MARUTI SUZUKI EECO - An Introduction

Opening

The latest buzz in the car segment is the overbooking of the new Maruti Suzuki Eeco and the waiting period of around 3 months. Clearly, the booking of over 100 Maruti Suzuki Eeco Cars at a single dealership in Bangalore indicates the demand for Eeco.

It is clear that the Eeco is a hybrid of the Versa and Omni. Maruti Suzuki has successfully implemented the space and comfort of the Maruti Suzuki Versa car in a price range slightly higher than the price of a Maruti Suzuki Omni.

I visited the showroom to have a look at the car.

Looks

Maruti Suzuki Eeco straight away reminds me of the Versa. A nicely placed, clear lens headlight gives a good impression whereas the black bumper is reduces the images. The front door opening is large and any person can enter easily.

The sliding of rear door is quite easy and similar to that of the Omni without much change. The rear door and the design of tail lamp are somewhat simple and gives a good impression. Again the rear bumper resembles an extended version of Omni.

Once we sit on the front seat, we can feel a comfort which is absent in the Omni which used to be increased in excessive heat developed during a long run.

With the Eeco the ride quality has been much improved and especially steering though manual is as good as power steering.

The second row seats are spacious and 3 passengers can be accommodated. The large leg space for the second row and the huge luggage space in the 5 seater version make it a highly useful car.

Features

The Eeco is available in three versions, viz. 5 Seater standard, 5 Seater AC, and 7 Seater standard.

Basic features of 5 seater standard version include: Integrated head rest in front row, multi trip meter, digital meter cluster, tubeless tyres, and a child lock for the sliding doors and windows.

The 5 Seater AC version has similar features of standard with additional AC, while the 7 Seater Maruti Suzuki Eeco is a standard version with 7 seating option.

Eeco colour options include Metallic midnight black, Metallic blue blaze, Bright red, Metallic glistening grey, Metallic silky silver, and Superior white.

		MARUTI SUZUKI
		EECO			OMNI	VERSA
Sl no		5 Seater Standard	5 Seater AC	7 SeaterStandard	OMNI	VERSA
1	Engine (cc)	1196	1196	1196	796	1298
2	Power (HP)	73	73	73	36	82
3	Torque (NM)	101	101	101	NA	NA
4	Transmission	5/M	5/M	5/M	4/M	5/M
5	Fuel Distribution	Multipoint Fuel Injection
6	Seating	5	5	7	5 or 8	5 or 8
7	Fuel Tank (l)	40	40	40	36	NA
8	Turning circle radius	4.5 M	4.5 M	4.5 M	8.2	NA
9	Air Conditioning	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
10	Head lamp leveling	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
11	Seat Belt for all seats	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	NA
12	Brakes Front	Disc	Disc	Disc	Drum	Drum
13	Brakes Rear	Drum	Drum	Drum	Drum	Drum
14	Mileage (KMPL)	15	15	15	17	12
15	Price	2.73	3.03	2.9	2.25	Not for Sale

Specifications

Important Vehicle specifications include 1196 cc BS IV engine delivering power output of 73BHP @6000 RPM, Torque of 101 NM@3000 RPM, Ground clearance 160mm, tubeless tyres, front disc and rear drum brakes. The claimed Mileage of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco is 15.1KMPL average

Price

The ex-showroom Mumbai price for 5 seat standard is 2.73 lac, 5 seater AC 3.03 lac, and 7 Seater standard 2.9 lac. Clearly, these are value for money prices.

Conclusion

Maruti Suzuki Eeco has a good blend of spacious interiors, flexibility of usage and updated style, and comes at a competitive price. It makes a great choice for the customers who liked interiors of Omni and usefulness but disappointed with comfort in the driver and co driver seats.