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MUV/MPV, Families on the Move: Diwali 2025

This Diwali 2025, MUVs/MPVs are the unsung heroes of India’s family car market, offering 7-seater space, smart features, and festival-friendly value. SpotGenie Gyaan breaks down what MUV/MPV means, key technical specs, top picks and what to check before buying.

Pratik Kamble

18 Oct 2025 — 3 min read

MUV/MPV, Families on the Move: Diwali 2025

SpotGenie Gyaan: MUV/MPV, Families on the Move (2025, Diwali)

Read your mind: You’re planning the next big family drive, the cousins are all riding along, there’s luggage, there’s grandparents. You need more than a hatchback or even a compact SUV. Enter the world of the MUV/MPV, the multi-utility or multi-purpose vehicle built for families, versatility and memorable journeys. And this Diwali 2025, they’re lighting up the roads.

What exactly is an MUV or MPV?

The terms are often used interchangeably in India, but here's a breakdown:

MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle): Often derived from the van category, these vehicles prioritise interior space, flexible seating (often 7-8 seats) and comfort.
MUV (Multi-Utility Vehicle): A term more common in India, describing a vehicle that offers high roof, three-row seating, and a body type larger than a sedan/hatch but often built like a large car rather than full van.

In essence: if a car offers three rows of seats, space for the family plus weekend luggage, and a body taller and roomier than a regular car, you’re in MUV/MPV territory.

Why they matter, in one word: space

In India’s context, big families, frequent long weekend trips, and shared mobility (friends, extended families) demand more space. Cars like these don’t just carry people, they carry memories.

The 2024–2025 data confirms the trend: more buyers are choosing multi-row vehicles over two-row sedans, especially during festive seasons and holiday travel peaks.

Technical highlights, what sets an MUV/MPV apart

Seating capacity: 6–8 seats is common. Many models allow bench or captain seats in the second/third row.
Body design: Higher roof height, often ~170-190 mm ground clearance, and a longer wheelbase for comfort.
Engine & drivetrain: Prioritises torque over speed, think 100–150 hp in many family models, or hybrid powertrains in newer ones.
Flexibility: Seats that fold/slide, large boot space when third row is stowed, good for luggage + people.

Top MUV/MPV models leading 2025

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: The value champion in the segment.
Toyota Innova Hycross / Crysta: Premium choice, reliability meets family comfort.
Kia Carens: Stylish 7-seater with SUV styling, in MUV form.
Renault Triber: Entry-level 7-seater MUV offering modular seats and family value.

Diwali 2025: The family vehicle spotlight

During Diwali, families not only upgrade lights and sweets—they upgrade rides. Showrooms are bustling with 7-seaters, festive offers for MUV/MPV models, and test drives for the multi-row experience. These vehicles symbolise togetherness, long drives, and luggage-loaded journeys home.

What should you check before buying an MUV/MPV this festive season?

Check the third-row usability, is it really comfortable for adults or just kids?
Test with full load (people + luggage) for performance & braking.
Check features: 360-view camera, parking sensors (essential for larger size).
Service network & resale value matter—especially for high-usage family vehicles.
Consider long-term cost: tyres, fuel/efficiency, insurance premiums.

SpotGenie: awareness for shared rides

MUVs/MPVs often carry entire families, driver-managed trips, and group outings. With more people on board, visibility, responsibility and communication matter more. SpotGenie’s QR-based vehicle alert system adds value by enabling quick alerts if the vehicle is parked in shared spaces, parental driver concerns arise, or roadside assistance is needed. Smart vehicle, smart awareness.

The road ahead, more space, smarter tech

In 2025 and beyond, expect MUV/MPV segments to evolve with hybrid powertrains, EV launches, and smarter interiors (swivel seats, modular zones). For family mobility, they’ll continue to define “who we travel with” more than “how we travel”. This Diwali, the upgrade isn’t just to a bigger car—it’s to a bigger journey together.