Mahindra Marazzo vs Tata Hexa vs Toyota Innova Crysta vs Renault Lodgy: Space And Practicality Comparo

We get down to the basics to see how the Mahindra Marazzo fares against its captain seat-equipped counterparts as a family car

This is not a traditional review. While the Mahindra Marazzo enters a very popular space, its pricing puts it in a place where it has few direct rivals, until the new Ertiga is here. So, we put it up against the Renault Lodgy, Tata Hexa and Toyota Innova Crysta. These rivals fall into different price segments and come with different performance pedigrees, which is why features and performance have been kept out of consideration. But even with their differences, they have to deliver on two main counts as people movers - space for the family with their luggage and ride comfort. So, that’s exactly what we’re comparing.

Third-row space

Rank #4 - Tata Hexa

One look at the exterior dimensions and it’s easy to assume that the Tata Hexa has the most accommodating cabin altogether. However, the third-row space of the Hexa is actually the weakest. We got our measuring tape out and found that whether it's a matter of headroom, shoulder room or kneeroom, the Hexa scores the least. There’s also the issue of foot room which renders the last row difficult to use even for average sized adults. Seating three here isn’t possible, but even Tata clearly states that with the captain seats, the Hexa, is a 6-seater. You get only two seatbelts here.

While the third-row will accommodate children well, accessibility remains an issue. It’s strange that the 7-seater version gets a tumble-forward middle row, but here, the seat merely tilts forward, making ingress/egress a difficult affair.

Rank #3 - Toyota Innova Crysta

Fortunately, accessing the third-row is a breeze in the Innova Crysta. Both middle row seats get the one-touch tumble forward function and leave a good amount of room to get in the back. Three adults can get into the last row here but the seating will be cramped. Yes, shoulder room here is the best among these four competitors, but the seat base itself is quite narrow. Additionally, the second-row seatback fouls with your shin, which can prove to be a pain over long journeys. Speaking of which, there’s another reason the last row of the Innova Crysta falls short on the comfort quotient (more on that later).

Rank #2 - Mahindra Marazzo

Strangely enough, the smaller cars offer superior last rows. If there’s any brand that knows how to give you more seat per row, it’s Mahindra. But in the case of other Mahindras, it’s only been about accomodation, not comfort. However, the Marazzo offers great kneeroom and headroom to seat three occupants and the glass area works well with the light interior to make things feel airy.

However, if you’re seated in line with the driver, you will find shoulder room lacking. The reason? The secondary AC unit’s piping goes through the rear right side of the Marazzo. As a result, the panel used to cover this is more intrusive than the one placed to the left, eating away at the available space.

Rank #1 - Renault Lodgy

It’s the Renault Lodgy that delivers the best third-row experience. Apart from offering the most headroom, it’s also generous in terms of shoulder and kneeroom. Even getting in and out of the third-row is easy as both middle row seats tumble forward. The second-row seats aren’t too large either, giving the rearmost occupants a good view ahead. So, the Renault Lodgy wins this round but that also brings us to a big flaw.

 

Second-row space

 

Rank #4 - Renault Lodgy

The last row benefits in the Lodgy have come by compromising comfort in the second-row. For one, the smaller seats aren’t comfortable for passengers of large frames and they don’t slide! Add to that the fact that it’s the weakest in terms of shoulder and knee room, and you start wondering if the trade-off is worth it.

Rank #3 - Toyota Innova Crysta

The Innova Crysta does deliver the big family car experience. You sit taller than you do in the Lodgy, giving you a seating stance that’s a “cut above”. The leather seats are plus-sized and accommodating too, but a little more kneeroom and cabin width would’ve made the experience even nicer.

Rank #2 - Tata Hexa

While it did lose out in terms of third-row space, the Tata Hexa offers a great second-row. It’s in this second-row that you get the most kneeroom and generous foot room as well. The seats are big and very well contoured as well. While the Innova Crysta’s seats are big, they’re rather flat. In the Hexa, they’re shaped to hold you in place, making them a great place to be in over long drives.

Rank #1 - Mahindra Marazzo

The new kid on the block does a great job of offering a well designed middle row. There’s a great sense of space, backed up by the fact that the Marazzo does offer the most shoulder and headroom. Here too, the seats are well-sized and very supportive. In fact, even if you’re very tall and your knees touch the front seats, the cushioning is very thick and soft. Not only does this ensure comfort for the second-row passenger but the occupants up front are also protected from having knees jam into their back.

Ride quality

Rank #1 - Mahindra Marazzo & Renault Lodgy

Aside from the great seating space and comfort, the Marazzo also surprises with its ride quality. Mahindra’s got the tuning right to ensure the ride quality is consistent. Drive the Marazzo with two people on board or seven, over damaged city roads at slow speeds or on the highway at triple digits, the ride comfort isn’t compromised. The suspension is set up on the softer side but save for a little bounciness in the last row (with a full passenger load), the Marazzo gives you little reason to complain.

Renault cars have always been known for their impressive ride quality. The Lodgy is no exception and we’d say it offers an experience as good as the Marazzo’s. This MPV stays absolutely flat even over high speed bumps and no matter what row you’re seated in, the Lodgy stays sure-footed and stable.

 

Rank #2 - Tata Hexa & Toyota Innova Crysta

It’s a tie between the Tata Hexa and Toyota Innova Crysta and the reason boils down to the usage. The Tata Hexa offers a comfy ride, even with those big 19-inch wheels (vs the Crysta’s 17-inchers). However, if you’re in the Hexa with just the driver and maybe two more occupants, the ride isn’t all that comfortable. There’s a lot of side-to-side movement here which can prove to be nauseating over long drives. But drive with a full house and the Hexa’s ride improves significantly.

With seven people on board, the Innova Crysta is rather bouncy. The ride in the last row is so bouncy that it can prove to be difficult to sit here even for a short intercity trip. But, if it's only you and the driver, it's a lot more relaxed and more importantly, a lot more comfortable.

Luggage space

Rank #1 - Toyota Innova Crysta

At 300 litres, the Innova Crysta offers the most boot space with all seat rows up. That’s more boot space than hatchbacks like the Maruti Swift or Hyundai Elite i20, while carrying 7 people on board. That aside, the Crysta’s boot has a wide opening, making it easy to load and unload luggage.

Rank #2 - Mahindra Marazzo

The Marazzo’s boot isn’t as big as the Innova Crysta’s but it’s still quite wide and deep, leaving enough room to fit three to four medium sized bags with ease.

Rank #3 - Renault Lodgy

Good as the Lodgy’s third-row is, the luggage space could’ve been a little better. On paper, the Lodgy does have more boot space than the Marazzo (190-litres vs 207-litres) but the boot isn’t too wide. Additionally, the third-row reclines at an angle that cuts into the usable boot space.

Rank #4 - Tata Hexa

At 128 litres, the Hexa certainly does better than something like the XUV500 but it’s still enough for only a limited amount of luggage. Since the floor board sits rather high up, fitting one bag on top of the other is almost impossible.

Verdict

As stated in the beginning, this is strictly a comparison of the space and practicality these MPVs offers. The following ranking does not take into consideration their performance or features.

Rank #4 - Renault Lodgy

The Renault Lodgy makes a lot of sense if you’re looking for a 7-seater car on a budget. It offers a great deal of ride comfort and is quite car-like to use on a daily basis, making it ideal for city usage.

Rank #3 - Tata Hexa

The Tata Hexa is the lifestyle pick of the lot. It gives you the tough look and appeal of an SUV and packs in a great second-row. The third-row isn’t ideal for adults but should you drive with a full load, it rides very well. Also, if you enjoy driving, the Hexa makes for a great pick, particularly in its automatic guise.

Rank #2 - Toyota Innova Crysta

With the Crysta, Toyota has tried to make the Innova more luxurious and we think they’ve succeeded. As a package, the Innova Crysta is proven and while the purchase cost is high, its resale value is strong too. There’s also the pull of brand “Innova” which is quite hard to beat. The 2019 Tata Hexa gets a larger touch screen, dual-tone colour options and two new alloy wheel patterns. Full details and pricing here.

Rank #1 - Mahindra Marazzo

The winner is the Mahindra Marazzo as it gives you the big, 7-seater experience without costing a bomb. Its cabin is spacious, the seats are comfortable and supportive, while the ride quality is impressive in multiple drive scenarios. As a package, it comes across as the most balanced of the lot.