Domestic manufacturer Maruti launched the first generation Ertiga in 2012 and a couple of years back the car received a facelift. The car offered enough space and comfort, moreover being a Maruti vehicle the running and maintenance cost was also very less. The Ertiga was one of the most chosen 7-seater vehicles in India. Maruti Suzuki has now launched the 2nd generation Ertiga, so let us find out how much of an improvement is the new Ertiga is over the previous generation car?
Exteriors – A keen pair of eyes will tell that the design is slightly similar to the old Ertiga but the overall styling has been consequently evolved. The new MPV is larger in dimensions and has better road presence. The front has a chrome studded grille along with projector headlamps all across the range and this makes the car’s face look mature. The rear looks good and it reminds us about the rear of cars like the Volvo XC60 and the Honda CR-V.
Interiors – The cabin feels airy thanks to the all-around beige colour scheme. The dashboard has been laid out ergonomically and the level of plastic used on the inside has been improved. The wooden treatment on the dashboard along with the elongated AC vents looks very upmarket. There are plenty of cubby holes to keep stuff and all doors get space for 1-litre bottles.
The new Ertiga gets a lot of features and equipment which includes a SmartPlay infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, automatic climate control, passive entry with start/stop button, cooled cup holders in the centre console and 12V charging sockets in all rows. However, it misses out on some features like auto-dimming IRVM, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlamps.
The front seats are spacious and offer good comfort. The large glass area provides the driver with outstanding outward visibility. The rear seat is also quite comfy and roomy thanks to the increased length of the car. The second row of seats can be rake adjusted and reclined. Even though the third row is wider and has extra legroom, it is only suitable for kids. The third row seats can also be reclined just like all other rows. The boot space is of 290-litres with all rows up but with the third row folded down the volume increases to 550-litres, moreover with the second row folded down it further expands to 803-litres.
Performance – It is the new K15B petrol engine which propels the second gen Ertiga. The 1.5-litre unit makes 103 BHP and 138 Nm of torque. The petrol variant is offered with two transmission options – a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The engine is extremely refined but it is a bit noisy near the redline. Power delivery is linear and the engine is lively with the 5-speed manual gearbox but it is the 4-speed automatic which feels sluggish. Moreover, there is a buzz that in 2019, the company will bring in the Ertiga CNG.
However, the diesel engine of the new Ertiga is carried over from the previous generation. The 1.3-litre oil burner makes 89 BHP and 200 Nm of torque. For now, the diesel engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and in the coming future the company may introduce an AMT version. There is a lot of turbo lag but the mid-range punch is pretty good. The engine redlines close to 5000 RPM and feels a bit more refined than the previous generation.
The petrol engine on the new Ertiga has the second generation SHVS tech which regenerates energy while braking, torque assist while accelerating and start-stops automatically when idling. The new SHVS gets 2 batteries - a traditional unit and a Lithium-ion unit. 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 returns 15-20 km/l depending on driving conditions.
Driving Dynamics – The ride quality is excellent thanks to a soft suspension setup. It tackles broken patches of roads with ease and it is more stable than previous gen Ertiga. The steering of the car could have been improved with more feel and feedback. The car has good body control and there is a slight amount of body roll. The anchorage provided by the brakes is also good and the tyres offer a decent amount of grip.
Safety and After Sales Service - The 2019 Maruti Ertiga is offered in 10 variants - four petrol-manual, two petrol-automatic and four diesel-manual. All the variants come equipped with dual front airbags and ABS. The automatic variants come with ESP and Hill Start Assist. The new Maruti Ertiga is based on the HEARTECT platform and is made of 39 percentage tensile steel. Global NCAP tests of the new Ertiga are not yet done but we hope it secures a good rating like the Vitara Brezza.
Verdict - The 2019 Maruti Ertiga is bigger and better. With a new platform, it is more comfortable, possibly safer and also better to drive. It offers good space, many features and excellent fuel economy. Maruti's stellar service network is another plus point for the owners. The Ertiga is a good car and at this price point, there is no other car that comes close to it.
