The sudden boom in the demand for utility vehicles is not a hidden fact as almost every firm is coming up with a model in this segment. Maruti Suzuki, the most dependable car brand in India, made a huge impact with Ertiga, which was first unveiled at the 2012 Auto Expo. During the 2012 Auto Expo, car manufacturer showcased a number of launches and facelift versions. Out of these, the Ertiga multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) and compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) XA Alpha grabbed the maximum attention from visitors and the media. Since its launch in the Indian market, Ertiga has been performing exceptionally well. However, the recently launched Ashok Leyland Stile could pose a threat to the sales of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. The latest offering by the Hinduja flagship was launched by the company's brand ambassador and the country's cricket team captain, MS Dhoni.
Currently, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is offered in three fuel options of petrol, diesel and CNG. The diesel variant of Ertiga comes equipped with a 1.3-litre DDiS engine that churns out peak power of 88 bhp and maximum torque of 200 Nm. Besides, the 1.4-litre K-Series VTVT petrol engine delivers 93 bhp of maximum power and 130 Nm of peak torque. Both the petrol and diesel variants are equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission systems that transfer power to rear wheels. The 7-8 seater Ashok Leyland Stile, inspired from the immensely popular model, Dost, is fitted with a 1.5-litre K9K diesel engine with a 5-speed manual transmission system delivering 74 bhp of maximum power and torque of 185 Nm.
It may be noted that the Stile, manufactured at Nissan's facility in Oragadam, is product of a joint venture between Nissan and Ashok Leyland. Stile finds resemblance to the Nissan product, Evalia, in its design although there are a few differentiating factors. The modified headlamps, new grille and an obvious different badge of Ashok Leyland tend to mark a discrimination among two models. On the other hand, Maruti Suzuki Ertiga has received praised for its attractive design, comfy interiors and fuel efficiency. Its aerodynamic body has helped the company attract maximum number of buyers.
As of now, Ashok Leyland Stile gets a starting price of Rs. 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore). Taking the price of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga into consideration, the base variant is listed at Rs. 5.99 lakh whereas the top variant comes at around Rs. 8.71 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom). Coming to the features of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, it comes with automatic air-conditioning system, tilt adjustable steering wheel and steering mounted audio controls. A few additional features in the car are central locking system, fuel lid opener, an armrest with cup holder and remote boot. Interestingly, the car has an advanced sound system that adjusts itself in sync with the speed. It also gets an LCD display sound system that is compatible with USB and AUX-in support.
Talking about the safety features, Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist are not available in Ashok Leyland Stile LE 8 STR variant. The major strength of Stile's lies in its practical and frugal nature and hence, works as a commendable people mover. As always, the Ertiga by Maruti Suzuki offers performance with an economical engine. So, it is quite clear that people looking for a personal MPV can go in for Maruti Suzuki Ertiga whereas Ashok Leyland works as a perfect light weight commercial vehicle.
