2021 Maruti Ertiga Review: Exterior, Interior, Features & More

Back in 2018, Maruti Suzuki introduced the second-generation of the company’s premium MUV, the Ertiga which also happened to be the first car from the company to enter this segment. Right from its launch, the 2021 Maruti Ertiga has been a success story of the company in the Indian market. It is now available with one petrol engine along with CNG models. The Maruti Ertiga seats seven in comfort while managing to fit under the perfect dimensions for our kind of city driving conditions. Without further ado, let’s dive straight into our comprehensive review of the new Maruti Ertiga.

1. 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Exterior

As compared to the previous generation of the Ertiga, the new-gen Ertiga has simply transformed the exterior of the Ertiga for a smarter and bolder look. It’s worth noting that while the earlier car turned up like an elongated Swift combined with a van-like profile, the new Ertiga is now more desirable to look at.

Front View

The front fascia of the new Ertiga has undergone the most substantial change in comparison with the previous-gen model and the most obvious is the new front grille. The outgoing grille is now replaced by a glossier, thicker version with horizontal chrome slat running across. The change in the grille is accompanied by new headlamps and fog lamp housings. The new swept-back headlamps ditch the simple design to go for a sleeker and more aggressive look. It even gets an option of new LED projector lamps offered on the top-of-the-line variants.

The new front design gives an impression of a bold and aggressive car

Side View

Step to the side and you’ll notice that there are not many changes concentrated in this area. While it does compliment the entire look, it gets similar character lines stretching along the body. The alloy wheels, on the other hand, are now a 16 inches affair, which is 1 inch bigger than those offered in the previous version.

From the rear, the Ertiga looks smart and sleek

Rear View

The rear profile of the new Ertiga somehow resembles the design of new Volvo's, more specifically, the Volvo XC90. The windshield glass slants toward the roofline, making the rear also look sleeker and more modern. Overall, the design of the rear goes well with the strong and bold appearance of the entire car. Customers can choose from six different exterior paint colours, which are grey, blue (Pearl Blue Blaze and Serene Blue), beige, silver, and white. In the second thought, the rear styling of the Ertiga bears a slight resemblance to that of the Ciaz sibling.

2. 2021 Maruti Ertiga Dimensions: Length, Width, Height & Wheelbase

In terms of size, the new Ertiga has been built on a longer, wider and lighter Heartect platform. It gains 99 mm in length (from 4,296mm to 4,395mm), and 40mm in width (from 1,695mm to 1,735mm), which means that the new Ertiga is much more spacious inside. The increased length also allows more space for the second and third row of seats, perfect for the large, modern Indian family. However, the ground clearance is slightly reduced from 185 mm to 180 mm.

3. 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Interior: What Does It Have To Offer?

The old Ertiga used to share the same dashboard design as the Swift and Dzire. However, Maruti Suzuki has updated the Ertiga with a new design of the dashboard and is now completely unique to the Ertiga. The highlight, undoubtedly, has to be the touchscreen infotainment system which is tuned for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The interior colour scheme is grey and beige – the same as the previous models. Adding to that, the finish of the horizontal piano black air vent panel and the touch of faux wood below those vents enhance the premium vibes inside the cabin.

The dashboard of the new Ertiga will host a 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system

The semi-digital instrument clusters feature two 3D-like pods and a multi-info display, with all of the figures and information being easily readable for the driver. The Ertiga in the Indian market will also get the automatic climate control option instead of the manual air conditioning unit. One of those AC vents is placed below the centre console, near the cup-holder to act as a drinks cooler. Some more features that new Ertiga offers include a start/stop button, keyless entry, electrically adjustable ORVMs, reverse camera and SD-card based navigation. The entertainment system also supports Bluetooth connectivity, USB and AUX input. Summing it up, these features an added dose of comfort and convenience to the driving experience.

With an increase in size, the Ertiga will surely give you more space

Due to its increase in size, the Ertiga offers better space and comfort for the first row, the second row, and the third as well. Notably, the second row can be easily adjusted forward or backwards with a lever at the bottom, allowing for better second-row comfort and an adjustable sitting position. The cargo-carrying capacity has also grown from 145 to 153 litres. To create more space for storage, the third row can be folded flat with ease.

Despite the radical interior makeover, there are still some details brought from the first generation, for example, the air vents and the steering wheel. The safety package includes dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP as well as an ISOFIX child seat anchoring system. Among these features, the drivers-side airbag and ABS are available as the standard across the variants.

3. 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Performance

Engine Specs

With the introduction of the second-generation model, the Ertiga replaces the old diesel engine for a new 1.5-litre petrol motor option. Not only does the new engine get improved performance, but it also helps the new Ertiga return a better fuel efficiency. The new engine is tuned to deliver a power output of 104bhp and 138Nm – higher figures than that of the previous model. Besides, the Ertiga is also running on CNG that churns out 92 PS/ 122 Nm of torque. Transmission duties are taken over by a standard 5-speed MT and an optional 4-speed automatic unit.

Performance

The new petrol engine of the Ertiga is quite similar in terms of character compared to the outgoing 1.4-litre petrol unit. With the max power of 105 P and a peak torque of 138 Nm, the new engine churns out more power than the powerplant that it replaces. Therefore, the new Ertiga feels more lively at the low and mid-range speeds.

However, things are a tad boring after the 4,800 rpm mark with the engine noise increment and the power surge taper off. The engine is claimed to rev up to 6,200 rpm but overtaking fast-moving traffic usually needs a gearshift.

With the 5-speed manual transmission, you can shift the gear smoothly and feel a light clutch but that’s not the case for the ‘lazy performer’ 4-speed torque converter. There’s no manual mode available on this gearbox that means you would put yourself at the mercy of the electronics. However, there’s a Low mode on offer that locks the lowest possible gear to control the speeds of the vehicle when going uphill and downhill.

4. 2021 Maruti Ertiga Mileage: Is It Fuel Efficient?

Despite the increase in terms of displacement and power output, the new petrol engine of the Ertiga is more fuel-efficient than the older version. That comes courtesy of the lower kerb weight along with the hybrid technology on boards. As rated by ARAI, the new Ertiga is capable of delivering a fuel efficiency figure of 19.34 kmpl (for 5-speed MT) and 18.69 kmpl (for the 4-speed AT unit).

5. 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Prices: Is It Affordable To Buy?

With the new-generation Ertiga, Maruti-Suzuki has improved the car on every front over the previous model. Other than that, the company has nailed it with aggressive prices. The new Maruti Ertiga is going on sale in between Rs 7.69 – 10.47 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Considering its indirect rival, Toyota Innova Crysta that is decently-priced at Rs 16.26 – 24.33 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Maruti Ertiga has great advantages to lead the show. Apart from the Innova Crysta, the Maruti Ertiga takes on the models like Renault Triber, Mahindra Bolero and even its premium iteration Maruti XL6.

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