Maruti Suzuki claim that their latest offerig, the Ertiga, has opened uo a new segment in the Indian car market. We try to find out if it is really the first of its kind or just a nother economical product from the numbar one car-maker
MARUTI SUZUKI, THE pioneers in small cars in India, recently launched a product that is based on the popular Swift platform, but which is a car that belongs to a completely different category. Called the Ertiga, this new Maruti has opened up a new segment altogether. Which new segment? Well, it’s basically a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), but with sedan-like characteristics. Before the Ertiga there was nothing in the market quite like it. The Ertiga, a long awaited car, was launched at the 2012 Auto Expo, but very few had anticipated three rows of seats. Anyway, we finally got our hands on it and here is how we found it.DESIGN, FEATURES AND SPACEThe first thing that catches your eye is the design of this MPV. As mentioned earlier, it is based on the Swift platform, so hints of the Swift and DZire are quite discernible in its exterior. However, its front end borrows heavily from the Ritz and its side profile also comes across as being akin to the Ritz’s. It may be a different car, but family resemblance with siblings was inevitable. In a nutshell, the exterior of the Ertiga is a blend of the company’s successful models: the Swift and DZire along with a dash of the Ritz. Is it appealing? Well, I believe this one is a sober looking car that will appeal to people who have a soft corner for the Swift, DZire and Ritz. Others might find it a mite too simple.
As for the interior, there is nothing new. I mean the interior is a direct lift from the DZire/Swift. Sharing the parts bin in this manner has helped Maruti Suzuki bring down the cost of the vehicle, though one cannot help feeling that they could have tweaked the interior a bit to set the Ertiga apart from the Swift or DZire. Although the quality is fairly good and does not feel cheap, excessive use of beige in the interior may not appeal to everyone.
Feature-wise the Ertiga we got for the test had an integrated music system with USB and AUX In along with automatic climate control with second-row a-c vents, power windows, twin airbags, rear defogger, alloy wheels, ABS with EBD and a lot more, which means the Ertiga will not let you down so far as its features are concerned. Even the lower variants are notably well-equipped with many modern features.
One inside the car, the first noticeable thing are the three rows of seats. At the launch everyone was talking about these three rows, but looks can be deceptive. This most talked about feature of the Ertiga looked like a very nice deal for a car that measured just 4.2 metres. However, disappointment creeps in after taking a closer look at the third row, for the third row does not live up to one’s expectations; there is hardly any knee-room for an adult. Even children will find it difficult to be comfortable in the third row. Nevertheless, there is a way to fit seven adults into the car. For this you have to move the second row of seats a bit forward in order to make some room for the passengers in the third row. Of course, this compromises the knee-room both in the second and third rows, making the passengers uniformly uncomfortable. It seems that Maruti have fitted the third row of seats to prove the point that they can squeeze in an extra set in a longer Swift/ DZire. With these three rows in use there is almost no boot space, although, of course, a lot of boot space can be created with the third row folded down completely. The second row is quite comfortable and can seat three adults comfortably. The front seats are also quite comfortable with good leg and head room along with high seating that commands a good view of the world outside from the cabin. Overall, the extended wheelbase and length make the Ertiga roomier.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
Maruti Suzuki have equipped the Ertiga with their best-selling diesel motor: the 1.3-litre DDIS. This is the same engine that serves the SX4. In the Ertiga it has been tuned to deliver greater power and torque. It produces 90 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, which may sound good, but turbo lag mars the show. Below 2,000 revs the lag is quite irritating, especially when the car has five adults aboard. On the highway the lag does not bother you much, but in the city it really gets on your nerves.
The gear ratios of the five-speed manual transmission are pretty well-matched to the power and torque delivery, though turbo lag may still irritate the driver. Once you are past 2,000 RPM, the Ertiga takes off like a rocket. It feels as if all the 200 Nm of turning force is being fed to the wheels all at once. It delivers quite a punch and becomes much more fun to drive. The test figures suggested that the Ertiga takes just 14.72 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h, which is quite respectable for an MPV. Moreover, its top speed of 163.9 km/h is also evidence of good top-end performance. The turbo lag hampers the roll-on timings as it took us 11.6 seconds to go from 40 to 100 km/h in the third gear and even longer to do so in the fourth gear. You have to keep the revs up in order to be in the sweet spot and that consumes more fuel. Overall, the top-end performance was quite good, but it comes with a poor bottom end and sluggish mid-range.
However, Maruti have got everything right in the handling department. Just like the Swift or DZire, the Ertiga handles quite well. Its monocoque chassis along with a good suspension set-up – neither too hard nor too soft – make this MPV a joy to drive. The suspension set-up faces our roads quite well without irritating the driver. You are able to go into corners with confidence. Although a slight body-roll does set in, it does not bother you much. The well-weighted steering wheel of the Ertiga is quite direct and has plenty of feedback. Manoeuvrability is also quite good; you don’t really feel as if you are driving a long MPV.
OVERALL
In a nutshell, the Ertiga is quite a family car and not really an MPV. It is more like an estate version of the Swift/DZire. You can seat five adults comfortably and, with the third row folded down, you can shove in a lot of luggage for the weekend excursion.
The diesel Ertiga delivers a good overall fuel efficiency of 13.62 km per litre, quite decent for its size.
The Ertiga ZDi that we tested costs Rs 10 lakh (OTR, Pune) and the cheapest Ertiga diesel, the LDi, can be yours for Rs 8.7 lakh. At this price you get a decent product with a few flaws that can easily be overlooked. Overall, Maruti Suzuki have launched a good product that is best suited to slightly bigger families. We believe that little tweaks here and there will make the Ertiga an even better car than it already is.
IN A NUTSHELL, THE ERTIGA IS QUITE A FAMILY CAR AND NOT REALLY AN MPV. IT IS MORE LIKE AN ESTATE VERSION OF THE SWIFT/DZIRE
Story: Ravi Chandnani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
