New Maruti Suzuki Ertiga first drive review

NEW DELHI: When we think of buying a seven-seater MPV, two common names come to our mind are the Toyota Innova and the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. While the Innova has been positioned as a premium product in the market, the Ertiga fits perfectly in tight budgets.
What we compromise on with the Maruti are the cabin space and the performance. However, the company has now launched the new-generation model of its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) which has been claimed to offer more space along with better performance and upmarket feel.And here's what we thought.
How does it look outside?
It is the second-generation model of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and it looks completely new as compared to the outgoing version. The new model features a floating roofline with prominent character lines which make it quite interesting. The car gets chrome studded front grille which looks edgier and is well merged with the new headlamp units. The headlamps of the new Ertiga are sleeker and look smarter than those of the first-gen model. Besides the projector headlamps, the range-topping variants also get LED daytime running lights. There are some additional creases on the hood as well which make the car looking sportier and the new bumper also gets redesigned foglamp housings.

The rear profile of the new Ertiga looks more interesting with a sculpted structure and L-shaped tail lamp clusters. The combination LED tail lamps are one of the best improvements in the styling of the model. Chrome garnishing has been provided on the tailgate as well, continuing the premium quotient on. The new multi-spoke alloy wheels also look better than those on the previous model. However, they aren't the perfect match for that edgy design.

Talking about the size, the new Ertiga is 99mm longer, 44mm wider and 5mm taller than its predecessor. The model has significantly improved road presence and definitely looks premium now.
How does it feel inside?
The company has kept the premium feel of the new Ertiga inside as well and it offers a completely new experience to the driver as well as the passenger. The dual tone interior of the car makes usage of decent quality materials and there are wooden trims provided on the dash as well as inside the front doors. The front AC vents are simple but classy and remind of the Volkswagen Passat. Staring with the driver side, it has the same flat-bottom steering wheel which comes in the new Swift and Dzire as well. There are control switches provided on the steering which is tilt adjustable. The instrument cluster is also fresh and has been taken from the new Ciaz. Like the previous model, it also gets two analog dials for speedo and tachometer but now there is a big multi-information colour display between them. It offers a host of information, including the flow of the hybrid powertrain, in easy to read layout.

The centre console also gets a new layout with a seven-inch floating touchscreen display in the top-spec variants. However, the lower variants get a similarly designed Bluetooth stereo setup which looks a bit tacky. While the touchscreen display -- with connectivity features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay – offers a nice entertainment experience, the one in the lower variants could have been designed better in a conventional format. Also, the sound quality of the speakers is not up to the mark. There are 1-litre bottle pocket in each of the door and cup holders for all the four passengers, the front cup holders are air cooled as well.

The front seats are a bit wider and now comes with prominent bolster supports, providing impressive hold. Cushioning and thigh support of the seats are pretty well too and offers a comfortable ride experience. Also, the driver seat is height adjustable and offers a better view from behind the wheel. The new Ertiga has improved shoulder- as well as head- room than its predecessor. The middle row is also more spacious than before, however, major improvements have been made to the third seating row of the vehicle.

The third row gets major benefits of the increased length, offering more legroom. Earlier, it was suitable only for kids while now it can be used by two average height adults as well. Also, it offers individual reclining for the third row along with 50:50 folding function to increase luggage space. The minimum boot space is 209-litre which can be extended to 550-litre by folding third row and up to 803mm by folding the second row as well.
Is there any change in the powertrain?
If we talk about the diesel version, the new Ertiga continues with the same Fiat sourced 1.3-litre, four-cylinder engine that comes mated to a five-speed gearbox. It also retains the Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki (SHVS) for improved efficiency and performance. What’s new is the addition of a Lithium-ion battery that makes the hybrid system more efficient than before.
On the other hand, the petrol version of the MPV gets Suzuki’s new 1.5-litre engine that replaced the 1.4-litre mill. While it offers 6PS more power and 8Nm more torque, another change is the addition of SHVS which was not available with petrol version before. It further adds to the performance and helps the bigger engine to deliver even more fuel efficiency than the older one. The company also offers a four-speed automatic transmission option in the mid-variants of the petrol version.
How’s the drive experience?
As the petrol version of the Ertiga is all-new, we got to drive this one with automatic transmission in its VXi AT trim. From the starting only, the engine feels quite refined and betterments are significant. While power and torque figures of 105Ps and 138Nm respectively are not too much, there is a noticeable improvement in the acceleration. The vehicle feels quicker than before that might be due to the use of a mild-hybrid system which also supports the engine when you press the throttle hard. Touching a three-digit speed doesn't take any sweat and one can easily cruise beyond that as well.
The gearbox has perfect transitions and works quite smooth. Though it’s a four-speed gearbox, we never felt the requirement of an extra gear. During our test run, the automatic petrol variant delivered 15-16kmpl which could decrease a bit in bumper-to-bumper traffic while increase during highway cruising. The company has worked on the NVH (Noise, Vibrations and Harshness) level of the vehicle and the same can be felt while driving.
The suspension tuning is appropriate for Indian roads like before and the brakes too sync well. Brakes of the new Ertiga offer good progression along with decent stopping power. The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) further boosts confidence in emergency braking situations and these safety features have been kept standard across the trim range. Other standard safety features of the car include dual front airbags and reverse parking sensors. The Automatic transmission variants also get hill hold feature which assists driver while ascending steeps.
How much it costs? Should you consider it?
The safety features which have been made standard now were available as an optional kit before. So, with a starting price tag of Rs 7.44 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for petrol, the New Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is around Rs 60,000 costlier than its predecessor. The new version looks much better, offers a more spacious cabin and upmarket interior with lots of new features. Overall, it offers a much better package than the outgoing version and we will definitely recommend you to check it out before making your buying decision.