Maruti Suzuki Ertiga first look. Not drive.

Exterior I was fortunate enough to be invited to take a LOOK AT THE SUZUKI ERTIGA ONDISPLAY AT THE 2012 AUTO SHOW IN DELHI. HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT INSIDE AND GET A FEEL FOR THE SPACE AND TEXTURE OF THE CABIN MATERIALS. SO IT IS JUSTA LOOK AND FEEL NOTHING MORE.  THE ERTIGA IS A GOOD LOOKER. VERY ATTRACTIVE. CUTE BUT NOT HAVE A FLIMY CHEAP LOOK OR FEEL. LOOKS MADE IN JAPAN. QUALITY OF MATERIALS IS GREAT. LOOKS MODERN AND VERY WELL FINISHED. NOT THE CHEAP LOOKS AND FEEL OF THE WAGON R, ALTO, ECCO. WELL PROPORTIONED EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS.  UNLIKE THE RITZ OR DZIRE, NO AKWARD ANGLES OR SLOPES AND SLANTS.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) JAPANESE STYLE SPACE MANAGEMENT MEANS THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERTHING IS IN ITS PLACE. GREAT INTERIOR MATERIALS. BEIGE INTERIOR COLOR PRONE TO SOILING IN INDIA. I FEEL THE ERTIGA IS STRICTLY A 5 SEATER AND DEFINITELY NOT A 7 SEATER AS DESCRIBED BYTHE MARUTI REP AT THE AUTO SHOW STALL NO KIDS CAN SIT IN THE FOLD DOWM SEATS IN THE LUGGAGE AREA. GOOD REAR LEG SPACE.GOOD DRIVING POSTION EVEN FOR A TALLISH GUY LIKE ME. EXCELLENT ERGONOMICS. CONTROLS WITHIN EASY RREACH. LOTS OF GLASS MEANS GREAT ALL ROUND VISIBILITY. DECENT LUHHAGE SPACE FOR A 5 SEATER. THOUGH ITS HIGHER THAN MOST SEDANS ITS GOT A CAR LIKE FEEL, AND NOT THE TALL BOY, PERCHED HIGH BENCH SEATED BUS LIKE ALL OVER THE PLACE FEEL OF THE WAGON R OR SANTRO. 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox ONLY GOT TO SIT INSIDE SO CANNOT COMMENT ON THESE MATTERS. HOWEVER I FEEL A 5 ADULTS AND THEIR BAGGAGE CARRYING MUV SHOULD HAVE A 1.6 L PETROL FOR GOOD DRIVEABILITY AND LONG DISTANCE CRUISING. SHOULD HAVE A AUTO TRANSMISSION OPTION. THERE WILL  BE I AM CERTAIN A DEISEL AND CNG VARIANT.

Ride Quality & Handling CANNOT COMMENT. BUT SUZUKI CARS ARE SOFT AND COMFY.

Final Words ANYTHONG NEW FROM SUZUKI IS BIG NEWS IN INDIA.ANY MODEL FROM MARUTI SUZUKI IS A TRAILBLAZER AND A GUARANTEED  SUCCESS. I THINK THE ERTIGA WILL NOT BE AN EXCEPTION IN THIS REGARD. MARUTI SUZUKI HAS A POTENTIAL WINNER ON THE BLOCK. IF PRICED BETWEEN RS 4.5 LACS AND 5.5 LACS ( BASE VARIANT WITH PS AND AC )  ONROAD THIS CAR WILL BE A SUPERHIT WITH INDIANS SUZUKI IS THE WORLD  LEADER IN SMALL CARS. VW NEEDS SUZUKI MORE THAN SUZUKI NEEDS VW. EVEN WITH ALL THE COST CUTTING THIS CAR SHOULD BE A CERTAIN WINNER.

Areas of improvement IF ITS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE PLEASE USE A BIGGER ( WIDER ) INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR. AN AUTO OPTION WILL BE GREAT. WILL THIS CAR HAVE A DEISEL ENGINE AND CNG?

Smart and swanky looks. Japanese style space management. Good drving position. Good rear legroom.A mini MUV. 5 can be seated comfortably. Definitely not 7.1.2L engine will be underpowered.