Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga MPV sales cross 5.5 lakhs

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga MPV has notched up yet another sales milestone. The 7 seater MPV has sold 5.5 lakh units ever since it was first introduced during 2012. In an eight year journey that’s seen a new generation Ertiga being launched in India, the MPV has grown from strength to strength. The Ertiga sits in the sweet spot in terms of pricing – between compact sedans and large MPVs – making it a compelling buy for everyone who want an affordable, fuel efficient and comfortable people mover. Prices for the 2nd generation Maruti Suzuki Ertiga start from Rs. 7.59 lakh. The MPV is available with petrol and petrol-CNG dual fuel options.

While Maruti Suzuki was recently spotted testing an Ertiga with a diesel engine, it remains to be seen if the diesel powered model makes a comeback. The Ertiga Diesel – even if it comes back – is likely to be aimed mainly at cab operators, who clock large monthly distances and whose operations work out better on diesel. Maruti Suzuki steered clear from diesel engined cars across its portfolio earlier this year, when the automaker was among the first to shift its entire fleet of cars to Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission norms. During this transition, Maruti dumped diesel, choosing to go with petrol and petrol-CNG models instead.

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Currently, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga MPV sold in India is powered by a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder K-Series petrol engine that makes 104 PS-138 Nm. This engine is offered with 5 speed manual and 4 speed torque converter automatic gearbox options. The same engine is also available with a factory fitted CNG kit option. While running on CNG, the engine makes 91 Bhp of peak power and 122 Nm of peak torque. The CNG version of the MPV is available only with a 5 speed manual gearbox. Maruti Suzuki sells the 7 seat Ertiga from its ARENA range of dealerships.

A more premium, butch version of the Maruti Ertiga – called the XL6 – is sold by Maruti through the NEXA range of dealerships. The Maruti XL6 gets a crossover-like stance, and features three rows of captain seats. It’s aimed mainly at the family car buyer who wants a comfortable 6 seat car for everyday use. The XL6 shares its petrol engine and gearbox options with the Ertiga. Prices of the Maruti XL6 start from Rs. 9.85 lakh, and the vehicle is a lot more premium than the Ertiga.

Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said,

Over the years, brand Ertiga has redefined the notion of tilitarian MPVs with its sharp style, space, comfort, safety and host of technology features. As India’s first compact MPV, Ertiga continues to build a legacy of innovation. The remarkable milestone of 5.5 Lakh sales is a testimony of its success. While making a purchase decision, customers often crossconsider MPVs with UVs. Despite being cross-considered with top selling UVs in the country, Ertiga has dominated the market and increased its market share in the segment.

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