The Suzuki Ertiga has often struck us as one of the more humble-looking offerings in the Philippines, at least as far as seven-seat MPVs are concerned. Even more so now, with the likes of the Mitsubishi Xpander and Toyota Rush entering the market.
That's not a knock on the car by any means, as the Ertiga exuded a simple, no-nonsense styling befitting its practical nature and reliable performance. Well, the all-new one was revealed in Indonesia today, and we're glad to report that its look one-ups that of the previous model with a more aggressive face plus sharper and more elegant design bits.
First up, you'll notice the vehicle's eye-catching new grille design flanked by angrier-looking projector headlights. The fenders are subtle, but the Ertiga shows off a muscular new look with well-sculpted foglight housings. Meanwhile, the rear flaunts new L-shaped modern taillight designs and it runs on new 15-inch alloys. This MPV is now 130mm longer, too, providing more space for both passengers and cargo inside, Suzuki says.
The interior features a clean look--but one that appears difficult to maintain--with plenty of light-colored fabrics and materials, and a fair bit of glossy faux wood trim on the dashboard and door panels. There's a flat-bottom, three-spoke steering wheel with controls, a new instrument cluster design, and a touchscreen infotainment system for higher-end variants as well. Other optional features include smart entry, electric folding side mirrors, and a push start button.
Underneath the hood of this Ertiga is a newly-developed 1.5-liter gasoline engine capable of 104hp at 6,000rpm and 138Nm at 4,400rpm. It can come mated with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.
If the all-new Ertiga arrives here, it will compete directly with the likes of the Honda Mobilio, Toyota Avanza, and yes, even the aforementioned Xpander and Rush. To say it'll have its work cut out for it is a major understatement. Would you consider this over its rivals mentioned above?
