive than a GL, so the range-topper perhaps isn't worth that price premium. Here's our review of the Ertiga.
Toyota Rumion (from R301 400)
As the Ertiga's mechanical twin, the Rumion offers an incredibly similar package to the Ertiga GL. However, the Suzuki is slightly cheaper. The Rumion comes with the same 1.5-litre 77kW/138Nm four-cylinder petrol engine as the Suzuki Ertiga. Toyota has adjusted trim levels and specifications to suit its model range. With the current generation Rumion, some new aesthetic, safety and convenience upgrades exist. Safety additions include Vehicle Stability Control, seat warning and rear parking sensors in the entry-level S variant. Convenience additions include a height-adjustable front seatbelt and a seat recliner for the third row of seats. Here's everything you need to know about the Toyota Rumion.
Related: Toyota Rumion colours and price guide
Mahindra Scorpio-N (from R473 999)
The Mahindra Scorpio-N received a ground-up revamp recently. This was the first body-on-frame SUV to ace a 5-star safety rating in the GNCAP (Global New Car Assessment Programme). The design of the Scorpio-N is muscular and still maintains the ruggedness associated with the Scorpio line. The Scorpio-N is powered by the mHawk diesel engine producing 128 kW and 400 Nm and offered with a 6-speed automatic transmission. You can have an optional 4x4 as well. We attended the launch of the Scorpio N.
Related: Mahindra Scorpio N (2023) First Drive Review
Honda BR-V (from R399 900)
The latest Honda BR-V is an all-around improvement from the previous generation BR-V. The latest BR-V looks bulkier and more SUV-like rather than an MPV. The inside employs the latest in Honda's design philosophy of uncluttered flowing elements. Powering the BR-V is a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine pushing out 89 kW and 145 Nm, and power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT transmission or manual transmission. You can expect a claimed fuel consumption of 6.8l /100km for the manual and 6.3l /100km for the CVT. We attended the launch of the latest BR-V.
In conclusion
None of these vehicles score very highly in the image- or desirability stakes – they exist to serve a specific purpose, no more, no less. And here's the real surprise: a few of our 7 contenders are sourced from India, proving that particular markets tend to come up with very similar products – and we're here to reap the benefit of all that expertise.
*Pricing was updated on 23 November 2023 but may increase without prior notice.
