2015 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Launched - With Better Fuel Efficiency

Maruti Suzuki has introduced a mid-life update of the Ertiga. Prior to India, the Japanese automaker had showcased the facelifted model at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in August this year. Of lately, Ertiga has witnessed tough competition from new entrants in the segment; Honda Mobilio and Renault Lodgy while Toyota Innova continues to be the sales king. To make it more competitive, Maruti is introducing Ertiga with mechanical, aesthetic and feature upgrades. Maruti Suzuki's newly launched Ertiga facelift has started arriving at dealerships for display and demo, while the reports indicate that the new avatar of the MPV Ertiga has a waiting period of up to one month. Back in 2012, this vehicle may have pioneered the compact MPV segment in India, but there’s no denying the fact it doesn’t really take home any awards for its styling. A practical MPV it is. However, that's about to change now. Well, to an extent.



Maruti has given the Ertiga a much-needed midlife refresh, adding a teeny bit of flair to its otherwise dull styling. One look at the images and you'll notice that the Ertiga now gets Suzuki’s family face with its new three-slat chrome grille and an edgier bumper upfront. Being a mild facelift, the designers have left the headlamps and the side profile untouched, while the only addition to the rear is a chunky slab of chrome. Changes on the inside include push-button start, electrically folding ORVMs, a 50:50 split for third row seats for added practicality, a new SmartPlay TFT touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth telephony, voice command, navigation system and a reverse parking camera. Compatible smartphones can also be connected through the in-built MirrorLink feature, which enables the users to access various features of their smartphones. Once in the seat, achieving the right driving position which is aided by a height adjustable driver’s seat, coupled with a steering wheel adjustable for rake only. The pilot and navigator seats are wide and offer good lateral, under thigh and back support. It should be a good place to be seated in, even for longer journeys. Passenger safety is also looked after, with a driver airbag which is now standard across the range, with dual airbags optional for the base variant. Not just that, ABS with EBD, seat-belts with pre-tensioner and force limiter features, standard on the higher variants and can be had at an additional cost on the base variants too.



As for the mechanicals, the 1.3-litre DDiS 200-powered Ertiga gets the same treatment as the Ciaz, which means it now carries an SHVS badge that brings along mild hybrid tech into the MPV space. It allows the diesel-powered MPV to do 24.52kpl compared to the older car's 20.77kpl. How, you ask. Well, apart from the idling start-stop mechanism, the SHVS variant also gets features like Torque Assist, Brake Energy Regeneration and Gear Shift Indicator to help you get closer to that claimed efficiency figure. Taking the petrol variant in to consideration, it also has something new in store. Apart from an improved, and, it goes without saying, more efficient 1.4-litre K14B petrol motor 17.5kpl, there’s now an option to choose between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed auto transmission. The revised Ertiga has seen a nominal hike in prices and the base LXi petrol will now cost ₹6 lakh, while the top-end ZXi+ retails at ₹8.43 lakh. The diesel trim starts from ₹7.55 lakh and goes up to ₹9.25 lakh. As with any revised model, Maruti is asking you to shell out a few thousand rupees extra, but it is offering you a better car with revised looks, more features and added safety.



Price list of the variants are as follows;
Petrol

Lxi - ₹6 lakh
Lxi(O) - ₹6.35 lakh
Vxi - ₹7.26 lakh
VXi AT - ₹8.26 lakh
Zxi - ₹7.85 lakh
Zxi+ - ₹8.43 lakh

Diesel

Ldi - ₹7.56 lakh
Ldi(O) - ₹7.63 lakh
Vdi - ₹8.26 lakh
Zdi - ₹8.83 lakh
Zdi+ - ₹9.25 lakh