Honda BR-V

This is Honda’s budget people mover with ex-showroom prices starting at Rs 9.56 lakh in Calcutta. The third row of seats has enough space to make it usable even by adults. The large greenhouse area makes it airy. While the estate car-like looks don’t usually find a lot of favour with Indians, once one crosses that hurdle, the BR-V looks like a quality vehicle that comes with two 1.5-litre engine options, an i-VTEC petrol and an i-DTEC diesel.

Mahindra Marazzo Source: Mahindra

Large and joint families may be on their way out, but, from time to time, we still do miss the so-called ‘family cars’ of yore like the Ambassador that was meant to seat six people but was often loaded with even twice that number.

With the seatbelt regulations of today, those are things of the past. In fact, most of the hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs available now seat four people in comfort and fitting in even the fifth person is a bit of a squeeze.

So, what are the options if one needs to transport a family of six, seven, or, sometimes, eight people comfortably and inexpensively? Not a great many of them, unfortunately. At the pricey end of the market, the availability increases as the vehicles, in general, get bigger. But lower down, the options get further pared down by the fact that many of these people movers don’t even have the refinement and creature comforts that most car buyers in India have come to expect from their vehicles now.

So, here are five vehicles, in the Rs 10 lakh and below price range, one should be looking at if the intention is to take everyone along for the ride.

Renault Lodgy Source: Renault

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

The new-generation Ertiga from Maruti Suzuki packs in seven seats in a vehicle with a footprint that isn’t much bigger than that of a hatchback — it’s the same width as the Swift. Prices start at Rs 7.44 lakh at the showroom. Slightly bigger than the earlier model, it has more features, like an infotainment system and cooled latte holders. Easy to manoeuvre and park in congested cities, it’s surely worth the consideration.

Datsun Go+

The Go+ is the least expensive seven-seater in the market at present with a price of about Rs 3.83 lakh in Calcutta before taxes and levies. Essentially, it is a Datsun Go hatchback with a slightly longer body designed to pack in a couple of more seats. It is powered by a sprightly 1.2-litre petrol engine making 68ps and has a more-go-than-show feel about it. It’s best for families with children as the third row is a bit tight for adults.

Honda BR-V Source: Honda

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Source: Maruti Suzuki

Mahindra Marazzo

The recently-launched Marazzo looks contemporary and on-trend. The new vehicle is the first to have the company’s 1.5-litre, 120ps turbo-diesel engine. It has a six-speed gearbox and seats seven or eight people in comfort depending on what seat configuration it is bought with. It is a step up from the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga in terms of space and comfort and, most importantly, price, which starts in Calcutta around Rs 10 lakh before taxes and other fees.

Renault Lodgy

The Renault Lodgy’s boxy shape packs in a lot of practicality. Sold with seven or eight seats, it still manages a 200-plus-litre space for luggage with all three rows up. The Easy Seating system makes ingress and egress easy. The engine is a 1.5-litre diesel. With a starting tag of Rs 8.63 lakh, ex showroom, this is a strong contender for wallet share in this segment.