Presence of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga since 2012 Auto Expo

Auto Expo happens to be the biggest event for Indian car industry wherein companies are provided the opportunity to showcase their future line-up of vehicles. The Asia's largest motor show is held once every two years. This event was last held in 2012 and it marked the presence of large number of car makers. At the 2012 Auto Expo, the leading passenger car manufacturer of India, Maruti Suzuki grabbed a lot of headlines owing to its product showcases and launches. The company took the curtains off its Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Ertiga and a concept named as XA Alpha for compact SUV segment.

Since it’s unveiling at the 2012 Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga generated a lot of buzz because it was the second time that the company was venturing into the MPV segment. At that time doubts were raised over success of Ertiga owing to the bad response meted out to Versa MPV that was earlier discontinued by the company. However, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga sprung a surprise for the critics as the MPV found many takers as soon as it was launched in India. The car was praised for its attractive design, fuel efficient engine and interior room. Since its introduction in 2012, Ertiga has been successful in living up to the expectations of the people and the company.

At present, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is available in three different fuel options of petrol, diesel and CNG. The petrol variant is powered by the 1.4-litre K-Series VTVT petrol engine that is capable of generating 93 bhp of power alongside 130 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the diesel variant of Ertiga is equipped with a 1.3-litre DDiS powertrain that churns out a peak power of 88 bhp and generates 200 Nm of torque. Both the petrol and diesel engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system, which further transfers power to its rear wheels.

In terms of appearance, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga seems to be derived from the platform of Swift hatchback. This compact MPV has that ability to make head turn owing to its somewhat aerodynamic body. As seen in the front fascia of Ertiga, the chrome grille that holds the Suzuki badge is placed just between the bonnet and curved bumper. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is provided with air inlets and enclosures in the front bumper that carry the fog lights, thereby giving it an appeal of an MPV.

According to the figures claimed by the company, Maruti Suzuki gives away exceptional mileage from its petrol and diesel engines. The petrol version of Ertiga gives an average of 16.02 kmpl under different road conditions, whereas the fuel economy of diesel engine powered Ertiga stands at 20.77 kmpl. Talking about its price, the base variant is offered for Rs. 5.99 lakh while the top grade one cost around Rs. 8.71 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom).

Touted as a family car, the MPV of Maruti Suzuki is complemented with a number of high-end features in order to give optimum comfort for passengers. The car is provided with automatic air-conditioning system, steering mounted audio controls and tilt adjustable steering wheel. Besides to it, the car has central locking system, remote boot and fuel lid opener and an armrest with cup holder. The car has an advanced sound system, which adjusts itself accordingly to the speed of the car. Apart from this, the LCD display sound system is compatible with USB and AUX-in support.

In terms of competition, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga enjoys its lead over Chevrolet Enjoy and Nissan Evalia by a fair distance. Since the Ertiga made its debut well before these models, the leading car company of India enjoys a first mover advantage in the MPV segment. Since its introduction till now, the MPV of Maruti Suzuki enjoys its success stint in the Indian car market.