2012 MARUTI SUZUKI ERTIGA MPV LAUNCHED IN INDIA AT A PRICE OF INR 5.89 LAKHS EX-SHOWROOM DELHI

Maruti Suzuki has finally launched the Ertiga MPV, marking its maiden entry into the lucrative and fast growing Indian MPV market. The 2012 Ertiga is a compact MPV, measuring about 4.265 meters in length. Since the rest of the competition,(read Innova, Xylo, Grande) is longer and larger than the Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki’s latest product has the potential of kickstarting an all new segment, of that of compact MPVs. The Ertiga is based on a modified Ritz platform and Maruti has dug into its parts bin to ensure that it can keep costs low. Maruti has launched the Ertiga at a starting price of INR 5.89 lakhs, which is sure to set the cat amongst pigeons. Pricing is introductory though and could be revised in the coming months.

The Ertiga is available in a total of six variants, 3 each spread across petrol and diesel engine options. Here are the prices of the different variants of the Ertiga.  LXi 5.89 Lakh, VXi 6.60 Lakhs , ZXi 7.30 Lakhs , LDi 7.30 Lakhs, VDi 7.9 Lakhs, ZDi 8.45 Lakhs. All prices reflect ex-showroom Delhi figures. While the petrol engined model comes in LXi, VXi and ZXi trims, the diesel engined Ertiga features LDi, VDi and Zdi trims, in keeping with the traditional variant nomenclature Maruti has been following for its products from quite a long time now.  The MPV is available with a choice of seven colors. The petrol engine is a 1.4 Liter K-series naturally aspirated unit, operating with variable valve technology.

This engine is being introduced for the first time in the Indian market and produces 94 Bhp-130 Nm. The diesel engine on the other hand used forced induction and is the tried and tested 1.3 Liter Fiat Multijet turbodiesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger. Peak power is rated at 90 Bhp while peak torque is rated at 200 Nm. Both the engines are mated to five speed manual transmissions. India is the first car market in the world to get the Ertiga and in the next few months, Maruti Suzuki has plans of exporting the Ertiga to South East Asian markets.

On the inside, the Ertiga comes with a five and seven seat layout. The seating also gets the split seat function to improve versatility. While the middle row comes with a 60:40 split, the third row comes with a 50:50 split. This seat split will mean that luggage carrying in the Ertiga can be maximized as and when the need arises. Airbags, ABS and EBD is standard on the top end ZXi and ZDi variants of both the petrol and diesel Ertiga. The steering wheel and the dashboard of the car has been carried over from the new Swift and this gives the Ertiga a premium feel as the new Swift’s cabin quality has been a big improvement. With killer pricing to boot, expect the Ertiga to make waves at the hustings, more so since we’re talking about the first diesel MPV with the Maruti badge on the bonnet.