The Maruti Ertiga S-CNG, the first BS6 compliant CNG-powered MPV in the country, has been launched at INR 8.95 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The new CNG variant is claimed to offer an impressive fuel economy of 26.08 km per kg of fuel. With a comparable running cost, the CNG variant emerges as a viable alternative to diesel variant. However, the only limiting factor is the lack of availability of CNG across the nation.
The Maruti Ertiga is already the country’s best selling MPV and the company is confident that the introduction of CNG variant would further augment its position as market leader. The CNG variant would have a heightened importance now considering that the people carrier will no longer be available with a diesel engine option.
The factory-fitted CNG kit on the Ertiga comes with dual-ECU and a special injection system to ensure optimum performance. The fuel tank benefits from a leak-proof design and integrated harness to ensure safety. The system is equipped with automatic fuel changeover switch and fuel level indicator.
With the government seeking to increase the energy share of natural gas from the current 6.2% to 15% by 2030 by increasing CNG network across the country, products like Ertiga S-CNG could enjoy improved acceptability in the long run.
The Maruti Ertiga BS6 is powered by the 1.5-liter four-cylinder K15B engine which produces 103.5 hp and 138 Nm of torque while running on petrol. In CNG mode, the output figures drop to 91.1 hp and 122 Nm of torque. The drop is performance is expected to be noticeable in real-world conditions. The engine is mated to a 5-speed transmission.
With a petrol tank capacity of 45 liters and CNG capacity of 60 liters (water equivalent), the Maruti Ertiga S-CNG has an impressively long combined range. We expect the CNG kit to be offered in other Maruti cars that are powered by the same engine such as Ciaz, S-Cross and Vitara Brezza facelift.
The Maruti Ertiga S-CNG BS6 is based on the VXi trim. Feature highlights include projector headlamps, LED taillights, ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, split middle and rear seats, air-cooled cup holder, remote keyless entry, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVM, audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, multi-function steering wheel, dual-airbag, ABS with EBD, reverse parking sensors, speed alert-system and so on.
