Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 1.5 Diesel launched: Gets more POWERFUL

Maruti Suzuki has launched the all-new Ertiga powered by the all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine, which was developed in-house by the manufacturer. The all-new engine first appeared with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. Unlike the 1.3-litre diesel engine powered Ertiga, the 1.5-litre engine does not offer SHVS mild hybrid system. The price starts at Rs. 9.86 lakh and it is available in three variants.

Price of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 1.5 DDIS. VDI – Rs 9.86 lakh, ZDI – Rs 10.69 lakh, ZDI+ – 11.20 lakh. All prices ex-showroom Delhi. Maruti Suzuki says that the top-most variant of the Ertiga comprises of 37.27% of the total sales.

Apart from the new engine, everything else remains the same. It will be sold alongside the 1.3-litre SHVS diesel Ertiga in the market. The all-new 1.5-litre DDIS 225 engine powering the Ertiga produces a maximum of 94 PS and peak torque of 225 Nm. Even without the SHVS mild hybrid system, it returns a high fuel efficiency of 24.2 km/l. As per Maruti Suzuki, the high efficiency of the turbocharger ensures that the effect of turbo lag is minimal.

Mr R.S. Kalsi, Senior Executive Director, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India said,

“Considering the requirements of evolving customers, the Next Gen Ertiga is now offered with new 1.5-litre Diesel engine. The new engine is a perfect combination of performance and refinement. It showcases Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to provide products aligned with customers aspirations. We are sure this new engine option will strengthen the popularity of Ertiga in urban MPV segment.”

Currently, the all-new Ertiga is leading the segment in India and has a market share of 39%. It competes with the likes of Mahindra Marazzo in the Indian market. The all-new Ertiga was launched in the Indian market last year and it is based on an all-new platform. It is also bigger and much more spacious than the last-generation Ertiga and has become a popular choice among buyers.

It should be noted that Maruti Suzuki has officially announced that they will stop selling the diesel vehicles from April 2020. However, if there is enough demand in the market, the manufacturer will relaunch the vehicles. The more stringent BS-VI emission norms will be in place from April 2020, which will cause the cost of the vehicles to rise substantially. The development cost of the BS-VI compliant diesel engine is massive, which will be passed on to the customers. This is the reason behind Maruti Suzuki’s decision to stop selling the diesel-powered vehicles in the market. Until then, the brand will continue to sell the cars powered by the 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre diesel engine options.

Maruti Suzuki is also planning to launch a more premium 6-seater version of the Ertiga in the Indian market, which is expected to be launched by the end of this year. The new variant will get a premium price tag and will target the corporate buyers.