New 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: Old vs New

Maruti Suzuki has finally introduced the new-gen Ertiga in India after its predecessor's half decade long tenure. That Ertiga became the go-to vehicle for someone looking for a seven-seater in an affordable package along with the peace of mind which Maruti provides in India. It was almost a household name in the same league as WagonR and Swift. Now there’s a new one which is far more upmarket than the model it replaces. Let us have a detailed look at the differences between the two. 

Exterior and Styling:

The design of the new Ertiga is revolutionary and a clear departure from the simple looking people mover to a more stylish MPV. The design of the Ertiga now adopts a new grille flanked by sleek headlamps compared to the wrap around units of the previous car. The grille extending up to the headlights make the fascia look a lot more interesting. Even the lower bumper gets tasteful elements lending the seven-seater a sportier stance. The chrome on the grille is subtle as compared to over the top usage on the older model. 

In profile, the new Ertiga maintains its MPV profile but a welcome addition is a floating roofline akin to the one seen on the new Swift. The rear gets large taillights which are extended to the tailgate. The chrome insert and petite roof spoiler combined with a sculpted bumper makes the new Ertiga stand out as compared to the plain design of the older Ertiga. 

The new Ertiga has moved to the Heartect platform and it also grows in dimension. But the wheelbase remains the same as before. The length is increased by 100mm to 4395mm, at 1735mm, the width is 40mm more than the older car and at 1690mm, it is 5mm taller. The boot space is now 209litres, a huge increase over older car’s 135litres. The MPV also rides on larger 15-inch alloy wheels which also looks good with the overall styling. 

Interior and features:

Similar to the exterior, the cabin of the new Ertiga is a huge step up over the model it replaces. Being a global model, the dual-tone beige-black dashboard layout is modular and more upmarket. The leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel gets wooden inserts and the twin-pod instrument cluster is all-new. The wooden finish is also seen across the dashboard which is similar to the Ciaz. The 6.8-screen touchscreen infotainment system is seen on the international model as well and it comes with all the connectivity features. The increased body shell means the new Ertiga is more spacious than the first-gen model.  In terms of feature, the older Ertiga was already a well-specced car and the new one retains all the equipment list. The new addition is the speed alert system which debuted in the new Ciaz.

Engine and gearbox:

The 2018 Ertiga is now powered by the newly-introduced K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine that will generate around 103bhp and 138Nm. This new petrol engine replaces the 1.4-litre engine which powered the older car. The diesel, on the other hand, is carried over from the previous model. It is the tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS unit producing 90bhp and 200Nm. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission as standard while the petrol also gets a four-speed automatic as an option. All the variants now also get Maruti’s SHVS mild hybrid technology which was not offered before. The previous model was available with CNG fitment as well which will be offered in the new-gen Ertiga sometime later. 

Conclusion:

The new Ertiga is bigger, better and more efficient with several added features and equipment over its predecessor. The new platform helps the new Ertiga to be even lighter, more spacious as well. It looks more upmarket inside out as well. The new-gen 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is sure to sell in huge numbers as the previous one did.