Maruti Suzuki’s new Ertiga is one of the nine cars from the brand that meet the upcoming Bharat NCAP safety norms. Thanks to the lighter, yet stronger Heartect platform that underpins the new MPV and the addition of more safety kit across variants, the new Ertiga should be safer than the model it replaces. Maruti claims that the new Ertiga is compliant with Bharat NCAP’s frontal offset impact, side impact and pedestrian protection tests.
Besides its use on the Ertiga, the Heartect platform underpins a number of Maruti Suzuki cars like the Swift, Baleno and Ignis. The new platform helps the new Ertiga shed about 10-20kg (depending on the variant) compared to the older MPV, yet is claimed to be sturdier. It also helps increase the car’s dimensions, making it 99mm longer, 40mm wider and 5mm taller. While the wheelbase is the same as the older MPV, the increase in overall size has liberated more room inside, especially in the third row.
Unlike the previous Ertiga, the new model gets safety equipment such as dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD, Isofix child seat mounts, speed sensitive door locks, a speed warning system and rear parking sensors as standard across the range. Higher-spec trims add safety features like height adjustable seat belts in the front. The top-spec gets a rear parking camera and the automatic versions come with ESP and a hill-hold function.
The new Ertiga has launched (priced between Rs 7.44 lakh and Rs 10.90 lakh) with a new 1.5-litre petrol engine (making 105hp and 138Nm) that comes with a dual-battery, mild-hybrid setup and the previously available 90hp, 1.3-litre diesel with mild-hybrid tech. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed manual as standard though the petrol also gets the option of a 4-speed automatic.
Maruti’s new MPV sees competition from the likes of the Mahindra Marazzo (Rs 9.99-13.90 lakh) and Renault Lodgy (Rs 8.63-12.12 lakh) and even the Honda BR-V (Rs 9.45-13.74 lakh) to a certain extent.
Prices ex-showroom, Delhi
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
