Car Comparo: Which mini MPV should you buy, Honda Mobilio, Suzuki Ertiga, or the Toyota Avanza?

It hasn't been a while when you have few choices for a 7-seater vehicle under P1-million. Most of which looked a bit too commercial. But times have changed. Manufacturers like Toyota, Suzuki, and Honda now have stylish, compact, and fuel-efficient mini MPV's that you should consider.

We at AutoDeal.com.ph would like to help you shop on which affordable 7-seater mini MPV best suits your family with our Car Guide. And based on our data, the most popular choices in the market are the Suzuki Ertiga, the new Toyota Avanza, and the Honda Mobilio.

Price (Winner: Suzuki Ertiga GLX 1.4 AT)

Although these 3 models are almost similarly priced, the top-of-the-line Suzuki Ertiga GLX 1.4 AT is the cheapest car on the lot at P812,000. That’s P65,000 cheaper than the Toyota Avanza 1.5 G AT and a whopping P155,000 less than the Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT.

The savings when you choose the Ertiga over the other 2 makes it quite appealing and lets you spend on extra accessories like a better entertainment system and leather seat covers. Or you could use the money saved on an out-of-town road trip with the entire family.

Engine (Winner: Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT)

When it comes to power, Honda has clearly trumped this department with the Mobilio’s 1.5L i-VTEC engine that produces a healthy 120 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The Avanza’s 1.5L engine, on the other hand, puts out a modest 102 hp and 136 Nm of torque, while the Ertiga’s 1.4L unit comes last with 95 hp and 130 Nm.

Although Honda hasn’t released any fuel economy figures, bear in mind that only the Mobilio comes with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with Earth Dreams Technology, which is known to give better mileage on the road. Despite sporting a conventional AT, the Ertiga and Avanza are rated at 14 km/l and 13 km/l on combined city-highway cycle, respectively.

Dimensions (Winner: Suzuki Ertiga GLX 1.4 AT)

All 3 cars were designed with city driving in mind thanks to its compact dimensions and maneuverability. while Mobilio looks sporty with its lower roofline and longest overall width, the new Avanza can accomodate 360 L worth of luggage with the seats up. It also has the tightest turning circle of the bunch which should be good for city driving.

Despite all this, the new Ertiga is the widest, boasts the longest wheelbase, and can carry up to 810L worth of luggage with the seats folded down.

Safety & Security (Winner: Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT)

Safety features like dual airbags, ABS, EBD, side impact beams, and seatbelts are all but standard on these top-of-the-line models.

However, Honda has upped-the-ante by introducing features that are new to the mini MPV segment. These include Child Seat Anchor (ISOFIX) which ensures a reliable mount for baby seats and an “Emergency Hotline” dialer which allows the car to contact for emergency services in an event of a crash.

Features (Winners: Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT and Toyota Avanza 1.5 G AT)

All 3 models offer comfortable seating for 7 people, all-power features, and manual air-conditioning. But Honda has an edge in this segment.

Given its price, the Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi sports an RS design body kit which makes it the best-looking of the bunch. It’s also the only one to feature a 7-inch infotainment system with navigation that supports DVD, Bluetooth connectivity, USB/AUX-in ports, and 4 speakers. The ECO indicator lamp is a nice touch as are the 9 cup holders.

Not to be out done, the new Avanza now features a 6.2-inch infotainment system with navigation that supports MP3, USB/AUX-in ports, and is iPod ready.

Verdict (Winner: Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT)

It’s a pretty close match between the 3 models from these great Japanese brands. The new Avanza and its updates certainly pushed it closer to the other 2. But the Suzuki Ertiga, being the cheapest of the bunch and the fact that it has the largest luggage space amongst the 3 almost made it come out on top.

However, the Honda Mobilio 1.5 RS Navi CVT is still the best in terms of engine specs, safety, and features based on our Car Guide. It may be the most expensive mini MPV in this comparo but you really do get what you pay for. In this case are amenities that are quite important to the modern family.

Still, we suggest that you take all 3 vehicles out on a test drive and see which one fits you best. For a direct comparison of the specs, visit the AutoDeal Car Comparison tool.