Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (2012-2022) Pros & Cons

Check out pros and cons about the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (2012-2022) that are worth highlighting for a potential buyer. Here are some of the highlights of the benefits of buying the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga (2012-2022). We'll also list out the Ertiga (2012-2022) drawbacks to help you make an informed buying decision.

Ertiga (2012-2022) Advantanges

• Fuel-Efficient Mild-Hybrid Powertrain

  Maruti Suzuki Ertiga comes with a 1.5-litre hybrid petrol engine. Equipped with a mild-hybrid setup, it delivers great fuel efficiency. Even with the 4-speed torque converter automatic, which is not the most efficient, it returns respectable figures with the mild hybrid. For commuters, Maruti Suzuki also offer the CNG-equipped Ertiga. The Ertiga has an ARAI-claimed fuel economy of 19.01kmpl for petrol MT, 17.99kmpl for petrol AT and 26.08kmpkg for CNG.

• Reasonably-Loaded CNG Variants

  The VXI CNG variant of the Ertiga comes with all the necessary features. It offers a 2-din infotainment system with four speakers, projector headlamps, steering mounted controls, LED taillights, rear armrest, day/night IRVM, split-folding second and third-row seats, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs and more. In terms of safety, it offers ABS with EBD, dual airbags, speed sensing alarm, remote locking, reverse parking sensors and more.

• Standard 15-inch Wheels and 180mm Ground Clearance

  The Ertiga comes with 15-inch wheels as standard across all variants. The top two variants offer alloy wheels and the VXI trim gets wheel covers. In addition to that, the Ertiga also gets 180mm of ground clearance that helps it to tackle tough conditions.

• Great Survivability Score

  Maruti Suzuki Ertiga scored 3 stars in the GNCAP crash test. While the outright number may not impress you, the survivability score is in line with that of the XUV300 and Nexon. The survivability score depends on how well the car protects the head, neck and chest of both the driver and co-passenger. In these regards, the Ertiga offers better protection to driver’s and co-passenger’s head, neck and chest than cars with higher NCAP ratings.

Ertiga (2012-2022) Disadvantanges

• Old-School 4-Speed Auto

  Maruti Suzuki continue to offer the old 4-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with most of their cars. While it does the job pretty well under city limits, the lack of ratios takes a toll on the otherwise great fuel efficiency. Torque converter gearboxes are also the most inefficient of all automatics and offer poor mileage, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

• Poorly-Equipped Base Variant

  The LXI variant of the Ertiga misses out on a lot of essential features. It doesn’t justify the asking price and feels bare bones. The Ertiga LXI misses out on features like rear AC vents, remote central locking, body-coloured ORVMs, day/night IRVM etc.

• No Diesel Engine Option

  Maruti Suzuki sell the Ertiga with a sole 1.5L mid-hybrid petrol engine. It is very fuel-efficient by petrol engine standards but not ideal for commuters and highway haulers due to the high fuel prices. Moreover, it can’t match the torque output of a turbo diesel engine for easy drivability even with a full load. Being an MPV, the Ertiga must have a diesel engine option for buyers who tend to commute for longer distances. The Ertiga CNG could be a sensible trade-off to diesel but the high waiting period for the CNG doesn’t help the cause.

• Limited Boot Space

  The last row seats of the Ertiga are not removable. The best you can do is fold them down but that still takes up a lot of the boot space. For instance, in 5-seat mode, the Ertiga has a smaller boot space than the Triber, which comes with removable last row seats. The Triber without the last row offers 625 litres of boot space while the Ertiga offers 550 litres with the last row folded down.

• Carries A Taxi Image

  Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is a great car for long-distance driving, especially with the family. It’s a favourite among cab aggregators and that leaves the car with a ‘taxi’ image. This limits its appeal among personal car buyers. Although, if you want the Ertiga for personal use, then you can consider the XL6, which has a significantly different styling, captain seats and a few extra features with only a modest price premium over the Ertiga.

• 3-Star GNCAP Rating

  The Ertiga has a good survivability score and protects the critical parts of the body like head, neck and chest about as well as the 5-star rated Nexon and XUV300. However, the outright star rating is also important for some buyers and the Ertiga doesn’t deliver on that front.