A 7-seater looker

The styling new Ertiga on the left makes the old Ertiga on the right looks decidedly frumpy. 

SUZUKI said at the launch of the new Ertiga in Johannesburg last week the seven-seat people mover “is ready for everything that a busy family or active business can throw at it”.

If that active business only employs short people, seven of them will fit at least as comfortably in the Ertiga as in a seven-seat Fortuner, because both rows of seats in the Suzuki adjust in ways that allow the occupants equal knee room.

André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki South Africa, said the second-
generation Ertiga is worlds apart from the first-generation that was launched in 2010.

“Extended families are now more common, mobile phone integration is a given and good ground clearance is a requirement. Our engineers and designers have worked hard to create an MPV that truly delivers on its paper promises. There is more space, and even adults can comfortably use the third row of seats,” said Venter.

Old and new rears.

Having squeezed into the Ertiga with six not exactly svelte fellow journalists at OR Tambo airport, I can agree it is comfortable enough in there for adults — but only for commuting distances.

I compared the new Ertiga against the predecessor at Oribi Airport in Pietermaritzburg­, where Zamane Ndlela, a pensioner who gets to drive the grandkids about in his first generation Ertiga, was keen to inspect the new model. The new Suzuki Ertiga is only 13 cm longer, 5 mm higher and four centimetres wider than its predecessor, but the designers have used every cubic centimetre to add interior space.

Ndlela agreed the new model certainly looks the part and offers a lot more luggage space, 199 litres and up to 2,820 metres with the front passenger seat also folded flat.

Ndlela especially liked how there is more shoulder room for passengers in all three rows of seats, with the middle row sliding forward and the rear seat backs tilting 15 degrees for more comfort on long roads.

The new Ertiga is only a 13 cm longer, but the designers made the most of this in the boot.

Despite the extra length and width, Suzuki has kept the wheelbase unchanged at 2 740 mm, which means that the new Ertiga shares the nimble turning circle of 5,2 metres with its predecessor.

Ndlela also like the dark cloth seats in the new Eriga. The beige interior of his older model has been stained and blackened after some 75 000 km of use.

The old Ertiga's radio is arguably more idiot-friendly than the sleek touchpad in the new, but  

I liked that the seat backs are all backed by metal plates under the cloth to make them more durable when the large interior is used to cart stuff instead of people. I also liked the full size spare wheel at the back.

Vents can send cold or hot air around cans or cups in the central console in the new Ertiga. 

Up front, the new Ertiga boasts added cup holders with vents from the air-conditioner to keep drinks cold, a 12V charging socket and USB port. A second charging socket behind the front seats serves the middle row.

Reverse parking sensors are standard on the GL model.

I drove the Ertiga back to KZN from Gauteng and en route had to answer several questions from moms who drive a lot of farm roads. The answer to their main worry, whether the Ertiga will last on dirt, is answered by Suzuki’s extremely rigid but light body structure, which architecure has been proven in the new Suzuki Swift and Vitara.

The new engine makes 77 kW at 6 000 rpm and 138 Nm at 4 400 rpm. In city traffic, this is good for 7,2l/100 km, but on the highway with a full load, one tends to select fourth instead of fifth to maintain speed on inclines. A four-speed automatic is available, but most people in this price sensitive range opt for manual.

The new 7-seat Ertiga at a taxi rank in downtown Johannesburg. 

Competition

The Ertiga competes with the seven-seat models from Datsun Go+, Honda BR-V and Toyota Avanza. While the Toyota and Honda ride a little higher and Honda has more power, to my mind the Ertiga beats all comers in value and looks.

Buyers can choose between three versions, all sold with Suzuki’s promotional 200 000-km or five-year warranty and a four-year or 60 000 km service plan.

Suzuki Ertiga 1,5 prices

GA manual R214 900

GL manual R239 900

GL auto R254 900