Maruti Ertiga 1.5 Diesel Spied Again On Test, To Get 6-Speed MT

Maruti Ertiga 1.5 diesel will replace the current Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre engine variant; it will be BS6-compliant

Last month, Maruti Suzuki launched the second generation of the Ertiga at a starting price of Rs 7.44 lakh. The new model is a remarkable improvement over the earlier version in every department. The new MPV has already made a strong impact on the market and has sold more than 6,000 copies in the first month of its sales. Available with new 1.5-litre petrol and the earlier 1.3-litre diesel engine, it offers a mild hybrid system on all the trims.

But the company won’t stop at launching the all-new version. The latest generation Maruti Ertiga will soon receive a new diesel engine in the form of the in-house developed 1.5-litre motor that will put an end to the reliance on the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre unit. The BS6-compliant engine will come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and will have the SHVS mild hybrid system. The need to launch this motor is mostly the current engine’s inability to meet the BS6 norms.

At the moment, the 1.3-litre engine for the Maruti Ertiga offers a class-leading fuel efficiency of 25.47 kmpl. It outputs a maximum power of 90 PS and a peak torque of 200 Nm. While adequate for the light MPV, it’s not the most powerful engine around. The 1.5-litre motor will spell an end to this trend.

The new engine will not only offer better performance figures but will have a similarly high fuel efficiency. This will ensure that the mileage-loving car buyers of our country don’t have a reason to complain. The fact that the motor will be more powerful should be an added advantage. As per our sources, the new engine will produce a maximum power of 110 PS and a peak torque of 270 Nm. This will make it among the most powerful units in its segment.

The manufacturer was recently spied testing the MPV with its new diesel motor. But before its launch, the company is planning to come up with a sporty six-seater version of the Maruti Ertiga. As per our sources, this model will be sold through the Nexa premium dealerships and will be inspired from a concept that has been previously showcased in Indonesia.

The latest Maruti Ertiga is based on the lightweight Heartect platform and is lighter than the earlier version. Also, it gets many new features, increased dimensions, and more modern design. All this, together with the new 1.5-litre diesel engine, should make the MPV a car one simply can’t go wrong with.