7-seaters are quite a popular vehicle category as they lend themselves perfectly well to the typical large Indian family, thanks to the space and flexibility they offer. With offerings from brands like Nissan, Renault, Mahindra, Maruti, Toyota, Kia and Citroen, there’s plenty to choose from. We have put together a list of the 10 most affordable and best family-friendly cars that can seat up to 7 people, ranked by their ex-showroom prices in descending order.
10. Mahindra Scorpio Classic
Price: Rs 12.98 lakh-16.70 lakh
132hp-2.2L diesel
Though the Mahindra Scorpio Classic feels outdated, it enjoys a cult-like following due to its butch design and robust underpinnings. The SUV has a high ground clearance, so it requires some effort to get into the cabin. A high seating position gives a great view of the surroundings, and the front chair-like seats, upholstered in fabric, are reminiscent of previous models and come with armrests. The headroom is generous, and the second-row bench easily accommodates three passengers. However, the long seat squab may intrude the under thighs of some passengers. Depending on the variant, the Mahindra SUV offers a choice between jump seats and a traditional bench for the last row. The former have traditionally found more takers as they are quite practical for getting in and out in comparison to any third row, but no seat belts are provided here which is a major omission.
9. Citroen Aircross X
Price: Rs 11.57 lakh-13.94 lakh
110hp-1.2L turbo petrol
French carmaker Citroen is known for offering comfy seats in its cars, and its Aircross X is a testament to that. The first-row is well-cushioned and supportive, and the seats offer ventilation as well in the top Max variant. The seats behind are also a comfortable, with well-judged cushioning and generous headroom and legroom, even for tall passengers. Their 60:40 split setup aids functionality, and they can be reclined back to enhance comfort. But, a central armrest is missing here.
The third row can be easily accessed with one tug on the strap of the kerbside seat. Since the seats are placed on the boot floor, passengers sit in a knees-up position. The headroom and knee room are not generous either, so this space is best suited for kids. Notably, they can be entirely removed when not in use, freeing up more luggage space.
8. Kia Carens Clavis
Price: Rs 11.08 lakh-20.71 lakh
115hp-1.5L NA petrol/ 160hp-1.5L turbo-petrol/ 116hp-1.5L diesel
Next up is the the Kia Carens Clavis, which is essentially the updated version of the standard MPV. Like the Aircross X, the top-spec HTX+ variant of the Clavis comes with ventilated front seats, and they add 4-way powered driver’s seat. Moving to the second row, the panoramic sunroof doesn’t affect headroom, and the AC vents above the windows in the second row are effective. Kia also offers foldable trays for the middle-row passengers, an air purifier, sun blinds and a Boss Mode to move the front passenger seat forward. Accessing the third row is easy with one-touch electric tumble function. Enough space for two adults is on offer here, and they can also make use of vents, USB ports and adjustable headrests.
7. Kia Carens
Price: Rs 10.99-12.77 lakh
115hp-1.5L NA petrol/ 116hp-1.5L diesel
The Clavis is followed closely by none other than the standard Kia Carens, which is currently sold in a single Premium variant, making it more affordable. While a turbo-petrol engine option and a lot of features may be missing here in comparison, the Carens’ cabin impressed us with its premium quotient and seat comfort in all three rows. Not only are they well-cushioned, but offer a great view. Practicality is thoughtfully addressed, too, with a storage tray under the co-driver’s seat. In the second row, the 60:40 split seats can tumble and fold, but the kerbside seat adds extra convenience with the electrically assisted mechanism operated by a button, just like the Clavis, making access to the third row a breeze. The last-row seats are not as knees-up as other MPVs from the same class, and passengers as tall as 6 feet can enjoy reasonable comfort.
6. Toyota Rumion
Price: Rs 10.51 lakh-13.86 lakh
103hp-1.5L NA petrol/ 88hp-CNG
The Toyota Rumion is a badge-engineered version of the Maruti Ertiga, with a lot of exterior and interior parts, and underpinnings in common. It offers wide-opening doors, which make ingress and egress easy. From the overall design and layout to the beige colour scheme, the cabin feels familiar and functional. All three rows offer comfortable seating, and the space is packed with storage compartments, enhancing practicality. Buyers choosing the Rumion over the Ertiga may possibly benefit from a lesser waiting period.
5. Maruti Ertiga
Price: Rs 8.80 lakh-12.94 lakh
103hp-1.5L petrol/ 88hp-CNG
The Maruti Ertiga is one of the carmaker’s bestselling models, and compared to the Rumion, its base and top variants are more affordable. The front seats are broad and offer a lot of cushioning, while the second-row seats are reclinable and can be slid back for that extra legroom. The middle row has massive windows, which let in more light and provide an airy feel to the cabin. Notably, the seats in the middle only fold and don’t tumble, so accessing the last row may be cumbersome for some. Once in the last row, passengers will appreciate the good amount of headroom and shoulder room. Two adults can sit here on long drives without losing circulation in their legs, and they can use vents and Type-C charging ports for added convenience.
4. Mahindra Bolero Neo
Price: Rs 8.69 lakh-10.94 lakh
100hp-1.5L diesel
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Mahindra launched the Bolero Neo as a notable step up to the standard Bolero SUV, with a more modern-looking interior and better-quality materials. The interior features chair-like front seats with long squabs and individual armrests. The middle-row seats easily accommodate three passengers abreast, although seat cushioning is on the firmer side. Knee room and legroom are not as generous as the headroom, and Mahindra has done that to have side-facing jump seats in the last row. Here, two occupants will have to sit facing each other, and they may stagger their feet and knees due to the lack of space. There are butterfly windows for ventilation, but like the Scorpio Classic, seat belts are absent.
3. Mahindra Bolero
Price: Rs 7.99 lakh-9.69 lakh
76hp-1.5L diesel
The Mahindra Bolero is arguably the most utilitarian vehicle here. Features like alloy wheels, steering-mounted controls, touchscreen infotainment system and leatherette upholstery, but overall fit and finish and equipment levels are still far from modern standards. The seats at the front are narrow and don’t offer much support; the seats at the back are no different and provide limited knee room. That said, the carmaker claims that the seat cushioning has been improved with the 2025 model year update. Mahindra has equipped the sub-4-metre SUV’s third row with side-facing seats, which also miss out on seat belts.
2. Renault Triber
Price: Rs 5.76 lakh-8.6 lakh
72hp-1L NA petrol/ CNG (via retrofitment)
Ranked two on this list is the Renault Triber, offering a great mix of practicality and flexibility at a competitive price. The Triber gets three rows of seating, and the middle-row bench seats can be folded 60:40 and slid back and forth; the backrest angle is adjustable, too. After the second-row seats are folded and moved forward, accessing the last row becomes easy. Similar to the Citroen Aircross X, the last row of seats can be removed entirely to open up more luggage room. Additionally, to enhance passenger comfort, the AC vents for the respective middle and last-row seats are reasonably effective on a hot and humid day.
1. Nissan Gravite
Price Rs 5.65 lakh-8.94 lakh
72hp-1L NA petrol/ CNG (to be offered via retrofitment soon)
The Nissan Gravite is the newest, and evidently, the most affordable 7-seater car currently on sale in India. It is based on the same CMF-A+ platform as the Triber, and save for a few cosmetic differences, everything is largely similar. This also means that the three-rows of seats have been cleverly packaged in the sub-four metre MPV, and being the latest offering, buyers can benefit from the slightly more affordable base variant price (limited for the first 5,000 units). A limited-run Launch Edition is also on offer, which offers several feel good features, albeit at a premium.
Ex-showroom prices as of 19 February mentioned above.
