Maruti Ertiga Facelift – What to Expect? » MotorOctane

Even Maruti Suzuki must not have expected the success that the Ertiga has achieved over the years. Not only was it the best-selling MPV in India, but it was also the 3rd best-selling car in October. Launched in 2012, it has received only a generation change in 2022. The Ertiga attracts customers seeking an affordable, practical 7-seater. It is particularly popular as a tourist vehicle nowadays. Its recipe for success is made up of practicality, affordability and fuel efficiency.

Despite Maruti recently updating the feature list and making 6 airbags standard, it hasn’t received any aesthetic changes since 2022. Maruti would like to capitalise on the ongoing success of the Ertiga and introduce a facelift soon. Here is all the information you need to know about the upcoming Ertiga facelift.

Key Details

For cost-cutting purposes, Maruti has deprived the Ertiga of a few features. It misses out on a 360-degree parking camera, sunroof, ADAS, front-ventilated seats, etc. These omissions seem fair for the lower variants, but even the top model (ZXI+) omits them. It could be a strategy by Maruti to direct buyers who desire more luxurious amenities towards the XL6. However, the issue with the XL6 is that it is available only as a 6-seater. So the market for an affordable and luxurious 7-seater still remains open. With the facelift, Maruti would aim to provide more features in the Ertiga. Another change we could see in the cabin would be the adoption of Maruti’s newer interiors, like in the Victoris.

The Ertiga is no head-turner, but it gets the job done. Looks are low on the priority list for its potential customers, but Maruti would still like to freshen it up. The stature would remain the same, since it is what gives it its great practicality, but the overall design would need some livening up. A revised front and rear end is expected with the upcoming change. They could potentially add LED headlights and taillights to the updated model, especially on higher variants.

A big woe with the current Ertiga is its safety ratings. The Indian-spec Ertiga was tested by Global NCAP and scored abysmally with 1 star. Maruti has tried to reassure its customers by making 6 airbags standard, but they will need to make further tweaks to the structure to perform better in subsequent NCAP tests.

Read more: 7 ‘Cheapest 7-Seaters’ To Buy In India!

Powertrain updates

The outgoing Ertiga doesn’t come with a pure Petrol-powered powertrain. The options are a Petrol-smart hybrid and a Petrol-CNG configuration. The 1.5L petrol petrol comes as standard across all variants, and the same engine will be carried forward in the facelift. This engine is capable of producing more than 101 horsepower and 139 Nm of torque. The main highlight of the powertrain is its claimed mileage of 21 kmpl for the petrol-hybrid and 26 kmpl for the CNG. As for the transmission, a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed AT gearbox. The facelift will offer identical gearbox options.

Moreover, Maruti recently showcased its in-house-produced series-hybrid system. They plan to use this technology in many of their upcoming cars. There is a high possibility that the revised Ertiga could get this hybrid technology to further maximise driving range.

The CNG variant may undergo a vital change. Maruti recently unveiled their underbody-CNG technology with the Victoris, and they will try to implement this system in the facelifted Ertiga to maximise boot space.

Rivals

The list of affordable MPVs is relatively short. This list would include Maruti XL6, Toyota Rumion, Kia Carens, Mahindra Marazzo and Renault Triber. Both the XL6 and the Toyota Rumion are based on the Ertiga and share most of their components with it. If you move up a price class, you could also find the Maruti Invicto and the Toyota Innova Hycross.

The toughest competitor for the Ertiga would be the Kia Carens, which provides a more premium feel. The Kia Carens has a more elaborate feature list, better NCAP ratings and arguably better looks, but still fails to outdo the Ertiga in sales.

Read more: This Maruti Ertiga Rival Creates New Record!

Launch Date and Pricing

Maruti hasn’t officially announced plans to launch an Ertiga facelift yet, but we can expect it to hit the roads by late 2026 or early 2027. This facelift will be the most comprehensive one since its update in 2022.

The outgoing Ertiga starts at 10.34 lakh rupees (on-road, Mumbai) for the base variant, and the top model (Zxi+) crosses the 15 lakh mark. Since pricing is one of its key selling points, Maruti will refrain from imposing a significant price hike. You can expect a relatively insignificant price hike of up to 15,000 rupees with the newer model. Nevertheless, if Maruti decides to use a series hybrid with the Ertiga, there would be a considerable price increase over the mild-hybrid variants. In the Ertiga Tour M (a variant designed solely for tourist vehicles), the price surge will be even smaller, since the Tour version is devoid of luxuries and consists only of the bare necessities.

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