Maruti Suzuki was able to sell around 4.18 lakh units of the first-generation Ertiga in 7 years’ time while the second-generation hit one lakh units in just 13 months. This translates to an unmatchable dominance in the MPV segment of the Indian automotive market.
Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Sales & Marketing) of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), shares that the Ertiga created “a niche for itself” to become the runaway success it is at present. The MPV enjoys a market share of 36% in its segment and is seeing consistent growth. In fact, nearly 28% of all owners of the latest-generation Ertiga are repeat buyers.
The Maruti Ertiga, like every other modern-day product from the brand, is based on Suzuki’s fifth-generation HEARTECT platform. The 7-seater is available in both petrol and diesel formats. The 1.5-litre K15 petrol engine that made its debut in the Maruti Ertiga produces 105bhp and 138Nm of torque.
It comes mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic (torque converter). The petrol unit boasts of SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) mild-hybrid technology which provides better fuel efficiency without compromising too much on performance.
The 1.5-litre DDiS diesel engine, on the other hand, is good for 94bhp and 225Nm of torque. The engine comes mated only to a 6-speed manual. There is also a CNG variant based on the VXi trim, producing a negligibly lower output than the regular petrol variant.
Even though the Maruti Ertiga was initially launched with BS4 engines, Maruti Suzuki later updated almost all its products to BS6 emission standards. Major automakers operating in the country are busy updating their line-up to BS6 units ahead of the stipulated deadline of 1 April, 2020. The second-generation Maruti Ertiga BS6 was launched back in Q2 2019, at a starting price of Rs 7.54 lakh ex-showroom.
From the sales figures, it is evident that the Maruti Ertiga is the country’s most successful urban MPV. The 7-seater family car segment on the Indian automotive market has witnessed substantial growth over the years and the Ertiga is an important name in this regard.
The Maruti Ertiga is the perfect choice for those looking forward to buying a family car that can seat seven passengers with decent space and comfort, but cannot afford the likes of a Toyota Innova Crysta or even the Mahindra Marazzo (another excellent choice in the MPV segment).