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Maruti Suzuki Ertiga : FAQs Answered!
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Editor-in-Chief Adil Jal Darukhanawala unmasks the all new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga MPV after a very spirited first hand drive experience in Goa
What will power the Ertiga at launch?
Under the bonnet there will be a choice of a petrol and a diesel engine. Taking the latter first, this will be the 90bhp Suzuki-breathed-on version of the Fiat 1.3 Multijet now with a variable geometry turbocharger and intercooler. This engine is mated to a five-speed gearbox and unlike the manner in which this same engine works in the SX4, in its mini-MPV application the engine needs to be worked through the gearbox more to get the best out of it. However, this is mentioned in relative terms considering the sporty nature of the SX4 and how it has become an even better car with an oil burner thumping under its bonnet. The ample torque will be a big ally in operation for the diesel-engined Ertiga because the 200Nm is perfect when hauling the full complement of seven. What is also important is that with peak torque coming in at 1750rpm and then running strong in a linear manner all the way up, it should make for a vehicle that doesn't run out of breath. I said earlier about the car needed to be worked through the five-speed gearbox but that was because of the nature of the Goa roads - tight and twisty and with very little traffic which saw it being made to run spiritedly only for its pilot to go down the box when coming up to traffic and needing to get the thrust back on.
The diesel should be the more frugal performer and any case as has been proved in the Swift, the Ritz and the Swift D'Zire, Maruti Suzuki makes the basic Fiat powerplant deliver better than even Fiat can in its India model range!
For me the new 1.4-litre K14B VVT four-cylinder petrol engine was a revelation. Smooth, torquey and not running out of puff on the drive to Karwar and back from Goa hints at a very strong contemporary petrol motor which features a 16-valve dohc top end. Featuring multi-point fuel injection, this motor is from the same engine family which gave us the K12 and in the present application it has had an increase in bore to hike it by 173cc. Bore and stroke measures 73mm x 82mm and this long stroke unit is strong and has the displacement to deliver the thrust and the muscle for this seven-seater without being stressed and thereby delivering good fuel efficiency. For the record, Maruti Suzuki states the petrol-engined Ertiga will do 16.02kmpl while the diesel will deliver 20.77kmpl as per the present day CMVR mandated fuel efficiency tests.
On paper these small capacity engines sound like a lot but are they good enough to do duty in a seven-seater?
A question which is par for the course and here it is all about the way the car is geared for its intended application plus also the overall weight of the vehicle. The gearing is solid and steady for seamless motoring in a very progressive manner and please do not expect Swift-like acceleration and a very high top end. It is in the mid-range and in the low down torque take-off that the Ertiga needs to excel in and that she does. Also when one factors in its weight - 1760kg GVW for the petrol and 1845kg GVW for the diesel, you need the torque to do the talking more than the power to hit the ceiling. Intended application for the whole family (including the mother-in-law who could be banished to the third row!) means no feathers need to be ruffled and so smooth progressive power delivery will be just as important as outright performance.
This is a car which is longer than any in the Swift family. Does it complicate on the ride and handling front?
The basic overall monocoque is the same as on the Swift but it has been extended by 300mm to carve out that much needed space to accommodate that third row of seats. The chassis has been strengthened at various places (this also tells on the obvious weight mark-up) and while the suspension remains the same in character and configuration, with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam type rear axle, the spring and damper rates have been revised, the electrically-assisted steering system plus the brakes have been re calibrated. Again I must stress that unlike the Swift this is not intended to be a sporty performer but a solid no-nonsense offering for everyday use. It excels in this application and the ride and handling are in sync with its appeal and prowess.
I found the ride quality be truly of a very high order and the way she rode the bumps and the ridges was exemplary - lends credence to the ruffled feathers theory I attempted to expound a little earlier. The steering is very well weighted and precise and the brakes seemed to be up to their task of scrubbing speed quickly and safely. If anything, I could feel the length of the car when going through the tight roads in and around Goa but then I have been using the spanking new Swift D'Zire as my city car for the past few weeks and its agility and behaviour have made me fall for its charms so much that I could clearly relate to the nimbleness of the D'Zire thanks to the Ertiga coming round that wee bit slower. Also the familiarity between the two in the layout and style of the dashboard and interior controls is another detail which is both good and bad, good because the uniformity helps many to move from car to car in a seamless undaunting manner and bad because it seems the company has taken the easy (but cost-effective) approach. The interior treatment is the typical smart yet safe approach and the quality of plastics and the trim is pleasing though I wish all car makers and not just Maruti Suzuki alone, need to re-think beige interiors. They look good and smashing when new but they don't stay that way in our environment.
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Readers' opinions ( 21 )
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Amit Modi
Hi..its simply superb MPV made by Maruti. Just done like Do the New..This is my personal experiance...I had my own "ERTIGA ZDI"
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Winston
Good attempt by Maruti to conceptualize what seems like a pretty decent people mover. However, in my personal opinion, the Mahindra Xylo and for that matter even the Sumo Grande are better cars than the Ertiga.
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nizam
like this
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Rahmath ulla Khan
like to know the technical details of the car
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arul
ertiga may be priced at 11-12 lakhs INR
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