New Maruti Ertiga: The new Ertiga comes from Maruti Suzuki’s thorough understanding of how Indians actually use their cars rather than how they might like them to use them in marketing department dreams.
This hands-on expertise—honed through millions of engagements with actual customers in a wide range of markets—has produced a vehicle that puts functional utility at the forefront rather than showboating gimmicks or trend-chasing design touches.
What makes this strategy so notable is that it represents a counterpoint to the growing number of SUV-esque vehicles in the industry.
While there were several manufacturers who have long turned their back on MPVs in favour of crossovers with more dynamic styling but a less spacious inside, Maruti has stayed true to the basic MPV concept, with three-rows of seating.
This unwavering commitment to function over fashion has rewarded them with steady sales success even as market trends come and go.
New Maruti Ertiga : Architecture- Efficient Use of the Space
The new Ertiga rides on Suzuki’s HEARTECT platform, which imparts a lot of structural rigidity and is lighter as well.
The efficient packaging of the architecture allows a greater volume of interior space than you might expect from the external dimensions—the vehicle is just 4,395mm long, 1,735mm wide and 1,690mm high, which makes it manageable in congested urban environments while still providing seating for up to seven occupants.
This spatial efficiency is most in evidence in the considered arrangement inside. One-touch folding and sliding second-row seats make it easy to access the third row, a small detail that becomes a big deal during daily use.
The third row itself provides surprisingly creditable accommodation for average-sized adults for shorter journeys, folding flat when not needed to provide a decent volume of cargo space.
Even with all the seats up, the boot will swallow 209 liters of luggage which is enough for most day-to-day essentials and up to mind-blowing 803 liters with the third row folded down.
The driving position is a good compromise between the car-like familiarity and the kind of commanding visibility many drivers prefer, enabled by a relatively high seating position without so much step-up height that it makes some SUVs a chore for younger or older members of the family to get into.
Powertrain: Down-to-earth Efficiency
Performance wise, the new Ertiga gets an all new 1.5-litre K-series petrol motor which made around 103 BHP and 138 Nm of torque.
This powertrain, modest on paper, offers sufficient performance for everyday use but is primarily aimed at maintaining good economy, which is paramount for both private owners and commercial operators who are keenly aware of their operating costs.
Dual VVT (variable valve timing) technology and an integrated starter generator for mild hybrid functionality are part of the engine package.
This is branded as Smart Hybrid by Maruti, and while the torque assist during acceleration and regenerative braking are subtle improvements, it ensures better efficiency without a lot of cost or complexity.
As such, we’d expect fuel economy figures up to 20 kilometers per liter under ideal conditions, which is frankly incredible for a seven-seater in this price segment.
Transmission choices are a five-speed manual and a six-speed torque-converter automatic unit, marking a massive upgrade over the older four-speeder.
The auto is smoother with shifts and more highway efficient, rectifying one of the handful of major faults of previous Ertiga iterations.
We should give a special mention to the intelligent integration of the CNG variant as well. While aftermarket conversions usually have cylindrical tanks that eat up luggage space, the factory-fitted CNG system houses its cylinders beneath the floor, freeing up cargo space and bringing running costs down to between 40 and 50% lower than petrol variants—something that sounds appealing to high-mileage users.
Evolution of design: the subtle maturity
Continuing with the thoughts around the design of the new Ertiga, the exterior of the car shows that Maruti has understood that people looking at their core customers are looking for a tastefully done up design that is not flamboyant.
Its front fascia sports a bigger chrome-accented grille surrounded by sharp headlamp clusters that get LED positioning lamps to look more premium.
The silhouette retains a distinctly MPV character, with a gently sloping roofline providing plenty of headroom in the cabin without resulting in an overly boxy shape.
Internally, the dash layout emphasizes ergonomic simplicity, with controls arranged with intuitive reach.
A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits in the center stack, with support for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, recognizing that smartphones are fast becoming a necessity in all vehicle classes.
The quality of the material is considerably better compared to those generations of vehicles, with softer touch points in frequent contact areas and panel fits that are better integrated throughout the cabin.
The climate control system should be commended specifically for how well it works in suffers in India.
Roof-mounted air vents for second- and third-row passengers — a luxury that’s sometimes left out of even some higher-end vehicles — further comfort the entire cabin even in peak summer heat.
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And the new Ertiga has got these consumer priorities and regulatory requirements really close to heart. All variants get dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors as standard equipment, while higher trim levels also come with side impact protection beams, ISOFIX child seat anchors and a reverse camera with guidelines.
Built on the fundamental HEARTECT platform, structural components are fabricated from high-tensile steel where required to form a safety cage that is designed to protect the occupant and also to optimize weight.
This structural engineering, while not as obvious as electronic safety systems, delivers fundamental crash protection that electronic aids can only enhance.
Contents 2 Market Position and Cultural Impact
The Ertiga is a unique offering in the Indian automotive space. The versatility is matched by few vehicles, serving private families, commercial operators, and fleet managers equally well.
Easy on the pocket (prices typically range from ₹8-9 lakh to about ₹12 lakh, ex-showroom), it makes for a plausible option for upper middle-class families while again being a pipe dream yet very much continue-for-a-dream destination for many others.
More than just a mean to provide mobility, the Ertiga often acts as a tangible landmark for Indian families, marking the introduction of a vehicle that can accommodate members of one extended family across two generational gaps.
This also lends it the cultural significance beyond its mechanical specifications, and makes it become part of innumerable family get-togethers, fests, as well as everyday journeys that cumulatively- along with other details- weave into the fabric of Indian family life.’
New Maruti Ertiga
As the Indian automotive sector evolves to experience more electrification and connectivity, the Ertiga platform appears to be adaptable enough to keep pace.
The hybrid system on the much stronger Grand Vitara should make us hopeful of the best powertrain path for the Ertiga that does not compromise the value-centric approach that is synonymous with the model.
And given that value coupled to versatility remains the focus of switch-on purchase decisions across a wide range of customer types, the core proposition offered by Ertiga as a modern, affordable solution for family motion looks set to remain important wherever motoring heads over coming decades, technology-wise.