Maruti Suzuki unveiled the second-generation Ertiga in Jakarta in April, at the 2018 Indonesian motor show.
The all-new Ertiga is based on the Japanese brand’s new Heartect platform. Thanks to its new underpinnings, the second-gen model is expected to be lighter, yet stiffer than the outgoing MPV. However, the wheelbase remains unchanged at 2,740mm. The car is longer, wider and slightly taller than the outgoing model; interestingly, despite its larger size, the boot space in the new Ertiga has been reduced to 153 litres with all three rows up – 32 litres lesser than the current Ertiga’s 185-litre capacity. In terms of design, the all-new Ertiga sports a new nose section which has thinner headlamps. The car also gets new-look tail-lamps and a new D-pillar.
The model that was unveiled in Indonesia is powered by a new K15B petrol engine. This new 1.5-litre engine makes 104hp and 138Nm of torque and is expected to replace the current MPV’s 1.4-litre engine. This should make the new model more efficient thanks to a bump in output figures to the tune of 12hp and 8.4Nm, combined with the MPV’s lighter weight. The Indonesia-spec model had 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission options. For India’s launch, though, the former is a certainty.
Thanks to an increase in the length of the rear overhang and a slightly wider overall width, the new Ertiga is expected to feature a more spacious cabin for passengers (especially in the third row) albeit at the expense of boot space. The instrument panel and flat-bottomed steering, in particular, has been borrowed from the new Suzuki Swift hatchback. Vertically aligned aircon vents, a new 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and cooled cupholders are mounted in the dashboard. This Ertiga will not arrive in Malaysia with a Proton badge and we suggest the reintroduction of Suzuki in Malaysia quickly since Proton is now with Geely.
