2019 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

One of the most popular MPVs in India launched in a new avatar. Can it repeat the success of the original?

- Rishabh Bhaskar

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga was an MPV success story that many manufacturers only hoped to emulate. It was spacious enough for joint families, came with a set of frugal engines and didn’t hurt the wallet when it came to maintenance; qualities that made it a popular people mover. Cut to 2018 and Maruti Suzuki has introduced the allnew Ertiga that promises to elevate the MPV experience.

Design and features

At first glance, the new Ertiga looks stylish and premium. The sleek projector headlamps, for instance, merge with the thick chrome grille to lend an appearance of a wide car. Then there’s the raised bonnet that has well-defined crease lines and the body coloured fangs above the fog lamps lend an SUVish flavour to the design.

Move to the side, however, and the MPV silhouette is evident, but that’s not to say that it’s boring. The prominent crease line that begins from the front fender, extends all the way to the wrap around tail lamps. It adds some flair to what would’ve otherwise been a slab sided profile. The blacked out C-pillar also gives an impression of a floating roof, a design idea that’s beginning to appear on cars with thick D-pillars.

The tail section is tastefully executed as well. A pair of Volvo V90 Cross Country style LED tail lamps are connected by a fat slab of chrome. In all, the new Ertiga looks upmarket and that drives up its aspirational quotient. The only gripe I’ve got with the design is the under tyred look. The multi-spoke 15inch alloy wheels shod with 185 section tyres don’t fill up the wheel arches enough. A set of 16 or 17 inch rims would’ve looked much nicer.