What 7-seater vehicle fits...

[Izzie]

...the following criteria:

1) City-driving.(90%) With an average of 20kms/day. (Out-of-town-driving (10%) Probabaly a distance of 150kms
(one-way)).
2) Max Budget: 1.5m
3) Can seat 7 pax comfortably
4) Easy (fun?) to drive.
5) Keep for more than 5 years.

TIA

[1D4LV]

innova diesel.... sobra pa yang budget mo.

[Horsepower]

KIA Carnival

[foresterx]

with a 1.5M budget only starex or hiace can seat 7 comfortably but they're not fun to drive. they are reliable and has a great fc. all mid-sized SUV's/AUV's or smaller has a really really cramped 3rd row seat, so you won't be able to seat 7 comfortably. it can seat 7 but the other 2 won't be comfortable.

[IMm29]

with a 1.5M budget only starex or hiace can seat 7 comfortably but they're not fun to drive. they are reliable and has a great fc. all mid-sized SUV's/AUV's or smaller has a really really cramped 3rd row seat, so you won't be able to seat 7 comfortably. it can seat 7 but the other 2 won't be comfortable.

I agree with foresterx's reply.

7-seater SUVs can seat a maximum of 5 comfortably. The 2 in the 3rd row will not be too happy unless they're petite and are shorter than the average Pinoy.

7-seater vans/minivans are your best bet for the "seats 7 comfortably" part. You can check these out:
GRAND STAREX 2.5L CRDi VGT GLS MT (10 STR) is P1.563M (Hyundai Pricelist Philippines - PRICE LIST)
KIA carnival 2.9l ex crdi lwb a/t is P1.575M (Kia Pricelist Philippines - Kia Pricelist Philippines)

These 2 are not exactly fun to drive, if your definition of fun is based on a car's driving dynamics. They are, however, comfortable to drive. They're not small rides, but once you get the hang of driving them, they'll grow on you.

[Ry_Tower]

Get the TOTL Innova Diesel.

[dct]

Masarap idrive ang starex. Wag lang sa masikip dahil malapad sya. Hehe

[jaggerx3]

Kia Carens, or again Grand Starex na CRDi VGT kung fun to drive hanap mo.

[Jun aka Pekto]

If I need to drive my cousins around Manila, I'd go for the Kia Carnival:

[IMG]http://m.kia.com/worldwide/wcm/groups/webcontent/*mkgn/documents/webvehiclecontent/074313.jpg[/IMG]

Comfortable captain's chairs with lots of room. Heck, add a dvd player and the passengers won't feel bored while mired in Metro Manila's traffic snarls.

Unless you have an SUV the size of a GMC Acadia, most 3rd-row seats are for kids.

[IMm29]

If I need to drive my cousins around Manila, I'd go for the Kia Carnival:

[IMG]http://m.kia.com/worldwide/wcm/groups/webcontent/*mkgn/documents/webvehiclecontent/074313.jpg[/IMG]

Comfortable captain's chairs with lots of room. Heck, add a dvd player and the passengers won't feel bored while mired in Metro Manila's traffic snarls.

Unless you have an SUV the size of a GMC Acadia, most 3rd-row seats are for kids.

One row too many of the Carnival in this pic You can dump the 2nd row from the right and that would be the local Carnival.

[IMm29]

Nice review by niky Pretty comprehensive.

Goes back to the qualification on how big and tall the 7 people are going to be, for the comfortable part.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Must be an overseas Carnival. I wish US minivans have 4th-row seats. But, yeah. When it comes to moving people, minivans top my list.

[dct]

Carnival to? Bakit 4 rows?

[GTi]

I think the KDM Carnival has 4 rows, same goes for the KDM Grand Starex. Honestly though,if I'm gonna carry 7 people or more on a regular basis, I'm not gonna get a 7 seater. It'll have to be able to carry 7 people and their stuff. It's got to be a van. Carnival for me. If you live near a grey market dealer, you can probably find one with the 2.2L Santa Fe engine.

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[Jun aka Pekto]

I think the KDM Carnival has 4 rows, same goes for the KDM Grand Starex. Honestly though,if I'm gonna carry 7 people or more on a regular basis, I'm not gonna get a 7 seater. It'll have to be able to carry 7 people and their stuff. It's got to be a van. Carnival for me. If you live near a grey market dealer, you can probably find one with the 2.2L Santa Fe engine.

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I agree. Last year, I had the pleasure to experience Manila's traffic firsthand. It took us an hour and a half (in my brother in law's Fortuner) to get from the Mall of Asia to the high-rise in Taguig where my niece lives. I rode shotgun while my sister had the second row to herself. My sister lied down and took a nap while I reclined back and chilled out. My brother in law was the driver. He wasn't happy.

I can't imagine myself sitting in those tiny SUV 3rd-row seats for an hour and a half. With a minivan's captain's chairs, I can easily recline back and take a snooze or watch a movie with plenty of legroom.

[Wh1stl3r]

I think the KDM Carnival has 4 rows, same goes for the KDM Grand Starex. Honestly though,if I'm gonna carry 7 people or more on a regular basis, I'm not gonna get a 7 seater. It'll have to be able to carry 7 people and their stuff. It's got to be a van. Carnival for me. If you live near a grey market dealer, you can probably find one with the 2.2L Santa Fe engine.

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^This. Or you'll end up carrying all your stuff on your laps. You should always consider not just the seating capacity, but also the baggage space when all seats are full. We always travel with at least 2 spare seats for baggage. Also consider getting something with a relatively low floor and high ceiling if you travel with older people. They'll appreciate not having to stoop so low to get in and out. The Toyota Sienna would be great if it were available here. It won't be priced at 1.5m though.

[gundam]

What about chevrolet orlando.

[niky]

What about chevrolet orlando.

Orlando, a bit bigger than the Carens, but the third row isn't great. Stiffer ride. Drives well, though, and the automatic is smooth. Problem is the price. There's only one variant left for the Orlando. At 1.238m, that's just 50k less than the base Grand Starex... and the Orlando is just a 1.8 liter gasoline car. The Carens is similarly expensive, but at least you get a frugal and powerful 1.7 liter diesel.

At the 1.2m range, you're looking at vans and ladder-frame SUVs, already.

[dr. d]

At 1.238m, that's just 50k less than the base Grand Starex....

if TS is looking for an honestly comfortable seating for 7, this is probably what he has to consider... the rest just do not seem to have good enough space in the rearmost..
or have a go at the breadloaf vans..

[yebo]

preno lang sir, we're talking tci starex 10 seater here and the entry level starex 3rd row does not slide. so naka-fixed yung 3rd row and the 2nd row does not swivel. result is ang laki ng cargo space behind the 3rd row pero limited ang leg room ng 3rd row. ang spacing kasi ng seats e same as the 12 seater. think of that 12 seater with fixed 3rd and 4th row seats, remove the 4th row and what you get is the 10 seater tci.