MPV Search: My Options

Having done a quick scout of the internet, I have narrowed my search for an MPV to a few choices to check out and get test drives. The MPV market in China is relatively new but as the market grew, more and more choices have appeared. The following graph shows the sales of MPVs in 2008.

Source: Gasgoo


The mid-market is dominated mainly by the GM Buick GL8 and in the last four years, challenges have been made by the Honda Odyssey and the Kia Carnival. The Buick GL8 has traditionally appealed to corporate use and given the more car-like look of the Honda Odyssey, Honda has wisely decided to appeal to family use. The Kia Carnival is more of an in-between, being able to serve both. More recent newcomers include the Dodge Caravan, Mitsubishi Grandis, and a number of vehicles made by local companies including the Hyundai powered JAC Refine, the Brilliance Grace which is a licensed local version of the Toyota Granvia and a host of other choices. Priced at 500,000 RMB and above, there are also the imported Toyota Previa and the Mercedes Benz Viano. There are also mini-sized MPVs such as the Honda Stream, the Volkswagen Touran and the Nissan Livina Geniss which I currently have but this category of vehicles are not being considered as they tend to be way too cramped for my liking.

So, having scanned through the internet and various car magazines, in my shortlist are:

1. Buick GL8
2. Kia Carnival
3. Dodge Caravan
4. Toyota Previa
5. Mazda MPV
   

While the Honda Odyssey and the Mitsubishi Grandis are arguably fine cars, they did not meet my critera for having sliding doors. Other brands were similarly removed from consideration for various other reasons such as documented reliability, room for improvement and modification and poor interior appointments and these included the Brilliance Grace and the JAC Refine.

On to the showrooms next.

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