Maruti Suzuki Ertiga – launched in 2012, the MPV from India’s most popular automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki. The Ertiga quickly rose to the top in the MPV segment and sold very well indeed, consistently for the last three years. But recently there has been a lot of competition in the MPV segment lately, with Honda launching the Mobilio and Renault recently launching the Lodgy and it looks like this was affecting the sales figures of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, and the car was getting a little too old anyway, so Maruti Suzuki has decided to give the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga a midlife facelift, before its replacement comes out in a few years time. Maruti Suzuki has given the Ertiga facelift some aesthetic changes and also some additional class leading features on the inside.
When viewed from the front, one simply cannot miss the front grille which looks like it has completely been immersed in chrome. Even though this new 3-slat grille is excessively chromed for my taste, it does give the MPV a premium feel, and besides that, quite a few people like the chrome everywhere! Even the bumper up front gets a dash of chrome near the fog lamp inserts and the bumper even gets a slight design change. There are no changes on the side profile, save for the new design alloy wheels. At the rear, the only change is the huge chrome bar which acts as the door handle for the hatch opening.
There were only a few changes on the exteriors of the Ertiga, but the major changes are inside the car. Maruti Suzuki will be adding a Z+ variant with the new facelift and this one is really loaded with features. The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Zdi+ and Zxi+ has now been equipped with a smartplay infotainment system, climate control, reverse parking sensors, keyless entry system, push start button and it also has leather on the steering wheel, on the gear lever as well as the door panels.
The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga facelift will be powered by the same engines as before. A 1.4 liter K-series petrol engine with a maximum output of 95 PS and a maximum torque output of 130 NM powers the petrol variant and a 1.4 liter DDiS engine with a maximum power output of 90 PS and a maximum torque output of 200 NM powers the diesel variants. Though the engines are the same as in the outgoing variant, there has been a slight improvement in efficiency of the petrol variant and a big increase in efficiency of the diesel variant and this might as well become India’s most fuel efficient MPV, well it is at least claimed to be.
There are quite a few rumors and speculations that the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga facelift will come equipped with the now popular AMT (automatic manual transmission) gearbox, which if true, will definitely make the Ertiga the best MPV in the country and the first MPV in the country to be equipped with an automatic gearbox.
All this technology will definitely help the Ertiga stay the king of the hill in the MPV segment for a few more years.
To read more on Maruti Ertiga, Click here
Also see: Taped-up Maruti Ertiga facelift spotted again, could get AMT!
Source: GaadiWaadi
