Apart from the sea of crossovers and SUVs dominating sales in Singapore (and beyond), there’s a trend that takes on an even more realistic beat. Car buyers are looking at purchases that give them the most bang for buck - no surprises, really given that the effects of post-pandemic economic slowdown haven't quite sunk in and we’d rather favour more functional purchases over emotionally-driven ones. Even if one is blessed with a deep pocket, vehicle-related taxes in Singapore will make you think twice.

And recent launches in our market seem to reflect this value-per-passenger mindset. The Cat A-friendly, non-hybrid Honda Freed is one of the cheapest new 7 seaters you can buy. The luxurious SAIC-backed Maxus MIFA 9 drops in at under S$300k and aims to unshackle the chains off Toyota Alphard diehards. And if trips to KL are preferred on land, the Mercedes-Benz EQV300 would gladly take up the challenge to ferry 7 in first class comfort. And don’t get us started on how many passengers the new Ford Ranger can ferry…

The demand for people carriers is there, but this stems from the fact that we are in search of bang for buck deals. A hatchback and wagon to form an ideal 2 car garage would require very deep pockets, which is why a single 7 seater companion fits the bill. Let’s set Carousell’s used car classifieds filters on overdrive…

Wait, what’s the association with Apple’s latest announcements like the iPhone 15, you reckon? It’s relevant because these load luggers are not equipped with the latest Apple CarPlay, and we are certain at least one passenger will demand this. But we’d argue that tech is moving at such a rapid pace, even phone mirroring softwares find it tough to keep up. That’s why we’d suggest keeping an eye on iOS 17 release date - that’s the 18th of September. That should keep the entire family of 7 entertained on the move…

Toyota Sienta (2nd generation)

Depreciation: S$13,000 - S$16,000 per month

The temptation to go off budget is always there during car hunting, even more so when the successor of our car in question is so much more appealing. Sure, the 3rd-gen Toyota Sienta in hybrid form can go about duties in a cheerful and sensible manner, but S$170k is still no spare change. From slightly over S$1k depreciation per month, the previous-gen Sienta can do most of the heavy lifting without breaking the bank.

Mind, it was still forward-thinking in its approach when launched in 2015. The first-gen’s box-like shape was replaced by one said to be inspired by a trekking shoe. While its more trendy aesthetics polarised opinions, it was still more practical in all areas, without intruding on the golden ticket for all Sientas - rear passenger sliding doors on both sides. Snag a non-hybrid 1.5-litre in Elegance spec for as low as S$13,000 depreciation per year.

Honda Mobilio (2nd generation)

Depreciation: S$14,500 - S$16,000 per month

It was only natural for neighbourhood rivals to have a car to challenge the Sienta, but Honda took a more offbeat approach. The Freed went head-to-head with the Sienta, while the Mobilio was that silent, less fancy warrior behind the scenes. The 2nd-gen Mobilio ditched sliding doors in favour of more conventional doors, but clever Honda packaging made it the more familiar operator. It was based on the highly popular Brio mini hatchback and engineered mainly for South East Asian markets (Indonesia and Thailand in particular), so despite its load lugging ability it’s still nimble and easy to manoeuvrre through tight parking spaces.

That it was pitched against the Toyota Avanza in comparisons in 2015 came as no surprise. It punched ahead of its weight class, at a price point too attractive to ignore back then - it could be had for a bit over S$100k brand new when COE was less than half of today’s levels. This one-owner, RX Luxe-spec Mobilio is not the cheapest in the market, but scuff-free images point towards a very well maintained unit. Not more than S$200 depreciation per pax each month sounds like a steal, right?

Mazda 5 (3rd generation)

Depreciation: S$14,900 - S$16,000 per month

We were all set to list the bulletproof 1st-gen Toyota Wish as our third and final option, only to figure out at the last minute that there were still a couple of Mazda 5s for sale. Sure, the Wish would have aced all duties in a family-oriented outing, but there’s an enchanting sense of style in the 5 that seemingly manages to weave practicality in the mix.

And in this Soul Red hue it was the colour that brought Mazda back in the limelight. It wasn’t the more striking Soul Red Crystal, but it was smart enough to capture a slice of the increasingly trendy compact MPV market. And it drove well too - Mazda’s resistance to deploy a CVT gearbox (even today) made it a more intuitive drive. Perhaps it felt like it was plotting its own downfall, with future Mazda designs simply drop dead gorgeous. But with cheaper units going for less than S$15k annual depreciation, reasonably-priced haulers don’t get much more stylish and honest than this.

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Selling your car? Whatever the reason, caryousell@carousell, sell your car at the highest price today.