The rise in popularity of SUVs in all shapes and sizes in South Africa has meant that certain car shapes have been on the chopping block for a while, but MPVs continue to fight back against the rise of SUVs.
Seven-seat multi-purpose vehicles, in particular, are showing a remarkable resurgence in popularity, and none more so than the Toyota Rumion and Suzuki Ertiga.
Commonly considered family cars, these vehicles offer motorists versatility, space, and comfort, and are often on the more affordable end of car prices.
Last month, both the Rumion and Ertiga found their way into the top 15 best-selling new cars in South Africa, beating out popular SUV choices, which include the Nissan Magnite, Toyota Corolla Cross and Omoda C5.
According to Naamsa data reported by The Citizen, Toyota shipped 1,049 units of the Rumion, while Suzuki managed to sell 937 units of the Ertiga.
These vehicles’ popularity does not end once they hit the pre-owned market; if anything, they are even more popular once used.
Cars.co.za reported on the most in-demand pre-owned badges and nameplates in South Africa in 2025, highlighting not only used car trends, but also the country’s favourite makes and models.
Surprisingly, three seven-seat MPVs managed to climb up the ranks from 2024’s figures to find themselves amongst South Africa’s twenty most in-demand vehicles of 2025.
The most popular of these was the Suzuki Ertiga, which climbed three spots from 2024 to cement its position as the fifth most in-demand pre-owned car in South Africa last year.
The Toyota Rumion found itself one spot outside the top ten, but did manage to record the greatest growth on the list, climbing thirteen places in the year.
Finally, the Renault Triber managed to climb into the top twenty with an 18th-place finish. It also showed good demand growth over the year, climbing five spots.
How they compare
These three seven-seat MPVs are the most in-demand in their segment, and while the Suzuki and Toyota are essentially the same model, both being built by Maruti Suzuki in India, the Renault is a unique offering.
Here is how the three models compare:
| Suzuki Ertiga | Toyota Rumion | Renault Triber | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5-litre petrol | 1.5-litre petrol | 1.0-litre petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
| Power | 77kW | 77kW | 52kW |
| Torque | 138Nm | 138Nm | 96Nm |
| Fuel consumption | 6.2l/100km | 6.2l/100km | 5.5l/100km |
| Seats | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Load capacity | 153 to 803 litres | 153 to 803 litres | 84 to 625 litres |
| Ground clearance | 180mm | 180mm | 182mm |
| Dimensions (l×w×h) | 4395mm × 1735mm × 1690mm | 4460mm × 1735mm × 1690mm | 3985mm × 1734mm × 1643mm |
| Starting price | R304,900 | R307,900 | R218,999 |
Multi-purpose vehicles are not powerful, and their popularity lies in their versatility, expansive load capacities, and extra seating.
Beyond that, these are vehicles that are used in a range of industries, often being used as delivery vehicles. They are popular amongst e-hailing operators and even as corporate fleet vehicles.
Loading ...
