Just a few days after Maruti Suzuki announced that they will stop selling diesel engine powered cars from 1st April 2020, they have announced the launch of a new diesel engine option of Ertiga. Today, marks the launch of Ertiga 1.5 liter diesel, in three variants. The same engine was launched with Ciaz last month, and now powers Ertiga.
Mr. R.S. Kalsi, Senior Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India said, “Considering the requirements of evolving customers, the Next Gen Ertiga is now offered with new 1.5-litre Diesel engine. The new engine is a perfect combination of performance and refinement. It showcases Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to provide products aligned with customers aspirations. We are sure this new engine option will strengthen the popularity of Ertiga in urban MPV segment.”
New Ertiga is powered by a 1.5 liter petrol engine making 105 PS power and 138 Nm torque mated to a 5 speed manual or 4 speed AT gearbox along with a 1.5 liter diesel unit offering 95 PS and torque at 225 Nm mated to a 6 speed manual. The latter replaces Fiat sourced 1.3 liter engine which offered 90 PS power and 200 Nm torque. Both new 1.5 liter engines are developed by Maruti Suzuki India.
Unlike the new petrol engine, the new diesel engine does not get SHVS tech. It will offer fuel efficiency of 24.2 kmpl and will be capable of lower NVH levels as compared to that offered by the 1.3 liter unit which will result in a quieter cabin. The new 1.5 liter diesel engine replaces the 1.3 liter engine in ZDI variant, while the LDI and VDI variants are still on sale with 1.3 liter engine, which are respectively priced at Rs 8.85 lakhs and Rs 9.57 lakhs. This means that diff between 1.3 VDI and 1.5 VDI is about Rs 30k. Both engines are BS4 compliant.
It is also learnt that Maruti Suzuki will be discontinuing the Ertiga base LDI variant soon. Dealers have stopped accepting bookings for the Ertiga LDI and the decision to phase out this base diesel variant is due to increased demand being noted for the higher spec models.
Maruti Suzuki also gears up for the launch of the Ertiga Sport variant in a 2+2+2 seating as against the current 2+3+2 arrangement. It has already made its debut in Indonesia. The new Ertiga GT Sport will be powered by same engines as above. It will receive a few exterior and interior changes to set it apart along with a slew of new safety features. The 6 seater Ertiga which is slated to reach company dealerships later this year will be sold via NEXA dealerships unlike the current Ertiga which is sold via Arena outlets in the country.