To be perfectly honest, the Suzuki Ertiga doesn’t have the name recall enjoyed by its contemporaries such as the Toyota Avanza or even the Honda Mobilio. Some even confuse it with Suzuki’s other people carrier, the APV. And that just goes to show how little is known about this MPV, which is a shame, considering the Ertiga is a decent and reliable vehicle to own.
Its days living in the shadows may be over though, with the release of the all-new model last year. Carrying over from 2019, we list the 2020 Suzuki Ertiga’s pros and cons for your informed car buying decision.
1. Exterior is easy on the eyes
A lot has changed in the 2020 Ertiga as far as appearances are concerned. The restyled grille, headlamps and taillamps--all made larger--introduce the Ertiga's sharper looks. The roofline appears immediately taller at first glance, but more than the 5mm addition to the height, it's the upward slope that makes the improvement more obvious, giving the vehicle a sportier silhouette.
2. A spacious MPV
Dimension-wise, the new Ertiga measures 4395mm long, 1735mm wide, and 1690mm tall across all four variants. This makes it longer and wider than the Avanza, which comparatively measures 4190mm x 1660mm x 1695mm. The Ertiga’s wheelbase is at 2740mm, while minimum ground clearance is at 180mm.
3. Improved power
While the old Ertiga as fitted with a lackluster 1.4-liter 4-cylinder 95hp engine, the new one comes with a slightly higher displacement, and more power. A 1.5-liter 4-cylinder K15B power mill now sits in the Ertiga engine bay, capable of delivering 103hp and 138Nm of torque. Low trims have a five-speed manual, while upper specs come with a four-speed automatic.
4. More stylish cabin
While the old Ertiga possessed a largely bland interior, the new Ertiga aims to spice things up a bit with more exciting design cues. For starters, the dashboard gets more dashing with its three-tone look. Meanwhile, the steering wheel gets some racing smarts with its tasteful D-shape, complete with control buttons that allow the driver to control the 10-inch infotainment system with ease. Topping it all off, Suzuki also put in some faux wood grain accents placed in smart, strategic locations, giving the cabin a bit of a premium feel.
5. Lighter and more rigid construction
The new Ertiga is lighter and sturdier than ever before. Now built on the HEARTECT platform, which also underpins the modishly good-looking Swift, the latest Ertiga is now lighter by 20kg despite being much larger than the older car. This not only improves handling, but also aids in the vehicle’s overall fuel-efficiency.
1. Third row space issues
While the first two rows offer ample head and leg room, the same can’t be said about the cramped third row. Still, it must be said that the new Ertiga's third row space is better compared to the claustrophobic conditions seen in the outgoing model. As long as it's just kids or groceries that you keep back there, you'll be fine.
2. Low quality interior materials
Despite the better aesthetics, the materials used in the cabin still leaves much to be desired. Hard surfaces and textures abound, especially in the lower trims, where the plastics feel a little hard and grainy. Considering the smart design touches, the inconsistency of the Ertiga cabin is a bit of a letdown.
3. Tiny boot
The Ertiga’s boot space has a 209-liter capacity. Generally, it's considered a great deal if the boot space capacity of a vehicle goes over 300 liters, whereas below 300 liters such as the Ertiga’s isn't recommended if your primary goal for buying a car is cargo room.
Suzuki may not be as big as its fellow Japanese companies, but its cars are no slouch, especially when it comes to its recent crop of offerings that include the Dzire, Swift, and of course, the retrofied Jimny.. That said, there's no denying that the 2020 Ertiga is impressive, especially given that it's priced well below P1 million. If you're looking for a reliable family hauler with an equally dependable after-sales service network, you're good to go with this car model.
Ready to shop the Suzuki Ertiga? Check out our selection here on Carmudi.
Photos from Suzuki
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