For the Indian car consumer, anything that is home grown hasn’t always been a source of ultimate satisfaction, barring a few like Maruti. Though family and team sized vehicles were earlier plying on roads, little did anyone really imagine that a home-grown would have the push to have target consumers rushing for it. That’s when the Maruti Ertiga comes into the picture, and is quite an interesting juncture into the industrial picture of the segment. MUV (Multiple Utility Vehicle) have mainly been a part of the western auto markets, but now the Indian consumer seems to be demanding it in large numbers with semi-nuclear families and small teams finding it highly purposeful according to their needs.

9 models spread across a price band of Rs 5.99 lakhs to Rs 8.77 lakhs (ex-showroom), the Ertiga has been loaded with features perfectly targeting most needs of the consumers buying this segment. There are 7 choices of color to buy this MUV in, apart from the 3 fuel options (petrol, CNG diesel).

The exterior

The exterior of the Ertiga has been kept in line with modern preferences, and also what would typically suit the Maruti cluster of vehicles. The front of this vehicle is seen to be rather familiar when it comes to the extended cluster lamps, built-in fog lamps, and new at OVRMs in body colors. The front with black mesh grille with the Suzuki logo placed band at the center is something one would notice even in the new Swift Dzire, but has been modified to perfection for the Ertiga’s style quotient.

The sides of the MUV show little elaboration, except for the slanting crease running from just the front wheel arch to the rear end lights of the car. The door handles also don’t stick out in look and design, as they blend well into the door panel with a body painted design.

The rear end of the Ertiga gets its basics very right, with a large side opening door panel, which gives entry into the 3rd row of seats, doubling up as the boot space. The lamps are stylized as they extend to the sides of the car, but its outline doesn’t stick out to spoil the look overall.

The interior

The interior of the Maruti Ertiga stands up to the company’s reputation of not trying to have something too flashy, yet comfortable and serving the purpose it is supposed to serve. Dominated with light beige fabrication, there are dashes of silver color (on the side door handles), and the front dashboard which is in black. The quality of plastic seems to be of a premium variety, which brings about a rich feel to the space. The bucket seat designs are not the most advanced, but feel comfortable during journey, and are accompanied by decent amount of head and leg room (approx. 1105mm to 805mm for different seats). The 3rd row seats, which are collapsible, will additionally turn into the boot space, or can be used as a set of passenger seats by bringing down the backrest of the 2nd row.

The driver’s console is a finely done space. With 2 meter arches, 2 chrome lined dials with the tachometer on the left and the speedometer on the right. In between, there is the fuel gauge, seat-belt alert, door ajar alert indicator, apart from a digital trip meter with details of the trip and the engine efficiency. The light beige colored fabricated steering wheel feels good to hold, and is a handy piece of gadget, with the car’s infotainment system controls being steering mount, making it easy for the driver of the vehicle to control multimedia during the vehicle in motion.

The central console of the Eritga is neatly arranged with the infotainment system (with Aux-in & USB input) at the center, and its main control buttons around it. The air conditioning controls are limited to a couple of buttons and 3 knobs, which are easy to use. There is the additional benefit for air-condition control for the rear passengers, with the additional air vents above the 2nd row of seats. In terms of utility of space, the deep front glove compartment, the multiple bottle holders and side pockets make for useful slots to keep small belongings in.

The engine

Like most Maruti Suzuki creations, the Ertiga has been endowed with a choice of 3 options amongst engine fuel, namely petrol, diesel, and CNG. The petrol engine on the Ertiga is the K1.4 VVT engine, which boats of a 1,373cc displacement capacity, and should belt out 16.02 kmpl of mileage.

The diesel engine on the other hand, is the 1.3 liter DDiS D13A machine, which has a 1,248cc displacement capacity and can work with an efficiency of around 20.77 kmpl to the liter. Like the other models in the stable of Maruti, the Ertiga too hopes to capitalize big on the mileage factor.

Nowadays, consumers are looking for the most cost economic and nature friendly option to run their car on, the Ertiga is also available with the CNG powered engine with the iGPI (Intelligent Gas Port Injection) technology. Technically speaking, this feature allows for a fixed amount of CNG to be released as per road demand of the vehicle. With this 1,373cc engine, the Ertiga should belt out 22.8 km/kg.

Color Variants: 7 (Fire Brick Red, Ecru Beige, Serene Blue, Silky silver, Dusky Brown, Granite Grey, Superior white).

Price band: Rs 5.99 to Rs 8.81 lakhs (ex-showroom)

Fuel options: 3 (Petrol, Diesel, and CNG)