Suzuki launches Ertiga: Suzuki Philippines enters the 7-seater arena with Swift-based MPV

MANILA, Philippines - Barely a monthly after introducing the Swift 1.2 hatchback, Suzuki Philippines has unveiled yet another addition to their growing automobile line-up: the Ertiga. Dubbed as a “Lifestyle Utility Vehicle” or LUV for short, the Ertiga takes a completely different approach to the very competitive but lucrative compact 7-seater MPV or multi-purpose utility vehicle market.

Instead of relying on the traditional ladder-on-frame construction, the Suzuki Ertiga gets a unibody monocoque platform for car-like comfort and refinement. And Suzuki isn’t just using any platform; it’s using the award-winning Swift platform ensuring that the Ertiga is imbued with the same fun-to-drive characteristics as its venerable hatchback. Despite extending the wheelbase to 2,740 millimeters, the versatile platform promises uncompromised maneuverability and agility—important attributes when dealing with Metro Manila’s day-to-day traffic.

Under the Ertiga’s hood resides the proven 1.4-liter K-Series engine that produces 95hp at 6,000 rpm and 130Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Proven already in the Swift, the 1.4-liter K14B engine is renowned for its broad power band and low maintenance cost. Although the power figures seem modest, thanks to the lightweight unibody construction (curb weight is at 1,190 kg.), the Ertiga promises up to 16.02 km/L based on Suzuki’s internal tests.

Carrying Suzuki’s new global design identity, the Ertiga features a striking fascia with large headlights and a two-piece grille. At the side, the body lines flow naturally into an aerodynamic shape which connects to the large tailgate and expressive taillights. The range-topping GLX variant adds a bit more flair with turn signal lamps mounted in the side mirrors and front fog lamps as standard equipment.

Inside, the Ertiga shows off an elegant two-tone cabin that’s homey and family-friendly. It’s also mighty versatile that allows seating up to seven people while still having 113 liters of luggage space. Transforming the Ertiga into a spacious five-seater, the luggage space grows to 460 liters. This figure almost doubles to 810 liters with the second and third row seats folded. Adding even more flexibility, the second row actually slides front and back and even folds in a 60/40 split. The Ertiga also comes with a wide array of available creature comfort features ranging from rear air conditioning to an integrated audio system with steering wheel controls to an onboard computer that measures instantaneous and average fuel consumption.

Being a family-oriented vehicle, the Ertiga takes safety seriously. It uses high-tensile steel in strategic sections of the body structure for excellent crash safety while keeping the weight down. And on all but the base GA model, the Ertiga comes standard with dual SRS airbags and anti-lock brakes.

“The all-new Ertiga is another testament to Suzuki’s renowned engineering leadership and legacy in manufacturing compact cars. We are bringing in the all-new Ertiga as our latest entry in the MPV segment and we are confident our latest offering will meet, and even exceed, the expectations of our customers. We have carefully combined the best characteristics of a compact car and an MPV to create a very competitively-priced Life Utility Vehicle that is set to be the new standard in this category,” said Hiroshi Suzuki, Suzuki Philippines president.

Suzuki is offering the Ertiga range locally in four variants: the Ertiga GA M/T (P619,000), GL M/T (P712,000), GL A/T (P752,000), and GLX A/T (P812,000). Ertiga is available in Serene Blue, Firebrick Red, Granite Grey, Silky Silver, Superior White, and Dusky Brown colors.