“If we are spending such an amount to buy an SUV, why not buy an MUV? We all would sit more comfortably in that.” Any family member can make such a point if you are considering buying an SUV. More importantly, to a great degree, it is a valid question – if an SUV, why not an MUV, or vice versa? The answer completely depends on the requirements of the buyer, and requirements differ from person to person. For certain requirements, an MUV proves to be a more sensible choice, even though SUVs are the most popular cars today. If you have a budget, in which you can go for either an SUV or an MUV, it will be wise to know the key differences between them and what advantages and limitations they offer you. To ease the selection for you, in this comparison of SUV vs MUV, we compare the two on decisive grounds so that you can make a sound decision.
What is an SUV?
SUV means Sports Utility Vehicle – a car category that combines characteristics of regular passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive. While this is the traditional definition of SUVs, most mass-market SUVs sold today are far from this definition. Most modern-day SUVs are SUVs in their aesthetics, but they are not capable of off-roading adventures, for example, the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, and others. Instead, they lean more towards comfortable drives for families. At the same time, there are some SUVs that are true to their original definition and offer off-roading capabilities, for example, the Mahindra Thar, Mahindra Scorpio N, Toyota Fortuner, and more.
What is an MUV?
An MUV or Multi-Utility Vehicle is a type of vehicle engineered for practical and versatile use cases. It is usually used to accommodate multiple passengers (more than five) and cargo. MUVs are mainly known for their spaciousness and flexible seating arrangements, and therefore, they are commonly used as family cars or for transporting goods. Much like the case with SUVs, the modern era has altered the narrative of MUVs. Now, in the market, there are premium MUVs, like the Toyota Innova, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Vellfire, that offer luxurious drives. At the same time, there are some that can be used as a family car as well as for commercial purposes, such as ambulances, cargo delivery, and others. Examples of such MUVs are Maruti Suzuki Eeco and Kia Carens.
Key Differences: SUV vs MUV
Design
The difference between an SUV and an MUV starts with their difference in design.
SUV
An SUV is built to look dominant and commanding. With such designs, they immediately attract attention and, more importantly, a subtle respect. This is one of the primary reasons they are the hottest-selling cars in recent years. While every SUV is designed to look different, overall, every SUV has a two-box design. The front box is the engine compartment, and the second box, which is bigger, is the passenger compartment. An SUV usually gets a long bonnet, a raked windshield, squared-off edges to look largely boxy, and a raised stance (compared to other cars).
SUVs used to be built on ladder-frame chassis or body-on-frame chassis, on top of which the body of the SUV is bolted and welded. The ladder-frame chassis is better for off-roading purposes because the body-on-frame chassis is structurally stronger than other types of chassis, and that is why every true-blue off-roader is based on it. Today, while there are some SUVs that are built on ladder-frame chassis, like the Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra Bolero, and Toyota Fortuner, most SUVs are based on monocoque chassis, in which the car body and chassis are integrated into a single structure. The monocoque chassis is traditionally used to base MUVs as it is built to offer more comfort to passengers. Examples of SUVs based on monocoque chassis are Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, and more.
MUV
Like SUVs, MUVs also have a two-box design. However, most MUVs generally have a mono-volume silhouette because they have relatively shorter bonnets and a highly raked windshield. In most cases, the bonnet remains at a large obtuse angle with the windshield, so much so that it seamlessly flows into the design of the passenger cabin. At the rear, MUVs are more upright to optimally use the design and allow more space inside the cabin. While most MUVs are based on the monocoque chassis, except for the latest generation of the Toyota Innova, Innova Hycross, all previous generations have been based on the ladder-frame chassis.
Since SUVs have become extremely popular in recent times, some carmakers have designed their MUVs to look like SUVs. For example, when the Kia Carens was launched in 2022, its SUV-inspired face was one of its major highlights. The same has been the case with the latest generation of the Toyota Innova – Toyota Innova Hycross, which features an SUV-like face.
Interior Space and Seating
SUV
Most SUVs in India are 5-seaters; however, there are a few that offer seating for up to seven adults, for example, Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV700, Jeep Meridian, Toyota Fortuner, and others. However, in 7-seater SUVs, the third or the last row usually does not have enough space for adults, and even if the space is enough to accommodate adults, they cannot sit as comfortably as they would in the third row of an MUV. In most cases, the third row of 7-seater SUVs is best suited for kids, for example, the Hyundai Alcazar.
MUV
In India, MUVs of seating capacity up to eight adults (Toyota Innova) are available. Since MUVs are designed to offer as much space and comfort as possible, they accommodate a larger number of passengers more comfortably than SUVs. In premium MUVs like Kia Carnival and Toyota Vellfire, up to seven passengers can experience a lounge-like experience as their seats are specifically configured to offer suave comfort.
Performance and Driving Experience
SUV
Compared to MUVs, SUVs usually pack more powerful engines and are built for a more exciting performance that can entertain the driver in you. Even if an SUV and an MUV have the same engine, the SUV will deliver a more enthusiastic performance. For example, both the Kia Carens Clavis MUV and Kia Seltos SUV come equipped with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, which produces 160 PS power and 253 Nm peak torque. However, with the same engine, the Kia Seltos delivers a more entertaining performance.
MUV
MUVs are equipped with engines according to the load they would be required to carry. Whether it’s passengers or goods, the job of an MUV is to drive it from point A to point B with maximum comfort and convenience. Premium MUVs like the Kia Carnival and Toyota Vellfire come equipped with quite powerful engines; however, they are still calibrated to deliver a smooth and comfortable performance.
Off-road and City Use
SUV
When it comes to off-roading, SUVs are far better than MUVs, primarily because of their design, which gives them a raised riding height. They can drive across the obstacles more easily than MUVs. Moreover, some SUVs are purpose-built for off-roading, for example, the Mahindra Thar, Mahindra Scorpio N, Toyota Fortuner, Jeep Compass, and more. All these SUVs come with a 4X4 drivetrain, which is a must-have for extreme off-roading capabilities. Whereas, some SUVs come with an all-wheel-drive configuration, which enables them for mild off-roading. Such SUVs include Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Mahindra XUV700, and others. Some SUVs like Mahindra Bolero and Mahindra Scorpio come with rear-wheel-drive as standard and have become immensely popular for their ability to easily drive through rough terrains.
At the same time, the better off-roader an SUV is, the poorer ride quality it offers on city roads. For example, the Mahindra Bolero is well-acclaimed for its capabilities to drive through challenging, rough terrains, but it offers a very bumpy ride on city roads. On the other hand the Hyundai Creta, which is the best-selling SUV in India, can be very challenging to drive through rough patches.
MUV
MUVs are not built for off-roading, and to use them sensibly is to use them on city roads and highways. Usually, MUVs have a front-wheel-drive setup and their suspensions are built for smooth travelling with friends and family. For off-roading purposes, no MUV can be recommended.
Fuel Efficiency
Compared to MUVs, SUVs are equipped with larger and more powerful engines, as they are expected to deliver a more exciting performance. Consequently, SUVs are relatively less fuel-efficient. Whereas MUVs are built to haul things and people comfortably and efficiently. Therefore, MUVs are slightly more fuel efficient than SUVs. For example, both the Maruti Ertiga and Maruti Brezza are equipped with 1.5-litre NA petrol engines; however, the Ertiga has a claimed mileage of up to 20.51 km/l, while the Brezza has a claimed mileage of up to 19.89 km/l. In real-world driving conditions, the difference between their fuel efficiencies in even higher.
Pricing
Due to more powerful engines and off-roading capabilities (for off-roaders), SUVs are more expensive than MUVs. The more significant factor that makes SUVs costlier than MUVs is the higher demand for the body type. SUVs look macho and stylish, and everyone wants them. For example, if you want a premium Toyota 7-seater, among the mass-market cars, the MUV options you have are the Toyota Innova Crysta MUV priced at Rs 19.99 – 27.08 lakh, Toyota Innova Hycross MUV priced at Rs 19.14 – 32.58 lakh, while the SUV option is Toyota Fortuner priced at Rs 36.05 – 52.34 lakh.
You should buy an SUV if:
If you want a car that looks butch and dominant, you should go for an SUV. Mind you, while the SUV word is used quite liberally today, the real SUVs are the ones that can go off the road and comfortably drive through challenging terrains (rough, uneven, rocky, muddy, slippery).
You want a car with a high driving position. In an SUV, the driving seat is usually positioned higher to offer a commanding view of the road ahead. Even for the passenger, often the seating position is often high, given the high ground clearance.
You should buy an MUV if:
You will use your car mostly on roads and drive around passengers with no shortage of room for them to sit comfortably. Whether short or long journeys, an MUV offers ample room and comfort to all passengers.
You want a car for more than five passengers and will frequently use the last row of the car. Unlike most 7-seater SUVs, MUVs offer more spacious, comfortable, and practical third rows.
You want sufficient features for all rows of your car. MUVs often come with separate AC vents for second and third-row passengers. Moreover, features such as cup holders, other types of storage areas, and charging ports are also usually accessible to all passengers in each row.
Summary
While SUVs are the mass-favourite cars today, not everyone needs them. In various aspects and for many types of requirements, an MUV would be a better car than an SUV. A comprehensive understanding of the differences, advantages, and limitations between SUVs and MUVs is needed to make a sound choice between the two. With this comparison article, you will definitely learn everything you need to know about the difference between MUVs and SUVs, and which one would be better for your use case.
FAQs
Q. Between MUVs and SUVs, which are more spacious?
MUVs are usually more spacious than SUVs, as they are required to accommodate more passengers.
Q. Between MUVs and SUVs, which are more fuel efficient?
Usually, SUVs are equipped with larger and more powerful engines than MUVs. Therefore, MUVs are more fuel-efficient than SUVs
Q. In a budget of Rs 20 lakh, should I buy an SUV or an MUV?
In such a budget, the MUV options you have are Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Kia Carens, and Kia Carens Clavis. You can pick any of them if you want a large car that can comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers and smoothly ferry them around. Among the SUV options, if you want a comfort-oriented SUV, you can make a pick from the mid-size SUV segment led by the Hyundai Creta. While these SUVs offer you the dominant look of an SUV, they will not be able to do off-roading, except for the Maruti Grand Vitara AWD and Toyota Hyryder AWD, which can do mild off-roading. However, if you want a bona fide SUV, which can be taken on challenging terrains for off-roading adventures, you can opt for the Mahindra Bolero, Mahindra Scorpio, Mahindra Scorpio N, Mahindra Thar, or Mahindra Thar Roxx.
