Our country has always been a land of traditions, and one of the most critical cultures is that of a joint family. In the past, there were no cars available for a joint family of say 9-10 people. Children had to sit in laps, and the thinnest person had to adjust the most. Therefore, the automobile industry brought out Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV’s) as a solution to the problem. From a few cars to a buffet of 7 seater cars, we’ve surely come a long way.
Here are some of the best 3 Row SUV’s in Town:
1. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
It comes in 2 power variants – a 1.4-litre petrol (94 bhp, 130 Nm) & a 1.3-litre diesel (89 bhp, 200 Nm) engine. The petrol variant is quicker of the two, but the diesel variant was built for being fuel-efficient and money-saving. Currently, both diesel and petrol are nearly the same rates. But the diesel variant seems equally suitable. It has a very car-like driveability and negligible body roll and is the first car on the list to offer a light-weight monocoque chassis. Some adjustment will be required to get used to the A-pillar, due to it obstructing the view every now & then.
2.Toyota Innova
One of the first famous cars of 3 row SUV’s, Innova has come a long way. The original Innova had a powerful 2.5-litre hulk engine which churned out 101 bhp of power & 200 Nm of torque. With a 5-speed gearbox and smooth shifts, the engine, however, had some problems at higher RPMs. Despite its sheer size & bulk, the Innova isn’t vulnerable to too much body roll or vertical pitch. It has three rows of AC vents to ensure that the third row of passengers enjoys the summer heat in comfort.
Despite getting numerous changes since its launch, none of which were very different from the first, Toyota has finally launched Innova Crysta. Phasing out the original Innova, the new Crysta comes in 2 diesel options (2.4 L – 148 bhp, 343 Nm & 2.8 L – 172 bhp, 360 Nm) along with a petrol option (2.7 L- 164 bhp, 245 Nm).
3. Tata Hexa
Tata cars were never seen as stylish cars. This has changed since 2019. The Tata Hexa has an attractive interior and a fantastic 10 speaker JBL audio system controlled by a touchscreen interface. Safety features for in the basic variant have ABS and dual airbags as standard, with the top variants offering traction control, 6 airbags and hill assist to boot. The third row is spacious and comfortable compared to others in the segment with enough space for adults to fit comfortably for a pleasant journey.
The base XE variant of this 7-seater produces a good-enough 148hp with a torque of 320Nm. The top variants come with a slightly heavy engine producing 154hp and 400Nm of torque. The engines are relatively efficient with a mileage of 17.6kmpl (ARAI) and are BS-IV Emission Norm Compliance. The ride is enjoyable, and this is way different from any Tata you’ve ever driven before.
Other cars give them competition bu these three Multi-Purpose Vehicles provide you with value for your money.
