It’s time for yet another comparo, people. Today, we’ve handpicked two seven-seaters to go against each other, but this time around, we stray from the usual spec-sheet brawl to go back to our cross-segment comparo.
With this format, we choose two vehicles from the same brand and stack them up against one another to see which one is the better deal on paper. For this episode, we’ve chosen the ever-reliable Suzuki Ertiga to go up against its newer stablemate, the XL7.
Mechanically, the two Suzukis are virtually identical. They both come with a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated in-line-four gasoline mill that generates 103hp and 138Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox.
The suspension setup and the brake system are also similar, and both also get 45-liter fuel tanks. The two sport different wheels, though, as the Ertiga gets 15-inch alloys shod in 185/65 R15 tires while the XL7 gets 16-inch alloys with 195/60 R16 rubber.
Inside, the two are also very much alike. No paddle shifters, no power-adjustable leather seats, and no automatic climate controls on either vehicle. Both get a reversing camera with two rear sensors that’s displayed through a massive 10-inch touchscreen display, but there is no Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity available.
As for the price tags, the top-spec Ertiga stickers for P998,000, which is P75,000 less than the XL7’s P1,073,000 SRP. Which do you think is the better deal, then? You can check out more details below and tell us what you think by answering the poll afterwards.
Suzuki Ertiga 1.5 GLX AT |
Suzuki XL7 1.5 GLX |
|
| Price (Philippine peso) | 998,000 | 1,073,000 |
| Engine | 1.5-liter gasoline I4 | 1.5-liter gasoline I4 |
| Power (hp @ rpm) | 103 @ 6,000 | 103 @ 6,000 |
| Torque (Nm @ rpm) | 138 @ 4,400 | 138 @ 4,400 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic | 4-speed automatic |
| Drive layout | front-wheel drive | front-wheel drive |
| Seating capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Fuel-tank capacity (liters) | 45 | 45 |
| Front suspension | MacPherson strut with coil springs | MacPherson strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension | torsion beam with coil springs | torsion beam with coil springs |
| Wheels | 15-inch alloys | 16-inch alloys |
| Tires | 185/65 R15 | 195/60 R16 |
| Brakes (front/rear) | ventilated disc/drum | ventilated disc/drum |
| Smart keyless entry | no | no |
| Push-start ignition | yes | yes |
| Steering-wheel adjustment | tilt | tilt |
| Paddle shifters | no | no |
| Seat adjustment | manual | manual |
| Seat material | fabric | fabric |
| Infotainment system | 10-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, USB connectivity and offline navigation | 10-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | no | no |
| Automatic climate control | yes (front) | yes (front) |
| Parking brake | mechanical | mechanical |
| ABS with EBD | yes | yes |
| Hill-start assist | no | yes |
| Vehicle stability assist | no | electronic stability program |
| Cruise control | no | no |
| Parking assist | rear camera, two rear sensors | rear camera, two rear sensors |
| Airbags | 2 | 2 |
| Dimensions (LxWxH in mm) | 4,395 x 1,735 x 1,690 | 4,450 x 1,775 x 1,710 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,740 | 2,740 |
| Ground clearance (mm) | 180 | 200 |
| Cargo capacity (liters) | 153 (all seats up) to 803 (second and third rows folded) | 153 (all seats up) to 803 (second and third rows folded) |
