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Which of these cool-looking seven-seater MPVs would appeal most to family men with a budget of $120k?

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byJeremy Chua

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Which of these cool-looking seven-seater MPVs would appeal most to family men with a budget of $120k?
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TWENTY years ago, switching from a saloon or hatchback to a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) meant that your motoring life was going to be dull for the next decade. Back then, MPVs looked staid and handled like buses.
However, buying a brand-new MPV today no longer means having to make an unexciting choice. Modern MPVs have attractive designs and punchy powertrains, and handle more like oversized hatchbacks. When they’re not fully loaded, some of them can actually be fun to drive.
The hippest MPV in this story is the Toyota Sienta, whose design was inspired by a running shoe. Apart from its slick styling, the Sienta also promises to be roomy enough for a family of seven and their belongings.
Out to attract petrolhead parents is the Honda Mobilio, which comes with a bodykit and roof spoiler as standard.
In addition to its cosmetic enhancements, the Mobilio is also more powerful than the Sienta and, yet, just as efficient.
The non-Japanese, nonpetrol contender here is Korea’s diesel-powered Kia Carens. It’s the biggest car of the bunch, which bodes well for space and practicality for a family of seven.
Which of these MPVs would prove to be the most compelling for family men with a $120,000 budget? Keep reading to find out what we think.

TOYOTA SIENTA 1.5

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SMOOTHEST DRIVETRAIN

ENGINE

Toyota’s 1.5-litre 4-pot with 105bhp and 140Nm has the most linear power delivery.

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Sienta’s CVT is the most seamless transmission of the trio.

12.8 seconds (0-100KM/H)
12.8 seconds (0-100KM/H)
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KIA CARENS 1.7

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MOST MUSCULAR MOTOR
ENGINE
Kia’s 1.7-litre turbodiesel with 141bhp and 340Nm is the most powerful and fuel-efficient engine here.
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Carens’ dual-clutch 7-speed auto is the group’s quickest gearbox.

11.3 seconds (0-100KM/H)
11.3 seconds (0-100KM/H)
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HONDA MOBILIO 1.5

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ZESTIEST LOW-END RESPONSE

ENGINE

Honda’s 1.5-litre 4-pot with 120bhp and 145Nm has the most responsive lowend performance.

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Mobilio’s CVT is more reactive than Sienta’s, but less smooth.

11.6 seconds (0-100KM/H)
11.6 seconds (0-100KM/H)
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TOYOTA SIENTA 1.5

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COCKPIT

Snazziest interior design features a digitised instrument cluster and dotted B-pillars, but Sienta’s small storage points mean it’s the least practical. Overall visibility is the highest, though.

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SECOND ROW

Powered sliding doors make ingress/ egress the easiest for rear passengers. The bench is the cushiest, but space for occupants’ feet is at a premium.

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THIRD ROW
Being the most spacious, it happily accommodates adults of average height. The doorside aisles are the widest, too, making the Sienta’s third row readily accessible.
 

KIA CARENS 1.7

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COCKPIT

Carens has the cushiest seats and best build quality, asthe buttons are the nicest to press and the doors feel most solid when shut. It’s also the only car here with variable steering assistance. 

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SECOND ROW

The group’s most practical cabin has the biggest doorbins, a pair of tray tables and a 12-volt outlet. The panoramic sunroof creates an airier feel, too.

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THIRD ROW

Carens is better for growing kids than grown-ups, as the room back here is the least generous. But it offers more storage points for snacks, odds and ends than the other two cars.

HONDA MOBILIO 1.5

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COCKPIT

Mobilio’s relatively spartan dashboard lacks the other two cars’ keyless ignition and digital climate control, but has the sportiest character thanks to its weighty helm and front seats with integral headrests.

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SECOND ROW

Mobilio is better for ferrying two people instead of three on this bench, because of the comparatively narrow squab and slight floor protrusion.Just like in the Sienta,tall folks will be facingthe air-con vents. 

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THIRD ROW

Mobilio’s legroom for passengers no. 6 and 7 is comparable to the Sienta’s, but people with large feet will find the third-row footwells relatively cramped.

THE SIENTA IS THE MOST SPACIOUS, THE CARENS IS THE MOST REFINED, WHILE THE BOOT MOBILIO IS THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE.
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BOOT

Sienta’s third-row seats can be parked underneath the second-row bench, making this cargo space the neatest and most useful. 

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BOOT

Carens’ trunk is the most flexible as it’s the only one with a detachable (and stowable) tonneau cover and additional underfloor storage.

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BOOT

Mobilio has the most boot space with all the rear seats in place, but the least expanded space for bulky items as the rearmost seats can only be tumbled forward instead of folded flat. 

LAST WORD

For a modern MPV, the Honda Mobilio has fairly basic amenities. Equipment we’ve come to expect as standard, such as keyless entry/ignition and digital climate controls, are absent from the car.
The Mobilio’s main shortcomings are that its cabin is less roomy than its two rivals and its cargo capacity (with rearmost seats folded) is the smallest.
That said, we really like the Mobilio’s powertrain, manoeuvrability and affordability. Its $109,999 price tag (at time of writing) also undercuts the Sienta and Carens by $3.8k and $13k respectively.
The highest-priced contender in this story is the Kia Carens. It has the most muscular and fuel-efficient engine of the three MPVs, and the turbodiesel unit also delivers lots of low-end punch, making it the most ideal for city driving.
However, the Carens’ third-row seats are the least spacious and only suitable for small children. But buyers will still be pleased with the Kia’s cabin, because it is the most practical in this story and looks/feels the most upmarket at the same time.
When it comes to roominess, the Toyota Sienta edges out the Carens and Mobilio. While all three MPVs can accommodate adults on their third-row seats, those in the Sienta will be complaining the least, as the Toyota surprisingly offers the most space for their legs and feet.
Complementing the Sienta’s spaciousness are its sliding doors, which make it much easier for families to hop in and out of the car in cramped carparks.
The Sienta’s biggest drawback is its rather relaxed acceleration. Better performance would have made this family ferry even funkier than it already is. 
(Left to right) Sienta’s multi-function key is the most useful, Mobilio key has the fewest features, while Carens’ elegant fob has the biggest, most “pressable” buttons.)
(Left to right) Sienta’s multi-function key is the most useful, Mobilio key has the fewest features, while Carens’ elegant fob has the biggest, most “pressable” buttons.)

TOYOTA SIENTA ELEGANCE 1.5 (A)

DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves.
CAPACITY 1496cc.
BORE X STROKE 72.5mm x 90.6mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1.
MAX POWER 105bhp at 6000rpm.
MAX TORQUE 140Nm at 4200rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 77.8bhp per tonne.
GEARBOX CVT with 7-speed override.
DRIVEN WHEELS Front.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 12.8 seconds.
TOP SPEED 165km/h.
CONSUMPTION 16.1km/L (combined).
CO2 EMISSION 143g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs.
REAR Torsion beam, coil springs.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs.
TYRES
TYPE Bridgestone Turanza ER33.
SIZE 195/50 R16.
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 3.
TRACTION AIDS ABS, VSC.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4235mm.
WIDTH 1695mm.
HEIGHT 1695mm.
WHEELBASE 2750mm.
KERB WEIGHT 1350kg.
TURNING CIRCLE 11.4m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $113,888 (no CEVS rebate/surcharge).
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km.
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+ ROOMIEST CABIN, MOST FLEXIBLE LAYOUT, SNAZZIEST DESIGN.

- TEPID PERFORMANCE, SMALLEST STORAGE POINTS, LEAST POWERFUL MOTOR.

BEST IN SPACIOUSNESS.

KIA CARENS SX 1.7 (A)

DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbo-diesel.
CAPACITY 1685cc.
BORE X STROKE 77.2mm x 90mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 15.7:1.
MAX POWER 141bhp at 4000rpm.
MAX TORQUE 340Nm at 1750rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 96bhp per tonne.
GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select.
DRIVEN WHEELS Front.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 11.3 seconds.
TOP SPEED 189km/h.
CONSUMPTION 19.2km/L (combined).
CO2 EMISSION 135g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar.
REAR Double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs.
TYRES
TYPE Roadstone NFera Au5.
SIZE 225/45 R17  .
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6.
TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4525mm.
WIDTH 1805mm.
HEIGHT 1610mm.
WHEELBASE 2750mm.
KERB WEIGHT 1469kg.
TURNING CIRCLE 11m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $122,999 (after $5k CEVS rebate).
WARRANTY 5 years/unlimited km.
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+ PUNCHIEST AND MOST FRUGAL POWERTRAIN,NICEST INTERIOR, THE MOST AMENITIES.

- LEAST ATTRACTIVE PRICE, TIGHTEST THIRD ROW, HIGHEST ROAD TAX.

BEST IN QUALITY.

HONDA MOBILIO RS LUXE 1.5 (A)

DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves.
CAPACITY 1497cc.
BORE X STROKE 73mm x 89.4mm.
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.3:1.
MAX POWER 120bhp at 6600rpm.
MAX TORQUE 145Nm at 4600rpm.
POWER TO WEIGHT 103.4bhp per tonne.
GEARBOX CVT.
DRIVEN WHEELS Front.
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 11.6 seconds.
TOP SPEED 160km/h.
CONSUMPTION 16.1km/L (combined).
CO2 EMISSION 148g/km.
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs.
REAR Torsion beam, coil springs.
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Drums.
TYRES
TYPE Dunlop SP Sport 300.
SIZE 185/65 R15  .
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 2.
TRACTION AIDS ABS.
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4398mm.
WIDTH 1683mm.
HEIGHT 1621mm.
WHEELBASE 2652mm.
KERB WEIGHT 1160kg.
TURNING CIRCLE 10.4m.
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $109,999 (after $10k CEVS rebate).
WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km.
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+ AFFORDABILITY, MOST NIMBLE HANDLING, THE NIPPIEST DRIVETRAIN.

- RELATIVELY BASIC CABIN, LESS ROOMY THAN THE REST, LEAST FLEXIBLE INTERIOR LAYOUT.

BEST IN DRIVERFRIENDLINESS.

PHOTOS TAN MENG CHOON / ART DIRECTION SEAN LEE.

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