Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Review: Pros and Cons

The new Ertiga is a huge step forward over the older car and there are a lot of reasons to go for this Maruti Suzuki MPV. Is it perfect? None of the cars ever are. So we are going list seven reasons to buy the Ertiga and three to avoid doing so. Besides listing the major things, we have also gone in-depth to uncover details you won’t otherwise discover after a brief test drive. Are you considering buying the Ertiga? If yes then you should definitely watch this video before putting up your hard-earned money.

Value for Money

The reason why you should definitely consider buying the Ertiga is value-for-money. The Ertiga is around Rs 3-4 lakhs cheaper than its closest rival, the Mahindra Marazzo. Now, even if Maruti is charging less for the car, it’s not like they have skimped on the equipment. It has features like a touchscreen infotainment system, rear AC, automatic climate control, ABS with EBS, dual air-bags, and ISOFIX rear seats among others.

Easy Ingress and Egress

The ease with which you can get in and out of the car is another factor to be considered in buying the Ertiga. Now, because the Ertiga is based on a monocoque chassis, the rear seat is placed at an ideal height. So, getting in and out of the car is easy. Also, the big rear-door opening makes it easy to get into the third row.

And, while getting into the third row is a problem in most of the MPVs, in the Ertiga, this isn’t a problem because of the one-touch fold-and-slide option. It’s just so easy.

Comfortable Seats

The Ertiga has got comfortable seats, be it the first, second or third-rows. But the third-row is the real highlight. In most other MPVs, the third-row seating is really low, but that's not the case in the Ertiga. You sit at a good height, and despite that, the headroom is good and even the width is good enough for two people.

Boot Space

The amount of luggage space on offer is another reason to buy the Ertiga. You get 550-litres of space with the third-row folded, and even when you put the third-row up, with the covers down, there is space to accommodate a big bag and two soft bags quite easily.

Light and rigid chassis

The new Ertiga has a lighter and a more rigid chassis now. The car is based on the HEARTECT platform, which also underpins the Swift. So, despite being much larger than the older car, it is 20 kilos lighter. This not only improves performance but fuel-efficiency as well.

Flat Ride

The flat ride quality of the Ertiga will compel you to put the Ertiga on your maybe-buy list. Be it the first-row, second-row or the third-row, it offers a pliant ride. Out on the highway, it just feels soothing and comfortable. Sure, in the city, you feel some firmness, but it is never uncomfortable. Overall, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga makes for a good long-distance car.

Easy to Drive

The Ertiga is an easy-to-drive MPV. Sure, it’s a seven-seater. But from the driver's seat, it feels almost as easy to drive as the Swift. It feels agile, it doesn’t roll much in the corners, and it's actually quite fun to drive. Even in the city, the compact dimensions and great visibility make it easy to drive and park.

Mediocre Engines

One factor that's hard to disregard while buying the Ertiga is its engine options, which are quite ordinary. Sure, the petrol powertrain has good low-end torque, which makes it easy to drive in the city. But out on the highway, it feels out of breath.

Then, there's the automatic gearbox option, which has just four-speeds, and in the world of CVTs and dual-clutch automatics, it just doesn’t cut it. There's also the diesel one, which, to be honest, is showing its age. It's noisy. Yes, it’s got the punch, but it's also got a lot of lag, which makes it difficult to drive in the city.

Tight third-row legroom

Although, its bigger than the older model, the new Ertiga is still a small MPV. And despite the third-row being roomy, the legroom is still compromised, if you have a tall person sitting in the middle-row.

Interior Quality

The interior quality is a bit of a let-down and one more reason why one should avoid buying the new Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Although it's not such a big problem for a car that costs more than Rs 13 lakhs (on-road Mumbai), we expect it to be a bit better.

You don’t get any soft plastics, and especially when you go lower-below, it’s a little hard and grainy. So, it isn’t as consistent as it should be.

Conclusion

Clearly, there are very few reasons, why you shouldn’t buy the Ertiga. You get a car that meets most MPV buyers’ expectations at a price that is unbeatable. Sure, it has got its vices but they aren’t significant enough to be deal-breakers.

Pictures by Kapil Angane