KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Best-in-class fuel economy
- One of the cheapest cars to offer paddle shifters in India
- Received 1 star from GNCAP recently
One of the most visible cars on Indian roads is the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, and that's because it is the second cheapest 7-seater vehicle, after the Renault Triber, and hails from the Maruti family. To be specific, it starts at Rs 8.69 lakh, and the top model costs Rs 13.03 lakh ex-showroom. The Ertiga is considered one of the best cars for commercial purposes, and nobody can deny that. It's spacious, comfortable, and can carry loads of luggage along with seven people. So, I am going to share its 3 pros and 3 cons and provide you with the variant that offers the best value for money.
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Also Read: Maruti Ertiga MPV: Variants Explained
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 3 Pros
Affordable
If you live in a joint family and are looking for a MPV under Rs 10 lakh, then everyone will suggest you Maruti Ertiga, because this starts at Rs 8.69 lakh, and for that money, you are getting a very reliable piece of machinery. Also, there are several variants divided by manual and automatic transmission, and S-CNG option.
The best-selling variant of the Maruti Ertiga, which offers the most value, is the VXi (o) CNG. It costs 910.78 lakh ex-showroom and has a waiting period of almost 5 to 6 months, depending on the state in which you are booking it. That said, the affordability of this 7-seater makes the Ertiga one of the highest-selling cars in India.
Competiton Check: The Renault Triber is the real competitor to the Ertiga and is even cheaper by almost Rs 2.5 lakh. The top variant costs Rs 8.97 lakh, while the Ertiga starts around this price.
Features
Despite its affordable price, Maruti has not been ungenerous in adding features to the Ertiga. From the base variant onwards, it includes rear parking sensors, ESP, hill hold assist, LED tail lamps, and cooled cup holders. As you move up to the higher trims, additional features such as paddle shifters, automatic climate control, connected car technology with smartphone integration, a 7-inch touchscreen, rear wipers with defoger, diamond cut alloys, and steering-mounted audio controls are added.
Competiton Check: Renault Triber offers a few more features, such as a height-adjustable drivers seat, a 17.78 cm TFT display, and a wireless charger.
Mileage
The Maruti Ertiga features a 1.5 L Smart Hybrid petrol engine, producing 103 PS and 136.8 Nm of torque, available with both a 5-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The claimed mileage is 20.51 kmpl with the 5-speed manual and 20.30 kmpl with the 6-speed automatic.
If you want to save more money, opt for the CNG version, which has a 60 L tank and produces 87.8 PS and 121.5 Nm of torque. Though it is only available with a manual transmission, it achieves a staggering 26.11 km/kg of fuel economy.
Competiton Check: Very few cars on the market can beat Maruti cars in mileage tests, and the Triber clearly falls short, offering only 18 to 19 kmpl.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 3 Cons
Unsafe
Recently, Global NCAP tested the made-in-India Maruti Ertiga for their #SafeCarsforAfrica project, and it received a poor 1-star rating for overall safety. Additionally, the Ertiga got 1 star for adult safety and 2 stars for child safety, with the testing authority describing it as unstable. This is a shame, considering it is one of the highest-selling vehicles in India.
Maruti Suzuki should prioritize safety by using high-strength steel and improving every component to make it a more robust MPV. It's a shame that in a 7-seater MPV, the company only provides a maximum of 4 airbags.
Competiton Check: Sadly, the second car in this test was the Renault Triber. It scored better than the Ertiga, but not by a significant margin, earning an overall rating of 2 stars in the GNCAP.
No Turbo Petrol or Diesel
Maruti refuses to make the Ertiga a fun-to-drive vehicle, as there is only one engine option available. That said, it comes with a decent amount of power, but the driving dynamics of this MPV are quite bland. The steering wheel is unresponsive, the brakes are inadequate, and overall, the driving experience feels shallow.
Driving the Ertiga is borderline unimpressive. Like its other cars, the automaker should offer a turbo petrol or a diesel engine.
Ertiga Image
When the Ertiga first entered the automotive scene, many families bought it and loved its spacious interior and road presence. Over time, taxi owners started flocking to it, turning the Ertiga into a prominent taxi vehicle. Now, if you step out of your house and count the number of commercial Ertigas, you'll lose count in a few minutes.
So, what it did was transform the overall image of the Ertiga into that of a taxi vehicle. As a result, people who considered owning an MPV might resist it due to this image. Even Maruti didn't do anything to make the Ertiga special or launch any exclusive model that separates the Ertiga Tour M from the regular version.
Also Read: Nissan X-Trail Launched At Rs 49.92 Lakh, Gets A 1.5L Turbo Petrol Engine
Verdict
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga needs no introduction. People buy it without knowing the details or the price because it adds significant value to their lives. More than just a car, it is a source of livelihood for millions. Despite all of this, there are several shortcomings in this MPV that shouldn't be overlooked simply because it sells so well. I hope these pros and cons have cleared up some doubts.
