Maruti Ertiga facelift price, first look

Maruti launched the Ertiga MPV in India way back in 2012 and enjoyed the first-mover advantage in a nascent compact MPV segment.   Right from the word go, the Ertiga got the basics right. Three rows, seating for seven the option of a petrol or a diesel engine along with car-like driving and dynamics. Three years on, the strong-selling Ertiga has seen new competitors that are priced both above and below it like the Chevrolet Enjoy, Honda Mobilio and the recently-launched Renault Lodgy. In order to keep it fresh in the segment, Maruti’s given it a mid-cycle refresh. What’s more, it also gets a barge of more equipment as well as the clever SHVS tech. Here’s a first look.

The updated Ertiga was revealed in Indonesia a few days ago, the India-spec version gets more-or-less the same styling update barring a few cosmetic additions seen on the Indonesian model. Up front, the new Ertiga gets a much-wider and thicker chrome-laden grille that extends all the way to the headlamps on each side. The front bumper gets all-new design with a smaller air-dam and new fog-lamp inserts. Moving on to the sides, the overall profile remains the same as the outgoing model. However, the lower trims now get a new design for wheel caps while the top Z trims come with all-new alloy wheels. 

The updated Ertiga’s rear styling gets subtle changes in the form of a reworked bumper with reflectors. Like the facelifted Dzire, the updated Ertiga does away with the center-mounted rear fog lamp which was present in the outgoing model.

Maruti, apart from adding the visual tweaks and chrome on the exteriors, has added a good number of features on the updated Ertiga.  Like the recently launched and updated Maruti’s safety has also been given importance for the refreshed Ertiga. While the base L variant gets a driver airbag standard, there’s a new option pack on offer for the L trim which gets dual front airbags and ABS with EBD as standard. 

The Ertiga V trim now comes with a power outlet for the second row passengers, a new audio system with Bluetooth/AUX and USB connectivity, steering mounted audio controls, reverse parking sensors, power folding and adjustable wing mirrors with turn indicators, remote keyless entry and AC for second row.  It also gets new-design wheel caps. 

The higher Z variants of the updated Ertiga get new-look alloy wheels, a height adjustable driver’s seat and rear wiper and washer with defogger.  The updated Ertiga will now get a new top-spec trim by the name of Z+. This variant gets the new Maruti SmartPlay infotainment system that consists of a seven-inch touchscreen interface. It also gets navigation and voice recognition feature. This variant will also come with keyless go and push-button engine start. 

The Ertiga will get retuned, more fuel-efficient versions of the current engines, which include the familiar 1.4-litre K14 petrol.  The ever reliable 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor will now come with SHVS tech borrowed from the Ciaz. For those who are not familiar, SHVS means Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki, a clever fuel-saving feature which will now see duty in most Maruti diesel models in India. It gets the addition of micro-hybrid technology that includes a stop-start technology, brake energy recuperation and Engine Power Assist systems.  The diesel variants of the Ertiga get the addition of a gear-shift indicator located in the multi-info display.

Besides the five-speed manual transmission, available on all variants, the VXi trim will get the option of a four-speed automatic transmission, making it the only automatic MPV in its segment.

Since its launch, the Ertiga MPV continues to be one of the popular choices for both private as well as commercial buyers regardless of its competition. With more equipment and diesel-hybrid combination, and an added advantage of a petrol-automatic variant, there are even more reasons now to buy this MPV.