Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is India’s most -popular MPV because of its focus on the fundamentals of space, practicality and comfort. Its popularity helps it achieve 15,000-18,000 sales every month. The Ertiga is also rebadged and sold as the Toyota Rumion. The Ertiga and Rumion are essentially the same car though there are differences in their design. There’s no difference in their performance, comfort or reliability. 

If you want the Ertiga’s formula with a few more premium touches and some SUV flavour, there’s the XL6. The XL6 and Ertiga are not the same car though they are based on the same platform. The XL6 sports more SUV like styling, an all black interior and is sold through the NEXA range of dealerships.

I’ve spent a lot of time with the Ertiga, driving it myself or being driven in one as a taxi. Here’s why you should consider buying one and what it needs to do better.

When I first reviewed this generation of the Ertiga in 2018, the design was quite a sharp departure from its predecessor. Since then Maruti Suzuki has made a few minor tweaks like the grille design and wheel design, but the core look of the car itself hasn’t really changed. It’s still a clean styling package and nothing too flashy.

The front end features a sharp bumper with black surrounds for the fog lamps that add a sporty touch. Halogen projector headlamps flank the winged front chrome grille and there are no LED DRLs.

The side profile is typical MPV with a sharp shoulder line to make the car look leaner. What stands out aren’t the 15-inch alloy wheels but the sheer size of the rear door vs front. It’s evident this car is all about rear seat focus.

At the rear, you get Volvo-like LED tail lights and some detailing within the rear bumper that houses the rear reflectors. Overall, the Ertiga’s styling is inoffensive and straightforward. There’s nothing remarkable that stands out or would grab attention but it isn’t polarising either. 

A similar sombre theme can be seen in the colour options as well. I personally like the Pearl Metallic Oxford Blue colour and you can also have the Ertiga in Bluish Black, Splendid Silver, Pearl Arctic White, Metallic Magma Grey, Dignity Brown and Pearl Metallic Auburn Red.

Design & Quality

Much like the exterior, the interior follows a theme of keeping it simple but easy on the eyes. A black AC vent panel splits the dashboard in half and is underlined by a large wooden panel to add a premium touch. The beige-heavy interior makes the cabin feel even larger and lends the interior an airy feel. Do be careful with upkeep though as the light interior shows stains quite easily.

The glass area is quite massive and the dashboard is set a little low so you get the full benefit of great all-round visibility. Ingress and egress are super-convenient even for the elderly as the floor isn’t too high nor too low, while the doors open nice and wide.

Does it feel well built? Sure. Fitment quality is good and considering how many Ertigas are sitting with big numbers on the odometer, we know this cabin ages well. However, rivals like the Kia Carens Clavis offer better quality trim and generally feel richer inside.

Front Seats

The seats feel comfortable on both short and long journeys, as both the cushioning and support are equally good. They’re also reasonably large in size and supportive of people with broad shoulders. While it does miss out on telescopic (reach) adjustment for the steering wheel, finding an ideal driving position is easy. Thankfully, you do get a height-adjustable driver seat though it’s only offered in the ZXi grades.

If you’d like to access the OBD port, it is located under the dashboard next to the driver’s right leg. That’s also where you can open the Ertiga’s bonnet from, using the black flap. You don't, however, need to open the bonnet to find the chassis number as the Ertiga’s chassis number can be found on the driver’s side between the front and rear doors, at the bottom of the B-pillar.

Rear Seats (2nd Row)

Getting into the 2nd row is a breeze thanks to the doors that open wide and the floor that’s just high enough. There’s no lack of space or convenience for two people here. Three people can also sit comfortably, but the middle passenger doesn’t get a headrest, so they won’t be very comfortable on long journeys. 

Headroom, knee room, and foot room are ample, and even the under-thigh support is good because you do get space to stretch your legs underneath the front seats. Bonus points for the versatility on offer, because these seats can recline and slide. So if no one’s in the third row, you can slide the seat back and lounge comfortably.

The central armrest and roof mounted AC further improve comfort and you also get plenty of storage spaces. So as a chauffeur-driven car,  you will appreciate the Ertiga’s 2nd row.

Rear Seats (3rd Row)

Getting into the Ertiga’s 3rd row requires some effort because these seats don’t tumble and fold completely. Thankfully, the door aperture is wide enough that the space to get into the 3rd row is still manageable even for adults. Users up to 5.7-5.8ft in height will be comfortable here with someone of the same height ahead of them. Once in there, the seats feel rather usable and comfortable for short journeys. Yes, you sit in a knees-up position, which restricts underthigh support. So they won’t be the most comfortable for adults on long distance journeys, but kids won’t have any complaints here. 

There isn’t any option to slide the seat ahead from here, but you can recline them to open up a bit more space. Moreover, the seats are higher than the second row, so the view outside is unrestricted. The third row itself doesn’t have dedicated AC vents but the roof mounted AC console in the middle row has four vents and does well to get cool air to the back of the car.

It is important to note that the MPV is only offered as a 7-seater. While the Ertiga can seat 8 people including the driver, doing so would not be legal. 

Storage Options

The Ertiga puts the P in MPV and it stands for practicality, because there's plenty of it. All four doors get 1-litre door pockets along with some additional storage space for dusting cloth or small items. The center console has two cooled cup holders that work well with metallic bottles and soft drink cans. You can also place your phone here if it's getting too hot. There’s a tray ahead where you can keep your phone, wallet, or keys. Your spare change and receipts can be stored in the compartment next to the steering wheel.

The glovebox is generous and can store plenty of knick knacks. Second row passengers can store their magazines or phones in the seat back pockets and there’s also a section in the central armrest. If anything’s missing, it’s cupholders in the central armrest. But third row passengers do benefit from dedicated cupholders. 

Charging Options

For charging, there’s a 12V socket in every row along with a USB socket for the front passengers. While many new age Maruti Suzukis have gained type-C charge ports, they’re missing in the Ertiga.

Features 

The Ertiga gets all the basic equipment needed for your everyday commutes and it is as gimmick-free a features-list as it gets. Here are the highlights:

Apart from these features, you get a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Its user interface is easy to use, and it also supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. These features can also run wirelessly but the function is only enabled in the top-end ZXi+ model (with the SmartPlay Pro touchscreen). 

The system runs smoothly and comes paired with a 6-speaker sound system. The sound quality is acceptable at best and occupants in the rear rows will find it quite flat. While rivals like the Kia Carens Clavis offer a lot more features like a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, ventilated seats and a better sound system, you do have to opt for the more expensive variants of the Clavis to get these goodies. The Ertiga also offers an automatic transmission at a much more affordable price point.

Unfortunately, no model of the Ertiga gets a sunroof and until a new generation model is launched, we do not expect the Ertiga to get a sunroof.

(3 out of 5)

The Ertiga gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold assist, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchors as standard. The higher variants add a rear defogger and rear washer wiper, along with a rear camera and front fog lamps. Also offered is connected car tech to monitor the car’s health, location and driving patterns.

Global NCAP crash tested the Ertiga in 2019 where the car received 3/5-stars for both adult and child occupant safety. Since then, the Ertiga has gained features like side and curtain airbags but the NCAP testing protocol has also become more stringent.

(3.5 out of 5)

With the 3rd row in use, you have 209-litre of boot space available. With the boot tray placed at its lower setting, you can get a medium-sized suitcase and a full sized suitcase in, provided the backrest is set at an upright angle. With the third-row folded down, there’s 550-litres of space available, which can take in multiple big suitcases, 2-3 cabin sized bags and some soft bags too.

In the CNG variant, Maruti’s done a good job of covering the CNG cylinder, which leaves you with some usable boot space. In our boot space tests, with all three rows up, you can easily fit two duffle bags. However, if the third row seats are fully reclined, the space reduces and you can no longer fit these bags. As a 5-seater, the boot can accommodate three suitcases and 2 bags easily - courtesy of the split 50:50 and flat-fold function for the last row.

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga gets a single 1.5-litre petrol engine option, which can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Only the automatic Ertiga has 6 gears. The standard petrol versions of the Ertiga come with a mild-hybrid or “Smart Hybrid”. The Ertiga Smart Hybrid works by using a small lithium-ion battery that powers a starter generator which supports the engine’s performance. While the car cannot be driven purely on electric power (as the battery and generator are very small), the Smart Hybrid system reduces load on the engine enhancing both performance and fuel-efficiency. 

This engine is also offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit, and the CNG variants only get a manual transmission. Maruti Suzuki used to offer a 1.3-litre diesel engine as well but the Ertiga diesel was discontinued in 2020.

1.5-litre Petrol

The refinement levels are clear right from when you start this engine up. Noise and vibrations are minimal and even under heavy acceleration, but the auto engine start/stop of the mild-hybrid does get annoying as you can feel the car starting up each time.

City Performance

When it comes to city driveability, there are no complaints from the engine and gearbox or either one of the gearboxes. The manual transmission offers light gear changes but you will have to dial in a few extra revs to move off from a stop if you have more passengers on board. While driving the automatic, the engine feels smooth and picks up speed from lower RPMs without any reluctance. The transmission too is tuned for smoothness while driving and offers jerk-free gear changes for the most part. 

Keeping up with smooth flowing traffic is no hassle and overtakes are managed easily too. Depending on the driving conditions you can get around 13kmpl in the city with the manual and around 11kmpl with the automatic.

Highway Performance

The gaps in the engine’s capabilities are more noticeable on the highway. While the Ertiga will get up to 80-90kmph with ease, the climb from thereon needs you to push the engine a bit. While the Ertiga can climb hills, you will need to maintain a patient driving style as driving through the ghats or making high speed overtakes requires you to be generous with your throttle inputs.. Calm inter-city cruising, though, is something the Ertiga is very happy to do. Depending on traffic, you can get around 17kmpl with the manual and 18-19kmpl with the automatic as the latter cruises at lower revs at high speeds thanks to the presence of a 6th gear.

Note: Ertiga CNG Performance

Maruti Ertiga CNG’s drive experience has to be one of its standout highlights. You will barely feel any difference between CNG and petrol, even if you’re driving in the city or on the highway. The Ertiga CNG picks up speed in a linear fashion, similar to its petrol counterpart. Ample low-end torque and a strong mid-range, both make it very easy to drive around in the city. That, coupled with a slick gearbox and a lightweight clutch, makes city driving a breeze.

In our performance tests, there was just a two second gap in the 0-100kmph sprint (15.67 seconds vs 13.73 seconds). The gap reduces to under a second, in the in-gear acceleration tests which is more relevant in daily driving conditions. This shows that there’s barely a performance drop between petrol and CNG and that both offer a very similar driving experience within city limits.

Once you’re on the highways, you will need to plan your overtakes accordingly, which applies to the petrol-only version as well. Cruising on the highway is an easy task for the Ertiga CNG. The engine feels very refined and you can barely hear it, while on idle or during city runs. As long as you have a relaxed driving style, you won’t notice a very sharp difference between the petrol and CNG Ertiga.

(4 out of 5)

Ride Comfort

The Maruti Ertiga offers a comfortable ride during the in-city drives. You will feel comfortable going over speed breakers and small potholes, but there will be slight tossing around in the cabin. As the speed increases, the road harshness and thuds are felt more inside the cabin. Passengers in the third row will feel more discomfort over bumps and potholes. However, even after going over different types of surfaces, the car manages to settle down quickly. And overall, it is a rather comfortable family mover. 

Handling

Driving the Ertiga is very easy even in crowded city streets. The steering is light, gear changes are convenient and it feels no more difficult to drive through traffic than any sedan. But if you’re driving with full load and carry a higher speed on a bump that’s sharper than your usual, the suspension compresses and runs out of travel, leading to a sharp sound. So just be mindful of your speed with a full load inside. 

On the highway, it feels stable and planted, and maintains its composure over sudden undulations or highway gaps. The third row passengers may experience some bouncy up and down movement, but it’s acceptable.

• Maruti offers the 2025 Ertiga in four variants: LXi, VXi, ZXi, and ZXi+.

Maruti Ertiga LXi

• Gets projector halogen headlights, LED tail lights, and wheel covers as standard.

• No infotainment system, but gets functional equipment like manual AC, powered windows, tilt steering adjust, and a coloured MID display for the driver.

• Standard safety features include six airbags, hill-hold assist, electronic stability program, and rear parking sensors.

Maruti Ertiga VXi

• Better exterior styling with chrome inserts on the grille, body coloured outside mirror and door handles, and turn indicator on the ORVM.

• Offers more day-to-day functional equipment like manual inside mirror, keyless entry, electric outside mirrors, steering mounted controls, and paddle shifters.

• No touchscreen infotainment still, but gets a basic sound system with 4-speakers with USB and AUX connectivity.

Maruti Ertiga ZXi

• Looks exactly like the top-spec variant with 15-inch alloys, additional chrome inserts on the door handles and tailgate, fog lamps and rear wiper and washer.

• More premium interior look with metallic teak-wood finish panels and dual-tone seat fabrics.

• Improved comfort with seat height adjustment (driver) and a sliding front armrest.

• More complete feature package with auto AC, push button start/stop, rear defogger and 12V sockets in all three rows.

• Gets a 7-inch infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay paired to a 6-speaker sound system.

Maruti Ertiga ZXi+

• No visual changes in the exterior and interior when compared to the one-below ZXi variant.

• Feature additions include cruise control, auto outside mirrors, auto headlights with welcome and goodbye function, and Arkamys-tuned sound system.

• Infotainment now gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

• Adds a rear view parking camera to its safety package.

CarDekho recommends:

• The one-above-base variant is a good option for people on a tight budget. It offers a better functional kit over the base variant, along with the option of an automatic and CNG kit.

• The Ertiga’s best model is the ZXI. It is the most value-for-money variant as it features a good balance of functional, feel-good, and safety features.

As far as family MPVs go, the Maruti Ertiga is really hard to fault. It might not have the glamour that a few of its more expensive rivals offer, or a third row that’s comfortable for adults over long journeys. But it undeniably delivers on parameters of a family MPV like space, practicality and arguably the most important - comfort. And it does all of that at an affordable price.

Other cars to consider instead of the Maruti Ertiga

Toyota Rumion

Reasons to consider

• Offers six airbags

• Better standard warranty package

Reasons to ignore

• More expensive

Kia Carens

Reasons to consider

• Feels more premium inside-out

• Better feature package

• Better performance 

• Diesel option

Reasons to ignore

• Significantly more expensive

• No CNG option

Renault Triber

Reasons to consider

• More affordable

• 4-star global NCAP rating

Reasons to ignore

• Smaller footprint = less space inside 

• Drive experience isn’t as good, both in terms of refinement and performance

• Less premium cabin experience