My family consists of five adults: myself, my wife, my parents, and my brother. I currently live in a different state, while my family stays in my hometown, and I visit them once every two months. During those visits, all five of us travel together, and in the next couple of years, our family size may increase to six members after my brother’s marriage.

Our usage will be minimal, around 300 km per month, mostly on highways during occasional trips. I prefer an SUV-like driving position with good visibility of the bonnet.

I am confused whether I should opt for a 5-seater or a 7-seater. If going for a 7-seater, I am considering the Maruti Ertiga VXI. If a 5-seater is more practical, I would like suggestions based on reliability, mileage, safety, rear seat comfort for three adults, and resale value.

My budget is ₹12 lakh, and I prefer a petrol manual car with a long ownership period of around 10 years.

Question

My family consists of five adults: myself, my wife, my parents, and my brother. I currently live in a different state, while my family stays in my hometown, and I visit them once every two months. During those visits, all five of us travel together, and in the next couple of years, our family size may increase to six members after my brother’s marriage.

Our usage will be minimal, around 300 km per month, mostly on highways during occasional trips. I prefer an SUV-like driving position with good visibility of the bonnet.

I am confused whether I should opt for a 5-seater or a 7-seater. If going for a 7-seater, I am considering the Maruti Ertiga VXI. If a 5-seater is more practical, I would like suggestions based on reliability, mileage, safety, rear seat comfort for three adults, and resale value.

My budget is ₹12 lakh, and I prefer a petrol manual car with a long ownership period of around 10 years.

Autocar India team · Accepted Answer

Your usage pattern is unique. You drive only occasionally but always with the full family, and in the near future, your family will grow to 6 members. A 5 seater will feel fine today, but it will become a limitation very quickly, especially for highway trips where comfort matters most.

The Maruti Ertiga VXi works perfectly here. It is a proper 7 seater with usable third row space, good comfort for all passengers and a relaxed driving nature for highways. It is also known for good mileage, low maintenance and strong resale, which is important since you plan to keep the car for 10 years. The petrol engine is simple and proven, and even supports E20 fuel, so it is future-ready as well.

Most importantly, it solves your core problem. You get a car where all family members can travel together comfortably, without compromise.

If you go for a 5-seater instead, options like the Maruti Brezza or similar SUVs will give you a better front seat experience, and that SUV bonnet view you like, but for 3 adults at the rear, it will always feel tight, especially on longer trips. And once your family becomes 6 members, it simply will not work.

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