2019 Maruti Ertiga Review
Car Tested: 2019 Maruti Ertiga; Road Test No. 1025; Test Location: Faridabad
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 8.71 – 13.14 lakhs
The new Maruti Ertiga is an impressive people carrier, much improved MPV
The Maruti Ertiga is one of the most popular 7-seater cars in India because it offers almost everything that a buyer asks for. The first generation car has decent space and comfort and offers low running costs, alongside a list of features that you’d generally expect in a car of this segment. After 6 years of selling the first generation, Maruti Suzuki has now launched the 2nd generation Ertiga, the same car which was launched in overseas markets few months back. How much of an improvement is the new Ertiga over the older car? Time to find out.
Motor Quest: The first generation Ertiga was launched in 2012 and a facelift came out couple of years back. Maruti had given the LUV (Life Utility Vehicle) title to this MPV and it was indeed loved by Indian customers which reflected in its sales. The new Ertiga is likely to draw even more customers and bring a good spike in sales.
The Ertiga looks more premium now
Exteriors – There are some hints of the original Ertiga’s design in the new one too but overall the styling is significantly different. In fact the Ertiga looks more mature now and has also grown in size (40 mm wider, 99 mm longer and 5 mm taller), which leads to better road presence too. The design is very pleasant and customers are going to love the way it has evolved. The front has the familiar Maruti face and the side profile isn’t too bland thankfully. The rear looks good but it does remind us of a couple of premium cars like the Volvo XC60 and the Honda CR-V. On the outside, there are a lot of feel-good touches like the floating roof and chrome studded grille and all variants of the car are fitted with projector headlamps. All in all, nothing to complain about on the styling front and this is a job done well.
The cabin is loaded with a lot more tech
Interiors – The interior of the new Maruti Ertiga gets a beige colour scheme which lends an airy feel. Expectedly, a lot of switches/knobs are shared with other Maruti cars but still the cabin feels like a nice place to be in. There are some plasticky bits around but quality has definitely improved over the older car. The dashboard’s design is neat with controls falling within easy reach of the hand. The elongated AC vent design on the passenger side of the dashboard reminds us of the Audi Q7. Storage spaces in the cabin are aplenty, all the doors have 1-litre bottle holders along with space for other nitty-gritties.
Space is impressive and the seats are comfy
The interiors are very impressive, good quality materials and lots of features
In terms of features on offer, the new Ertiga gets quite a lot and it even shares most of its features with the Ciaz. The equipment list includes a SmartPlay infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto (same unit that we’ve seen on multiple Maruti cars), automatic climate control, passive entry with push button start, cooled cup holders in the centre console and 12V charging sockets in all rows. However, the Ertiga misses out on some features like auto-dimming IRVM, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlamps.
We suggest using the third row only for kids
The front seats are large and offer good comfort. Outward visibility for the driver is excellent thanks to the large glass area. The seats get supportive cushioning and things are even better at the rear with the increased space. The rear seat is also quite comfy and roomy. It can also be rake adjusted for more space and reclined for better comfort. It comes with a centre armrest too. The third row is wider by 34 mm and leg room has increased by 70 mm but it is still suitable only for kids because knee room is limited and a tall person can fit only if the person sitting ahead has pushed his seat ahead. The third row seat can also be reclined. With all rows up, boot space is 290-litres but it can be expanded to 550-litres with the third row folded down and 803-litres with the second row folded too.
The 1.5-litre petrol engine has very good drivability and is very refined
Performance – The petrol engine powering the second generation Maruti Ertiga is the new K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 103 HP at 6000 RPM and 138 Nm of torque at 4800 RPM. Offered with this engine is either a 5-speed MT or a 4-speed AT. The engine is super refined and is quiet for most part but starts getting vocal at high RPMs. Power delivery is smooth and punchy and the redline comes in at around 6000 RPM. The engine feels livelier with the 5-speed MT which offers slick shifts and a light clutch while the 4-speed AT feels sluggish in comparison. However, it does its job fairly well under regular driving, though the shifts aren’t lightning quick. Maruti will launch a CNG variant of the petrol engine next year.
The diesel engine is the same old 1.3-litre unit
Both the engines score high on fuel efficiency thanks to the SHVS tech
The diesel engine powering the Ertiga is the same 1.3-litre unit that we’ve seen on multiple Maruti cars since many years now. It produces 89 HP at 4000 RPM and 200 Nm at 1750 RPM. This engine is available with only a 5-speed MT but there is a possibility of Maruti launching an AMT version in the future. This engine has a lot of turbo lag but thankfully the mid-range has juicy performance. For a diesel engine, it redlines quite high at close to 5000 RPM. Compared to the older Ertiga, refinement has improved on the new car.
The SHVS mild hybrid tech further boosts the fuel efficiency
The petrol engine comes with the second generation SHVS tech which does 3 things – regenerative braking, torque assist and auto start-stop. Due to this, the multi-information display on the petrol car is different from the diesel variant. The new SHVS gets 2 batteries – a traditional unit and a Lithium-ion unit. It also boosts fuel efficiency. The diesel engine continues to come with the older version of SHVS. The petrol engine delivers between 13-17 km/l (MT) and 12-15 km/l (AT) while the diesel engine delivers 15-20 km/l depending on driving conditions.
The ride quality on the new Ertiga is indeed impressive
Driving Dynamics – The suspension on the new Maruti Ertiga gets a soft setup and ride quality is just excellent. The MPV tackles bad roads very confidently and feels much more stable too compared to the older car. But, the steering could have done with more feel and feedback. Body control is very good even though there is some body roll. This car isn’t really meant for driving fast on the corners, it’s more about cruising. Braking performance is also very good while the tyres have decent levels of grip.
The new Ertiga gets standard safety features on all variants
Safety and After Sales Service – The 2019 Maruti Ertiga is offered in 10 variants – LXi, VXi, ZXi, ZXi+, LDi, VDi, ZDi, ZDi+, VXi AT and ZXi AT all variants come equipped with dual front airbags and ABS. Also, the automatic variants come with ESP and Hill Start Assist. The new Maruti Ertiga is based on the same HEARTECT platform as the Swift and Dzire and the MPV also consists of 39% tensile steel. Global NCAP tests of the new Ertiga are awaited but we hope it secures a good rating like the Vitara Brezza.
The Maruti Ertiga offers a lot for the price
Verdict – Maruti has launched another blockbuster and the new Ertiga is going to be a sales success just like the older model. It offers good space and comfort, many features and excellent fuel economy. Maruti’s stellar service network is another big plus point. The new Ertiga is also priced attractively and at this price point, there is no other car that comes close to this.
Some interior parts are shared with other Maruti cars
What’s Cool
* Styling has an air of premium feel, looks mature too
* The interior is pleasant and very spacious
* Ride quality is brilliant
* Both engines offer good economy and drivability
What’s Not So Cool
* Steering lacks feel, it’s not very engaging
* Same old 1.3 diesel engine on offer
Alternatives: – Mahindra Marazzo, Honda BR-V
The rear draws inspiration from a lot of other cars
2019 Maruti Ertiga Specifications
* Engine: 1462cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol | 1248cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 103 HP @ 6000 RPM | 89 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 138 Nm @ 4800 RPM | 200 Nm @ 1750 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT, 4-Speed AT | 5-Speed MT
* Fuel Consumption: 14-17 km/l (P MT), 12-15 km/l (P AT), 15-20 km/l (D)
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Tyre Size: 185/65/15
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Torsion Beam (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear), ABS
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP (only AT)
2019 Maruti Ertiga Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4395 mm X 1735 mm X 1690 mm
* Wheelbase: 2740 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.2-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 45-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1135-1170 kgs (P), 1220-1245 kgs (D)
Maruti Ertiga or Mahindra Marazzo – pick one!
Testers’ Note:
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