Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 1.5 diesel vs rivals: Price comparison

Maruti Suzuki has introduced a more powerful 1.5-litre diesel engine option on the Ertiga. The DDiS 225, as it is called, has been developed by Maruti Suzuki in-house and makes 95hp and 225Nm of torque and gets updates like a dual mass flywheel which results in significantly lower NVH levels. The updated Ertiga also gets a 6-speed manual gearbox as compared to the 5-speed manual in the standard car. While the new Ertiga 1.5 gets changes under the hood, in terms of exterior or interior design and features, it's identical. The updated Ertiga is sold alongside the Ertiga 1.3-litre at Maruti Arena showrooms, and takes on competition like the Mahindra Marazzo and the Renault Lodgy. So let's see how it compares with its rivals in terms of pricing and how it compares with the standard 1.3-litre diesel Ertiga too.

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 1.5 DDiS 225 is available in three variants – VDi, ZDi and ZDi+ –while the standard Ertiga 1.3 is available with an additional base model LDi too. While it is available only in a seven-seat configuration, its rivals – the Mahindra Marazzo and the Renault Lodgy – are available with both a seven-seat and an eight-seat configuration. The Mahindra Marazzo gets four variants, both of which get the 7 and 8-seat layout; the Renault Lodgy gets two 7-seat variants and five 8-seater layout variants across the standard and the Stepway body style.

1.5 Ertiga vs 1.3 Ertiga vs Marazzo vs Lodgy: Base variant prices comparison

The most affordable Ertiga 1.5-litre is the VDi variant priced at Rs 9.86 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Ertiga 1.3 diesel, however, does get the LDi base model priced at Rs 8.85 lakh. That said, this isn't the cheapest car in this range as the entry-level Renault Lodgy STD is priced at Rs 8.63 lakh. The Lodgy's STD variant is also an 8-seater as compared to the Ertiga’s 7-seater configuration.

Alternatively, the Mahindra Marazzo’s most affordable M2 variant is priced starting at Rs 10.18 lakh, making it the most expensive MPV in the segment. That said, while the most affordable version of the Marazzo, Lodgy and the Ertiga 1.3 do not get an infotainment system, the Ertiga 1.5 VDi does get a factory-fitted infotainment system with Bluetooth. It is also important to note that the base model Lodgy gets no driver or passenger airbag and that in a recent NCAP crash test, the MPV scored a dismal 0 stars.

Ertiga 1.5 diesel vs rivals: Base variant prices
	Ertiga 1.5	Ertiga 1.3	Marazzo*	Lodgy
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi)	-	Rs 8.85 lakh	Rs 10.18 lakh	Rs 8.63 lakh

1.5 Ertiga vs 1.3 Ertiga vs Marazzo vs Lodgy: Mid-spec variant prices comparison

Mid-level variants are usually the most popular with buyers across the country, especially in the MPV segment, so let's have a look at how these models stack up in terms of pricing as compared to the newly launched Ertiga 1.5 DDiS 225. As we compared the VDi as the entry- level model in the Ertiga 1.5’s line-up, for this particular comparison, we shall pit the ZDi variant, which is priced at Rs 10.69 lakh.

In comparison, the mid-level variant in the 1.3-litre Ertiga’s line-up is the VDi priced at Rs 9.57 lakh, making it the most affordable. On the flip side, the most expensive amongst these MPVs is the Mahindra Marazzo M6 variant priced at Rs 12.93 lakh, while the Renault Lodgy 85hp RxL is priced at Rs 10.54 lakh. That said, while the Ertiga and the Marazzo variants in this category both get dual airbags as standard, the Lodgy only gets a driver airbag on the RxL variant.

Ertiga 1.5 diesel vs rivals: Mid-spec variant prices
	Ertiga 1.5	Ertiga 1.3	Marazzo*	Lodgy
Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)	Rs 9.86-10.69 lakh	Rs 9.57-10.40 lakh	Rs 11.38-13.01 lakh	Rs 9.64-11.30 lakh

1.5 Ertiga vs 1.3 Ertiga vs Marazzo vs Lodgy: Top-spec variant prices comparison

The fully loaded or top-spec variants of new cars are extremely popular with urban audiences, and, while the fleet market laps up the lower priced variants, private buyers usually tend to gravitate towards these fully loaded ones. As with the mid-range variants, the 1.3-litre Ertiga diesel is the most affordable MPV in this range. The ZDi+ variant is priced at Rs 10.91 lakh (ex-showroom), whereas the Ertiga 1.5-litre ZDi+ variant is priced at Rs 11.20 lakh – Rs 29,000 more than the smaller engine variant. The Renault Lodgy RxZ Stepway with the 85hp engine and the 8-seat layout is priced at Rs 11.30 lakh, while the 110hp RxZ Stepway with either the 7- or 8-seat layout is priced at Rs 12.12 lakh.

The most expensive of the lot, however, is yet again the Mahindra Marazzo M8, priced at Rs 14.51 lakh for the 7-seater and Rs 14.59 lakh for the 8-seater version.

Ertiga 1.5 diesel vs rivals: Top-spec variant prices
	Ertiga 1.5	Ertiga 1.3	Marazzo*	Lodgy
Price (ex-showroom, Delhi)	Rs 11.20 lakh	Rs 10.91 lakh	Rs 14.51-14.59 lakh	Rs 12.12 lakh

All the variants mentioned above get dual airbags, ABS and a touchscreen infotainment system but the Ertiga gets no daytime running light and the Lodgy gets a non-LED daytime running light. The Marazzo certainly looks more premium with the LED DRLs and the larger 17-inch alloy wheels as compared to the smaller 15-inchers that the other two MPVs offer.

*Mahindra Marazzo prices are ex-showroom, pan-India

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from Autocar India - Cars http://bit.ly/2J3rgfb