Teat Drive and review of New Maruti Ertiga

We've just driven the Maruti's new Ertiga & initial impressions are that the company has yet another winner on its hands. The Ertiga gets the basics right. It has three rows of seats, can seat seven & comes with the option of both petrol & diesel engines. Also, its monocoque construction promises much in terms of car-like comfort & driving manners.

With a length of 4265mm, the Ertiga is shorter than the other MPVs in the market, namely the Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo & Tata Aria. What’s more, it also sits lower than the others, so those upgrading from a small car will immediately take a liking to it. Styling at the front is typically Suzuki. The headlights that sweep back towards the A-pillars are reminiscent of the new Swift & there is more than a hint of the Ritz on the front grille & bonnet. Tail styling, though, is ordinary & conforms to the MPV design template.

Despite its small footprint, the Ertiga is quite spacious inside thanks to the wheels being placed at the extremities. Its wheelbase is 2740mm which is just a shade shorter than the Innova’s & Xylo’s. This unquestionably helps middle-row occupants. The middle row can slide back 240mm, so there is acres of space to stretch out in. Even after adjusting these seats for the third row passengers, you have more than sufficient legroom. The seats themselves are comfortable, if a tad soft, & feature a very well positioned centre armrest. The flat seat & a near-flat floor bode well for centre passenger comfort. It’s also easy to get in & out courtesy the large rear doors & ideal seat height.

Getting into the last row requires some contortion. The seating position is not ‘knees-up’ like other MPVs, which is good, but the seat squab is abit short & compromises thigh support. Shoulder support is good & headroom is decent.

The front seat occupants on the other hand get really supportive seats. The view out of the windscreen is good, though the thick A-pillar can be a problem. That said, the driving position is really nice & car-like & the impression is of driving a Maruti Swift on stilts.

With all seven seats in place there is just enough space in the back to hold just two soft bags. 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.

The Ertiga will be sold in three variants each for both petrol & diesel models. Except the base petrol model all variants get ABS, while the top models also get driver & passenger airbags. Climate control is not available on any trim level, though middle- & top-spec cars do get twin air conditioners to help cool the large cabin.

Powering the Ertiga is a new 1.4-litre petrol motor from Suzuki’s acclaimed K-series family of engines. Peak power output is 93.7bhp at 6000rpm & torque is 13.26kgm at 4000rpm. Refinement is really impressive with a very quiet idle. There is a good spread of power which makes the engine fit for both city & highway driving. Driveability is fairly good, though the build-up of power sometimes seem slightly slow, & this is especially true in the mid-range.

The other engine on offer is the 1.3-litre Fiat-sourced turbodiesel that also does duty on the SX4. Peak power here is 88.8bhp at 4000rpm while max torque is available at 1750rpm. The initial power is only decent, but there is a surge of power once the turbo kicks in at about 2000rpm, & out cruising on the highway the engine works like a treat. Both petrol & diesel variants come with smooth-shifting five-speed gearboxes that come allied to light clutches. The noise levels in the cabin are low thanks to the extensive use of sound-deadening materials in the engine bay.

Maruti’s goal with the Ertiga was to make it as car-like to drive as possible & it has succeeded in its mission. Key to this is the Ertiga’s use of a car-like monocoque chassis as opposed to a more rudimentary body-on-frame construction. The ride is always flat & pliant at speed & there is also no low-speed bounciness associated with typical MPVs. Even sharp bumps are tackled with aplomb. But it’s really from behind the wheel that the Ertiga impresses. You can take turns with confidence, body roll is well contained & in general the feeling of control is very reassuring. The steering offers good feedback & is light enough at city speeds & manoeuvrability too is terrific & this is one of the USPs of the Ertiga.

The Ertiga is large inside yet not so large on the outside, which is sure to appeal to buyers who find the current crop of MPVs a bit too unwieldy & large. Its engines score well on refinement & driveability & are expected to be fuel efficient. While prices are revealed by mid April, we expect them to range from Rs 7-9 lakh. This combination of seven seats & a hatchback, & the ease of use it delivers may just be the beginning of the end for old-school MPVs.


Fact File
Price Range (in lakhs)*
Ex-showroom price Rs 7-9 lakh Ex-showroom (estimated)
Engine
Fuel Petrol / Diesel
Installation Front, transverse, front-wheel drive
Type 4 cyls in-line, 1373cc, petrol/ 4 cyls in-line, 1248cc, turbo-diesel
Power 93.8bhp at 6000rpm/ 88.5bhp at 4000rpm
Torque 13.25kgm at 4000rpm/ 20.39kgm at 1750rpm
Transmission
Gearbox 5-speed manual
Dimensions
Length 4265mm
Width 1695mm
Height 1685mm
Wheel base 2740mm
Ground clearance 185mm
Chassis & Body
Weight 1160kg/1235kg
Wheels 15inch
Tyres 185/65 R15
Suspension
Front Independent, MacPherson struts
Rear Non-independent, torsion beam
Steering
Type Rack & pinion
Type of power assist Electric assist
Brakes
Front Ventilated discs
Rear Drums

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