The Suzuki Ertiga is a multi-purpose vehicle with three rows of seats, built since 2012 mainly for emerging markets. Its name comes from R-tiga, the Indonesian for R3, where R stands for row and tiga means three.
Suzuki Ertiga at a glance
| Production | since 2012 |
|---|---|
| Type | three-row MPV |
| Preview | R-III concept, 2010 Auto Expo |
| Unveiled | 6 January 2012, New Delhi |
| India launch | 12 April 2012 |
| Indonesia launch | 22 April 2012 |
| First generation | ZE, based on the Swift platform |
| Second generation | from 2018, HEARTECT platform |
| Main markets | India and Indonesia |
| Mazda twin | Mazda VX-1, 2013–2017 |
| Other twins | Proton Ertiga, Toyota Rumion |
| Crossover version | Suzuki XL6 / XL7, 2019 |
History of the Suzuki Ertiga
From the R-III concept
The Ertiga was previewed by the R-III concept shown by Maruti Suzuki at the 2010 Auto Expo. The production car was unveiled in New Delhi on 6 January 2012 and went on sale in India on 12 April 2012 and in Indonesia on 22 April. South Africa got it in June 2014 and the Philippines in July. Development was led by chief engineer Toshikatsu Hibi, and Maruti Suzuki marketed it as the first Life Utility Vehicle.
First generation
The ZE car was built on the Swift platform. India got both petrol and diesel engines, tuned for the car, with diesel trims VDi, ZDi and ZDi+ and petrol LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi+, and CNG versions with i-GPI gas injection followed in June 2013. Indonesia offered GA, GL and GX trims, initially with a five-speed manual, then a four-speed automatic on GL and GX from May 2013, and the Sporty version of 2014. In two years the Ertiga sold 109,461 units and beat the Toyota Avanza over one year. The facelift of August 2015 brought a wider grille and new bumpers, while the Dreza of January 2016 became the flagship variant.
Second generation and twins
A larger second generation arrived in 2018 on the HEARTECT platform, and in 2019 a crossover-styled derivative was launched as the Suzuki XL6 in India and XL7 elsewhere. The car has been rebadged repeatedly: Mazda sold the first generation as the VX-1 from 2013 to 2017, Proton assembled it in Malaysia from 2016 to 2019, and Toyota has sold the second generation as the Rumion since 2021.
Design and features
- Three rows: seven seats in a compact footprint, the reason for the name.
- Swift underpinnings: the first generation used the Swift platform, the second the HEARTECT base.
- Petrol, diesel and CNG: a wide choice for Indian buyers, with a mild-hybrid diesel from 2015.
- Many badges: Mazda VX-1, Proton Ertiga and Toyota Rumion.
Suzuki Ertiga versions
- First generation ZE (2012): Swift-based, with Indian and Indonesian trim ranges.
- Facelift (2015): new grille and bumpers, SHVS mild hybrid on diesels.
- Dreza (2016): the flagship Indonesian trim.
- Second generation (2018): larger, on the HEARTECT platform.
- XL6 / XL7 (2019): a crossover-styled separate model.
The Ertiga shares its platform thinking with the Swift and Celerio. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Video: RPM TV – Episode 291 – Suzuki Ertiga GLX
Video by RPM TV Online on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki Ertiga, English Wikipedia: generations, markets, trims, twins
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