Maruti Ertiga finally launched in India

After creating dominance in the hatchback segment for over two decades, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), the largest car maker in India, has come up with its first compact Multi Purpose Vehicle, Ertiga. The company has globally launched its seven seater Ertiga on 12th April 2012. However, the car will not be marketed in the auto market of Japan, but will be seen in the couple of ASEAN markets, including Indonesia, after making some favourable modifications to suit the domestic conditions.

Post launch, the company officials revealed the actual pricing of this car, which ranges from Rs. 5.89 lacs to Rs. 8.45 lacs. With this price range, the car will surely grab the attention of buyers since it is considerably less than other cars of the same segment, such as Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo.

Ertiga is designed over the same platform on which Maruti Suzuki Swift, a well established hatchback, is designed. The company has launched two engines in its Ertiga, petrol as well as diesel. The petrol version is assimilated with a performance oriented K-series 1.4 litre engine, which has the potential to churn out an impressive power of 93 bhp. On the other hand, the diesel version holds a 1.3 litre DDiS motor which is sourced from FIAT and is already introduced in Maruti Suzuki SX4 diesel. The efficient diesel engine of Ertiga generates maximum power of 88 bhp, which is quiet impressive in this segment.

Along with brilliant emissions, both the engines of Ertiga deliver decent mileages that maintain the running cost of the car. The petrol version covers a distance of 16 kmpl, whereas the diesel engine offers average of 20 kmpl. As far as exterior appearance of Ertiga is concerned, although it looks like a MPV, the car also share resemblance with its sibling Swift and the Ritz. However, the car is significantly shorter in height as compared to other MPVs in market.

Although Maruti has designed Ertiga in Japan, the car is made “specifically for India”. The engineers of company have looked upon the demands of Indian buyers and then emerged with a respectable outcome, Ertiga. The car holds Indian design requirements with Indian body type and Indian susceptibility.

With brands like Maruti 800, Alto, Swift, WagonR and Ritz, the company has carved a special niche in the market. All these cars were designed for global platform and were then altered to suit the interest of Indian buyers. However, the company has now come up with a special design rather than a modified version, which will be “mainly marketed in India,” as said by T Hibi, Chief Engineer, Ertiga plan.