India’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has announced that the new Ertiga, which was launched in November last year, has crossed 61,000 sales. That number equates to a whopping 60 per cent growth for the Ertiga brand when compared to the sales figures over the same period the previous year. With an average monthly sale of over 8,000 units, the current-gen Ertiga is not only the bestselling MPV in its segment but also in India.
To enhance its charm further, the company has now introduced two new variants – VXI CNG and Tour M CNG. While the former is priced at Rs 8.88 lakh, the latter costs Rs 5,000 less. As is the case in other Maruti Suzuki model ranges, the Tour M is devised specifically for the commercial vehicle space. Compared to the standard, petrol-only Ertiga VXI, the VXI CNG is Rs 71,000 dearer and the Tour M CNG costs Rs 66,000 more.
The 1.5-litre engine, when fed with petrol, is tuned to produce 103hp/138Nm. However, those figures come down to 91hp/122Nm when CNG is routed to the power-plant. Do the math and the deficit is 12hp/16Nm. The claimed fuel efficiency is 26.2km/kg, which isn’t bad for a seven-seater. Transmission duties for the CNG-equipped variants are handled by a 5-speed manual unit and as far as the list of features goes, it is exactly the same as the petrol-only VXI trim.
Another development in Ertiga’s case is that the 1.3-litre diesel engine has now been discontinued. That means if you want the MPV with a diesel engine, you will have to settle for the 1.5-litre DDiS 225 engine which is good for 94hp/225Nm and comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. If it is a mild-hybrid system you are after, you will have to go for one of the petrol-only variants.
Post March 31, 2020, when the mandatory sale of BSVI-compliant vehicles only comes into effect in India, the Ertiga and all other Maruti Suzuki models will be available with a petrol engine only. As far as rivals go, the Maruti Suzuki’s sole MPV locks horns with the Renault Lodgy and the Mahindra TUV300 Plus.
Note: The prices given above are ex-showroom Delhi.
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