Maruti Suzuki Ertiga VDi

Exterior When you first see the Ertiga from outside, it looks big from some angles and small from others. As you sit in it, you will not get to feel that you are in an MUV, to get into this car you don’t have to climb as in a Qualis, nor do you have to slide in as in an Accord. Actually its almost level of the average height of people.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) All Swift owners will feel familiar at the steering. The dashboard is identical except for the colour. The Swift has black interiors while the Ertiga has beige. Due to the light colour and high roof, Ertiga has an airy feeling. When you sit in the second row, you can adjust the seat like one adjusts the front seats. They go back and forth and they can be reclined as well. The 60:40 ratio of the middle row works well most of the time. As a five seater, it is very spacious because you can pull the seats completely back which creates as much legroom as the Innova. However if there are six or seven people then the second row passengers have to squeeze in a bit so as to create space for the third row passengers. The headroom at the back is good for a person shorter than 170 cm (5’8”) but for taller people with every small bump on the road your head hits the roof. The legspace and kneeroom is good for a 170 cm (5’8”) tall person. The middle row passengers however have ample legspace, kneeroom and headroom even with people sitting at the back. If there are more than five passengers then the bootspace is minimal. Only two to three small bags can fit. However if there are five or fewer passengers then after folding the third row, there is enough space for five to six big bags.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Seeing the rise in fuel prices, Maruti has given great importance to the fuel efficiency of the Ertiga. The mileage on the highway with occasional traffic with air conditioner is 20 kmpl. On a normal day in Delhi traffic it gives 16-17 with the AC on. In June with temperatures touching 50 degrees Celsius, it gives almost 15 kmpl. In winters the average is 17-18 kmpl. Few hatchbacks succeed to touch that feat. The car is powered by a 1.2 litre Diesel engine. This engine has been borrowed from the Swift, but surprisingly it works very well on the Ertiga which is bigger than the Swift. It produces a maximum power of 89 Bhp at 4000 rpm. Maximum torque is 200 Nm at 4000 rpm. Till the 2000 rpm mark, the car feels pretty uneventful but if you push the throttle thereafter, you are pushed back into your seat, and this pull continues till 4500 rpm.

Ride Quality & Handling The car feels very stable at high speeds. You feel confident going into the turns. There is minimal body roll due to the stiff suspension. It absorbs the city potholes well but you do feel them.

Final Words Ertiga may not be as spacious as the Innova, nor as good looking as the Ecosport, but if you come to think of it do you really need all this. If there are less than five passengers then it is as spacious as the Innova, how often will you carry more than 5 people in your car? Innova is almost double the price of the Ertiga. Do you want to spend 8 lakh rupees for the occasional third row passengers? Coming to the Ecosport, Ertiga has much more space than the Ecosport, can seat 7 people if required, the average Ertiga is double of that of the Ecosport. If you talk about features, yes Ecosport does have Bluetooth connectivity, but can’t you just wire your phone with the stereo, then it will do the exact same functions. The Ecosport is also a little expensive than the Ertiga. So Ertiga is one of the most practical and value for money cars in the country. The price at which it is offered is the cheapest in its segment. You also get the unfailingly great Maruti Service. Model to go for: VDi. Because it is 70,000 rupees cheaper than the top model and the only differences are steering mounted controls, height adjustable seat and alloy wheels. 

Areas of improvement The third row seating really needs improvement. They are very cramped.

Great Fuel Economy, Decent Space, Car-like FeelCramped third row, Uneventful till 2000 rpm