Maruti's Ertiga is synonymous with practicality, ease of use and efficiency. It can take in eight people including the driver without complaints. You can also avoid the need of taking a second car if there is two more persons in the group. You can find other vehicles with more seats. But Ertiga is different from all of them. The reasons - it is as comfortable as a car, costs same as a car and maintenance costs are also comparable with a car.
Sequel
Ertiga is not new to Indian market; it has been around for the past six years with four-and-a-half lakh units sold so far. It comfortably switches roles between a family car and a taxi. Ertiga is now in news because an all-new version of the vehicle has been launched. It has got a brand-new chassis, new design and looks and oodles of luxury and features.
More car per car
Ertiga is actually a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). However, unlike other MPVs in the market that are built on a chassis similar to that of commercial vehicles, Ertiga is underpinned by the platform of a car. This is the main factor that differentiates Ertiga from a common people carrier. Ertiga shares its platform with Swift and Dzire. And this is the main reason why it drives like a car.
Stylish
The new Ertiga is much more stylish than its predecessor. Maruti has successfully redefined the boxy concept of vans, giving it a more contemporary styling that makes it look far more desirable. It has a front that is similar to cars, on the sides it looks like a longish hatchback, and, on the rear, with design cues from Swift it can certainly be called the most beautiful Maruti. It also sports projector headlamps, LED taillamps, a new grille and alloy wheels. Altogether, the new Ertiga is a premium package.
It's much bigger
Compared to the earlier model, the new Ertiga is 99 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 5 mm taller. This has resulted in added space inside. Now all three rows have enough leg room; in the second and third rows passengers can now stretch their legs. Since it is a tall car, getting in and out is not difficult. The driver seat is high and offers a better view from behind the wheel.
Finish
Though it gets a beige and darker brown two-tone combination, there are more than enough chrome and wooden trims inside. The matt wood finish on the dash and AC vents stands out. The 17.8 cm touchscreen not only has inbuilt navigation but also supports smartphone integration options like Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The flat bottom steering wheel is wrapped in leather. You also get air-cooled cup-holders and glovebox.
Mileage
Ertiga is the mileage champion in its segment. The diesel variant offers a fuel efficiency of 25.47 km per litre while the petrol model offers 19.34 kmpl and the automatic variant 18.9 kmpl. The new Ertiga gets a brand-new petrol engine; it is the same 1.5-litre motor that made its debut on the Ciaz facelift. It churns out 103 bhp of peak power and 138 Nm of peak torque. The new engine is 13% more stronger and 10% more fuel efficient than the older motor. The diesel engine is carried forward from the older model; the tried-and-tested 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced unit produces 90 bhp of peak power and 200 Nm of peak torque. The engines have been tuned for both city and highway driving.
Price: From Rs 7.44 lakh
Test drive: Indus motors Ph: 9847300000
