2018 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga will have its 1.4-litre petrol engine replaced by a new 1.5-litre mild-hybrid unit with increased fuel economy
Maruti Suzuki is keen on expanding its newly developed 1.5-litre SHVS petrol engine into other vehicles within the domestic fleet. The Indo-Japanese brand plonked the new powertrain onto the facelifted Ciaz in August 2018 and part of the refreshed package came along exterior and interior changes. The C-segment sedan posted a little over 7,000 unit sales in its first month by outnumbering its main rivals such as City and Verna by a big margin.
In September and October, the 2018 Ciaz had been able to hold its stead in the segment and the trend could continue on further. The leading automaker’s next awaited launch is the new generation Ertiga scheduled for debut on November 21. The seven-seat MPV has been more like a monopoly in its segment but the arrival of Mahindra’s Marazzo has surely spiced up the competition.
As the Ertiga will evidently become more premium in its upcoming iteration, we can expect close competition between the two highly capable MPVs. One of the main advantages the Ertiga will have over the Marazzo is the wide portfolio as the latter is retailed only in its diesel guise but having seven- and eight-seat option works in its favour.
The Ertiga, sold in 12 trims as opposed to Marazzo’s four currently, will have its 1.4-litre petrol engine making 95 PS and 130 Nm replaced by the new 1.5-litre, K15B, four-cylinder petrol version found in the Ciaz. By being more powerful, it develops 104.7 PS at 6,000 rpm and 138 Nm of peak torque at 4,400 rpm and is mated to either a standard five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Suzuki’s mild-hybrid SHVS technology will aid in improved fuel economy that currently stands at 17.5 kmpl. We do not know whether the second generation Ertiga will come equipped with dual battery setup as in the Ciaz or not just yet. The 1.3-litre DDiS diesel mill making 90 PS and 200 Nm of peak torque will continue until a more potent BSVI unit displaces it in the near future.
Having made its global premiere in Indonesia in April 2018, the new Ertiga has been well-received in Southeast Asian markets. It will gain an array of exterior updates and is based on a lightweight heartect platform with bigger dimensions. Equally, the interior will also receive changes to become more upmarket along with a long list of standard safety features.