Filipino families, traditionally at least, are big. But aside from having multiple children, we tend to bring along the extended family around on trips. It probably explains why vans, MPVs, or anything with multiple rows of seats are a popular buy here.
So, what are the options available here? Without resorting to the tall, 15-seater artista vans that are a bit unwieldy, we found five suitable choices that can carry loads of people…and their luggage.
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1) Chevrolet Suburban Z71 4WD (P8,634,888)
For the adventurous family types, there’s only one model that we think really fits the bill for large families. It’s the biggest brand-new SUV in the market, and the world’s longest-running nameplate. It’s none other than the Chevrolet Suburban. More specifically, we’re going for the off-road oriented Z71 model.
There’s more than enough room for eight inside, even in the third-row. The best part is, there are also ISOFIX child seat mounts all the way back there, meaning one can go on trails in safety, space, and comfort. Its terrain select system can also pull this SUV on the rough stuff, so there’s no doubting its off-road capabilities. Trail fun for the whole family? The Suburban can do it.
2) Hyundai Staria 2.2 CRDi GLS+ (P2,320,000)
With its space-age looks and expansive interior, the Hyundai Staria is one van that should be on the shortlist for anyone shopping for a family shuttle. The best part is, there’s a wide variety of seating configurations available. As we’re going for the most comfortable variant around without getting squeezed in like a can of sardines, we suggest the mid-spec 11-seat GLS+.
There’s stacks of room for people and cargo, comfortable, and safe. The diesel engine is a relative sipper, and it surprisingly car-like to drive despite the generous dimensions. For is, this is the variant to go for among all the Staria trim levels present.
3) Kia Carnival SX+ Turbo Hybrid (P3,488,000)
Let’s say you’re looking for a minivan but prefer to go electrified? For that, we choose the hybrid version of the Carnival. Granted, it ‘only’ seats seven, but space efficiency is where this Kia excels. That means there’s no pinched legs even with a full load.
The best part is, it still has a massive cargo area even with all seats up. As for the hybrid system, it easily does 9km/L in gridlock traffic. And since it has families in mind, you don’t have to worry about putting children in the third row since it comes with ISOFIX child seat mounts back there. Frankly, it deserves all the praises it gets and worthy of anyone’s consideration.
4) Peugeot Traveller Active (P3,165,000)
Here’s an offbeat choice that’s both European and Japanese. The Peugeot Traveller might not be a default choice, but this van has a lot going for it. For instance, all of its eight seats have some degree of adjustability, and there’s enough wiggle room in all rows.
Not only that, the Traveller is actually a product of Peugeot and Toyota, so that should give some peace of mind to those doubting reliability. It uses a 2.0-liter turbodiesel mated to an eight-speed automatic, and the 70-liter fuel tank means it’ll be a while before fill-ups.
5) Toyota Hiace Super Grandia Elite (P3,291,000)
We now arrive at what is possibly the default choice for in the premium van segment. Besides, you can’t make a list of people carriers without mentioning at least one Toyota product. The Hiace Super Grandia’s popularity isn’t just because of its badge, it’s actually a great vehicle.
It pulled an upset in our Big Test when we pit it against the top-spec version of the Hyundai Staria. Its truck-based underpinnings weren’t evident when we drove it, and it even surprised us in terms of ride quality. It’ll easily take in ten passengers with a fair bit of underseat storage for cargo. And because of its robust under chassis, it means it has a higher payload capacity. The best part is, the 2.8-liter turbodiesel is generally unfazed by extra loads, so there’s strong performance throughout.
