New Maruti Ertiga full review and test drive

Design & engineering

The Ertiga’s wheelbase, at 2740mm, is a considerable 310mm longer than the Swift’s & the kerb weight has increased by around 155kg. But this is impressive considering it’s a seven seater. Suzuki has kept the Ertiga’s weight in check with extensive use of lightweight high tensile steel in its construction.

With a length of 4265mm, the Ertiga is a fair bit shorter than the other MPVs in the market, namely the Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo & Tata Aria. The Ertiga employs an independent, MacPherson strut, coil spring suspension at the front & a non independent torsion beam setup at the rear. The brakes are also a conventional front disc & rear drum setup.

Styling is typically Suzuki, with swept back headlights like the new Swift’s, & a grille & bonnet that resemble the Ritz. The overall design is pleasing, but not what you would call eye catching. In fact, the van like look, which clearly doesn’t exude the status & image of a saloon, is possibly the Ertiga’s biggest weakness.


Interiors

Entry to the cabin is made easy by large doors that open wide. The dashboard is a straight lift from the Swift, which means quality & ergonomics are good. Even the door pads & other plastics are of good quality, & the Ertiga doesn’t feel built to a price. There’s a long list of equipment too, which includes a CD player, Aux & USB ports, steering mounted audio controls, powered mirrors & power windows. However, the more affordable VDi/VXi variants do without alloy wheels, fog lights & airbags.

Visibility is decent from the front seats, which are taken from the Swift. They are broad with soft yet generous cushioning, which makes them truly comfortable even over long journeys. In the second row, the seat squab is a touch short, so under thigh support is not as good as we would have liked. Other than that, it’s hard to fault. The high ‘hip point’, adjustable backrest, terrific headroom & decent legroom make the Ertiga’s middle bench a pretty comfortable place to be.

Move to the rear & it is clearly evident that the Ertiga can’t compete with the likes of the Xylo & Innova for sheer carpet area, but that said, the last row isn’t as uncomfortable as we thought. The narrow access means getting into the last row requires some contortion, & once you’re inside, shoulder room is tight & the squab is short.

The Ertiga’s best trick is the massive 240mm seat travel that allows you to deftly balance the legroom for both the second  & third row passengers. Well engineered latches & levers allow you to push forward or collapse the seats neatly into the floor. With all seven seats in place, there is enough space in the back to hold just two soft bags, while a concealed storage bay hidden beneath can hold small items. For more space, the third row can be folded flat. You also have the option to fold the middle row, & the 60:40 split further aids flexibility. Simply put, the cabin is far more useable than the Ertiga’s exterior dimensions would suggest.


Performance

The Ertiga comes with two engine options – the familiar Fiat sourced 1.3 Multijet diesel & a brand new 1.4 litre K series petrol. The petrol produces a peak output of 94bhp at 6000rpm & torque is 13.25kgm at 4000rpm, & its crisp throttle response is its biggest trump card. The power is evenly spread out over the rev range & power delivery is smooth & linear. Thanks to the short gearing & the torquey nature of the motor, you never feel short on power & progress is quite brisk. Driveability is fairly good too, & gearshifts are kept to a minimum. The petrol Ertiga manages to set very competitive times, with 100kph from rest coming up in a very brisk 13.56 seconds & in gear times of 12.58sec & 19.54sec for 20 80kph & 40 100kph in third & fourth gears respectively being impressive too.

The diesel Ertiga, on the other hand, uses the same 89bhp, variable geometry turbo (VGT) engine that powers the SX4, but the gearing is quite different. So, despite it being heavier than the saloon, the Ertiga’s shorter gear ratios help make it quicker off the line. It takes 14.28 seconds to reach 100kph & reaches its top speed of 167kph rather easily. In gear times are impressive too.

The fly in the ointment is the considerable turbo lag below 2000rpm & the lack of response
at low revs. Fall below 2000rpm & you will be forced to downshift to keep the engine on the boil. Once the turbo kicks in, there is a strong surge & the Ertiga picks up speed quite rapidly.

Out on the highway, the strong mid range makes the diesel an able cruiser. Since you’re usually in the meat of the powerband at cruising speeds, it responds quite well to throttle inputs to make overtaking easy & fairly effortless. What’s also good is that both diesel & petrol engines come with smooth shifting five speed gearboxes allied to light & progressive clutches.



Ride & handling

The Ertiga’s driving dynamics are largely influenced by its long wheelbase – the 2.74 metre gap between the front & rear axles give this MPV good poise & straight line stability for most situations. The flipside is that it isn’t happy darting through corners & prefers a more relaxed driving style. The soft suspension means the low speed ride is pretty absorbent, & even as speeds increase, the Ertiga handles bumps with aplomb & feels pretty solid. The Ertiga’s suspension works silently too & it’s just over sharp bumps that there is a mild thud from the suspension.

There is a bit of up and down motion over undulating surfaces & the diesel pitches a bit more in the front. However, at moderate speeds, this never gets uncomfortable & it’s only when you begin to push really hard that you long for a tauter setup.

Considering its MPV proportions, the Ertiga doesn’t roll excessively & the steering is fairly accurate too. What you do miss is a tighter turning circle & the ability to wiggle into tight parking spots as with a hatchback. However, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Ertiga is by far the most urban friendly MPV in the market today.


Efficiency

The diesel returned a frugal 12.8kpl in the city & 16.8kpl on the highway, while the petrol powered car managed 10.2kpl in the city & 14.8kpl on the highway. Clever gearing & a low kerb weight are largely responsible for the Ertiga’s frugal nature & this once again drives home Maruti’s advantage in this crucial area.


Verdict

The diesel returned a frugal 12.8kpl in the city & 16.8kpl on the highway, while the petrol powered car managed 10.2kpl in the city & 14.8kpl on the highway. Clever gearing & a low kerb weight are largely responsible for the Ertiga’s frugal nature & this once again drives home Maruti’s advantage in this crucial area.


Tech Specs

Fact File
What it costs
Warranty 24 months/ 40,000km
Engine
Fuel Petrol/Diesel
Installation Front, transverse
Type 4cyls 1373cc/ 4cyls 1248cc
Bore/stroke 73.0/82.0, 69.6/82.0mm
Compression ratio 10.0, 17.6:1
Valve gear 4 valves per cylinder, DOHC
Power 94bhp at 6000rpm, 89bhp at 4000rpm
Torque 13.25kgm at 4000rpm, 20.39kgm at 1750rpm
Power to weight 81.03/72.06bhp per tonne
Torque to weight 11.42/16.51 kgm per tonne
Transmission
Type Front wheel drive
Gearbox 5 speed manual
Dimensions
Length 4265mm
Width 1695mm
Height 1685mm
Wheel base 2740mm
Boot volume 185 735 litres
Chassis & Body
Construction Five door MPV, monocoque
Weight 1160/1235kg
Tyres 185/65R15
Spare Full size
Suspension
Front Independent, MacPherson struts
Rear Non independent torsion beam
Steering
Type Rack & pinion
Type of power assist Electric
Turning circle 10.4m
Brakes
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Drums
Anti lock Yes
Performance
0 20 1.31/1.29
0 40 3.01/2.88
0 60 5.56/5.46
0 80 8.96/9.13
0 100 13.53/14.28
0 120 21.05/20.50
0 140 33.79/33.76
0 160 41.26
0 180 55.84
Economy
City 10.2/12.8kpl
Highway 14.8/16.8kpl
Tank size 45 litres
Range at a glance   Engines
Petrol 1.4 petrol: Rs 5.89 7.30 lakh,
Diesel 1.3 Diesel: Rs 7.3 8.45 lakh

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