Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: When we talk of family cars in India, a handful of monikers hold the same trust and appeal as the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.
Be it the school run, office commute or a weekend getaway to the hills, the Ertiga has silently emerged as a family-orientated MPV of choice for Indian families looking for a blend of space, comfort, efficiency and value for money – all in one package, and with minimal fuss.
Here’s an in-depth look at what makes the Ertiga a favourite, despite the increasing competition.
Design: Sophisticated but Not Overly Flashy
Ertiga isn’t trying to make a splash with some flash design and that’s precisely the appeal. The outside is uncluttered, nicely proportioned, and has something of a minimalist elegance as well.
The MPV has a skewed-up exterior with its distinctive chrome grille, short swept-back projector headlamps and sculpted bumper giving it an imposing look but its not OTT.
Back off to the side and the 15-inch dual-tone alloys (or 16-inch on the higher trims) sit well demarcated with the proportions of the MPV. The rear, also, is nice with LED tail lamps that look modern and not entirely outlandish.
Interior and Comfort: For the Family Swimming Pool built for the Family squad up and hit the pool with this 18 feet x 48 inches easy setup swimming pool set 4800 gallon capacity and Ready for water in 60 Minutes.
Created with puncture resistant 3 ply material3 includes: Pool, 1500 gallon Filter Pump, ladder, ground Cloth, and pool coverSuper tough sidewalls are made with 3 separate layers of material; the inner layer of polyester mesh is laminated to the 2 outer heavy gauge PVC layersConvenient drain plug that connects to a garden hose so water can be drained away from pool or house areaSet up and maintenance DVD.
Where the Ertiga impresses is from the inside. This 7 seater knows its business — comfort and function. The cabin is fairly basic but functional.
The beige and wood finish on the dash make it appear roomy and slightly upmarket (in the higher versions at least ).
The front seats are comfortable, the second row sliding and reclining and even the third-row is usable for adults on shorter jaunts — a claim not every MPV can make. Because the family that AC vent together, stick together.
With the third row in place, boot space is tight but fold it flat and you get a generous luggage bay — ideal for family weekend getaways.
Engine & Performance: How You Like Me Now?
The Ertiga is powered by the 1.5L K15C Smart Hybrid petrol engine. It makes around 102 bhp and 137 Nm — not the most exciting, but perfectly enough to potter around in the city and cruise in a relaxed manner on the highway.
You have it: 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission options and both are slick.
What you’ll love even more is the polish and the mileage. With mild-hybrid technology, the Ertiga manages some amazing mileage of over 20 kmpl on highways and 16-18 kmpl in the city, so yes, it’s pocket-friendly in the long run.
There’s also a CNG version, which ramps the efficiency even higher — a welcome plus for the fleet-minded.
Features & Tech: Simplicity Keeps It Simple
The Ertiga is not a tech-heavy vehicle, but it has all the basics. It gets a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio infotainment system (with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), reverse parking camera, auto headlamps, steering-mounted controls, and push-button start.
In terms of safety there are dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors and ESP with hill hold (in AT trims). It’s not tech top of the line, but it is well appointed for its category.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Roomy, family-friendly interior
Great fuel economy (particularly when using CNG)
Maruti’s pan-India service network and trustworthy brand image.
Affordable maintenance
Smooth and refined engine
Strong resale value
Cons:
No diesel option anymore
Barebones list of features when compared to newer competitors
Third row best for kids or short drives
Not the most muscular, or the most fun to drive
Aesthetics might feel a little plain to some buyers
Summing It All Up: The Pragmatic Choice, Still
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga:
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will never impress you with flashy tech or razor-sharp performance — but that’s never been the point.
It’s designed to be dependable, capacious, frugal and, especially, a no-nonsense family car that does the job day in and day out.
If you have a big Indian family or travel in bands, the Ertiga still brings unbeatable value to the table.
If all you need is a no-nonsense 7-seater vehicle that won’t cost you an arm and a leg – this one’s still a rugged loyal choice and a people carrier that’s got a firm grip on the nation’s pulse.