BEST PEOPLE MOVERS
There’s no getting around it: Some folk view the term ‘people mover’ the same as ‘discount vasectomy’. But it doesn’t have to be this way. These people movers won’t make you feel as if the best years are behind you.
KIA CARNIVAL
Carnival is an awesome piece of automotive design, capable of doing with ease what is hard work in most large SUVs.
You get eight-seat capacity for adults, there’s an abundance of luggage space, even behind row three, so tall adults will be comfortable in seats six-to-eight. Plus they get walk-through access. Massive sports bags, mountain bikes and or moving house is a piece of cake in Carnival. Doesn’t look half bad either, does it?
Choose between a front-drive petrol V6 for tight budgets, or the frugal long-distance cruiser 2.2-litre diesel (also front-wheel drive), on any model grade. Towing 2000kg (braked) is also a highlight.
Side-curtain airbags are present in row three, plus there’s an array of five matching ISOFIX and top-tether anchor points on all models, including three in row two, and two in row three, which no other large SUV or people mover can do. Carnival also morphs into a makeshift courier van when you drop the seats. You could even sleep in there.
HYUNDAI STARIA
Staria is basically a van turned into a people mover, which is excellent if you have teenagers with sports equipment.
It’s also a smart choice if you visit regional farmlands, national parks for camping, or yearly day trips to the snow, because you can have Staria in all-wheel drive when you choose the diesel powertrain. You cannot do this with the Kia Carnival, for example. A Volkswagen Multivan wants about $13K extra, with less cabin space.
The enormous sliding side doors offer ample headroom for easy entry and exit. You can also slide the second row to facilitate access - without having to alter the position of outboard child restraints clipped into ISOFIX points.
There’s a full-size spare wheel, which is ideal for regional travel. And because it’s underslung, you need not unpack the entire cargo bay to change a tyre. The single-piece tailgate will even act as a makeshift awning to keep you dry or partially shaded, depending on the season.
HYUNDAI PALISADE
The Palisade isn’t really a true people mover, but it’s an eight-seat extra-large SUV you can buy if moving to a breeder bus is something you just can’t get to grips with - and that’s okay.
Think of Palisade as a LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol, but without the 300kg of unnecessary off-road drivetrain. Meaning it’s got even better payload, but it weighs significantly less, consumes less fuel and is $20K more affordable - but still gets a bunch of really useful techy features.
You can have Hyundai’s 2.2L diesel with all-wheel drive and a bunch of terrain-specific modes the for transmission, and you get reasonable towing capacity. It’s an ideal long-distance family holiday cruiser.
A full-size spare wheel is mounted externally under the rear, and there’s heaps of ground clearance for clambering over kerbs and clearing steep driveways with sharp crowns.
TOYOTA GRANVIA
Toyota Granvia is quite clearly a Hiace van with big chairs where there was once empty space, and that’s a good thing for passengers who need legroom, headroom and that full private jet type experience.
Admittedly, Granvia is a heavy thing at 2.7 tonnes, but you won’t be lacking any creature comforts like reclining seats, adjustable headrest bolsters and armrests for your kids to lean their school blazered elbows on.
You can have four rows of two seats, with a centre aisle for boarding. The 8-seat VX version comes with a collapsible row four, power-adjusted ottoman-style reclining captain’s chairs in rows two and three, with leather on seats 1-6. Folding tables can be deployed in row two for laptops or the in-flight meal.
Granvia makes a great case for ditching the torture of airport check-in and bumping elbows with strangers in favour of driving interstate. Or to school.
PEOPLE MOVERS TO AVOID
Volkswagen Multivan: Sales are dismal for Multivan, probably because it’s overpriced for what Carnival can do. Volkswagen Australia’s terrible customer service is reason numero uno to avoid a Multivan at all costs. VW is also a convicted criminal organisation.
Honda Odyssey: As Honda Australia nears commercial death (sales down 14 per cent in 2023), Odyssey sold just in 414 units in 2022. Some new old-stock might be gathering dust in the few Honda dealers left, so ignore any of these depreciation corpses. RIP Odyssey.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class: Irrespective of the fact sales are down 25 percent in 2023, the struggle for Mercedes to sell even 10 of these things every month should tell you how expensive they are, how on-the-nose the Mercedes brand is, and how much better the competition is.
LDV MIFA: Very new to the market, so wait at least six months until more data about the poorly-named MIFA 9 exists. LDV quality remains highly questionable, too. Its price is to distract from rationally better people movers. The EV version’s battery range will drop as you add weight.
Ford Transit Bus: Despite existing on Ford Australia’s website, it’s kinda not even for sale; you have to order it. Ford’s ‘inability to meet demand’ means you have to ‘speak to a dealer’, which is somehow meant to encourage you to buy one. Not to mention Ford is on the ropes these days.
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