Top 7-seater SUVs under RM 200,000

Irrespective of the increasing number of cars on the roads, people are still buying full-size 7-seater SUVs in the country. Yes, the smaller cars (hatchbacks, sedans, and crossovers) are a bit easy to handle in the congested city streets, but there’s no way they’re going to provide an immersive and commanding experience like a 7-seater SUV. So, for you SUV lovers, we’ve brainstormed and shortlisted a few top 7-seater SUVs that you can buy under RM 200,000.

Toyota Fortuner

This has to be the first name in our list because, of course, it’s a Toyota, and it’s successfully spread its charm in many countries globally. The mighty Fortuner stands tall with its mammoth like dimensions, and proudly shows off its modern features like LED projector headlights with LED daytime running lights. The Fortuner really changed the game for Toyota.

In Malaysia, the Toyota Fortuner is available in four trims featuring two engine options - 2.4-litre and 2.7-litre, along with 4x4 and 4x2 choices. The 2.4-litre engine has 148 horses whereas the bigger 2.7-litre churns out 164 PS of them. All the variants come with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Fortuner has got a ton of space inside offering seating for seven. The seats provide a good amount of comfort and support. There are many features in the cabin that a modern-day SUV should have. Also, in terms of safety, Toyota has incorporated all the advanced safety features that you should get at this price point. Talking about price, the Fortuner is available at a starting price of RM 169,500 for the base model.

Peugeot 5008

Peugeot 5008 is among the best SUVs that you can buy under RM 200,000. It ticks off all the right boxes of being a good 7-seater. Peugeot has worked a lot to make sure that the 5008 is a brilliant-looking car, and it clearly is. We’re blown away with its unique design language, especially the way the headlamps are cut out and the fragmented LED daytime running lights have been stacked up. We get to see a similar fragmented design at the rear of the car.

Peugeot calls the cabin of the 5008 i-Cockpit. And now we know why. Everything you see is inspired by a cockpit of a jet fighter. It’s a totally different feeling being here. Also, the advanced 12.3-inch head-up digital instrument panel is definitely one of the many striking features of the car.

Available in only a single variant, the Peugeot 5008 comes with a 1.6-litre engine that has 167 PS of max power and 240 Nm of peak torque at your disposal. It comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. You can get the Peugeot 5008 at a price of RM 172,888.

Isuzu Mu-X

The third one on our list is the Isuzu Mu-X. It has got an aggressive front fascia with a lot of chrome embellishments. The design of the LED projector headlamps along with the LED daytime running lights enhance the mean appearance of the car. Being a 7-seater, the Mu-X is quite a big vehicle. It makes the other hatchbacks and sedans on the roads feel tiny.

The Isuzu Mu-X features a beige color theme for the interior. It makes the cabin feel much roomier than it actually is, which is quite a lot. Then comes the seven seats. They are nicely contoured and provide a good amount of comfort. They can be folded in various configurations to allow you to load the Mu-X with your luggage. While space and comfort isn’t an issue with the Mu-X, the dashboard layout seems to be a bit old-school.

In terms of engine, the Isuzu Mu-X comes with a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine that churns out 136 PS and 320 Nm of torque. The transmission duties are handled by a 5-speed automatic unit. You get an option of picking either the 4x2 or the 4x4 variant. The are three trims of the Mu-X available in Malaysia, starting at a price of RM 165,100.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Available in two trims, the Mitsubishi Outlander is the only 7-seater SUV that we’ve got from Mitsubishi in the country. Since it’s the only of its kind, it had to be interesting. It manages to look handsome with its sharp headlight design and attractive LED daytime running lights. The front grille is also well made giving the car an aggressive stance.

Under the hood of the Outlander is a 2.0-litre engine with 145 PS of power and 196 Nm of torque. There’s a bigger 2.4-litre engine also available that produces 167 PS of max power and 222 Nm of peak torque. Both of the engines are mated to a CVT unit.

The Outlander won the Carsifu Editor’s Choice Award 2016 for the Best Mid-Size, 4x4, 7-seater SUV. Both of its trims get the 4WD system as standard, which makes it one of the most affordable SUVs in the segment to offer that feature. Talking about affordability, the starting price of the Mitsubishi Outlander is RM 132,109.

These are the top 7-seater SUVs on our list. If you have more to add, do add the names in the comment section.