All-New Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Will Not Be Sold Through Nexa Network?
- by Siddharth
- Nov 2, 2018
- | Views: 6285
Sources suggest earlier plans to sell the MPV from Maruti’s premium sales network have been shelved
Maruti’s third big-profile launch of the year is fast approaching. The all-new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which is set to be launched on 21 November, 2018, is a proper upgrade as it is based on the new ‘Heartec’ platform, which also underpins the new Swift. When compared to its predecessor, the 2018 Ertiga is bigger in every dimension apart from the wheelbase and gets fancier equipment inside-out as well. The most anticipated move, though, seems to have been deferred. The all-new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will be sold through the company’s Arena dealerships rather than the premium Nexa dealerships, as reported earlier.
Why has Maruti changed its mind? First, the Arena network is much bigger than Nexa, meaning there will be more customers who can check out and buy the MPV. Second, with most ‘normal’ Maruti dealerships being converted into swanky Arena ones, customers can still enjoy a premium experience. The Ertiga needs the reach to take on the increased competition posed by the new Mahindra Marazzo, which has made waves in the MPV segment since its launch back in September 2018.
The Mahindra Marazzo is currently the best MPV you can buy. It occupies the middle ground between affordable options like the current Ertiga as well as the Renault Lodgy, and the more premium Tata Hexa and Toyota Innova Crysta, offering more features at a not so expensive price point. You can check out our mega MPV comparison here to see why the Marazzo won.
What’s new in the Ertiga?
- Complete design overhaul inside out
- It’s 99mm longer, 40mm wider and 5mm taller (at least in Indonesia)
- Larger 153-litre boot space with all seats up
- New 1.5-litre petrol motor from the Ciaz - it’s more powerful, is as smooth as the 1.4-litre motor, greener (BSVI-ready) and should be more efficient thanks to the SmartHybrid mild-hybrid system
- New features, such as projector headlamps, smart-entry and go, automatic climate control, and a host of standard safety features
The new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is expected to be priced as competitively as the current model which retails in the range of Rs 6.34 lakh to Rs 10.69 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).