Suzuki Ertiga receives mid-life facelift

Cape Town - We reviewed the Suzuki Ertiga in 2015 and were suitably impressed with its styling and the peppy motor. Although we weren’t too fond of the beige cream interior, we thoroughly enjoyed the drive and the versatility that it delivered.

Now halfway through its time in South Africa, the Ertiga has received its mid-life cycle facelift. By adding additional specifications to the GL they have removed the need for a GLX model.

What’s changed?

The seven-seater MPV has received a fresh new look. Upfront sees fitment of a new grille, re-sculpted front bumper and new chrome surrounds for headlights.

The rear has also seen a change with a new rear bumper that incorporates reflectors and a new chrome detail on the hatch embossed with the Ertiga name. Down the side, a set of newly-designed wheel covers and new colour-coded side mirrors.

The interior has also received a bit of a refresh with the tactile surfaces getting a new finish. Flush mounted into the dashboard you will now get a Bluetooth compatible audio system that has USB, MP3 and iPod integration.

The rear passenger area now sees the addition of an extra 12V charging socket and the second row seats are now split 50/50 to allow for more space configurations. Our biggest gripe is that Suzuki really need to take a look at colour options for the interior, as the vehicle we had on test was showing severe signs of wear and staining.

What does Suzuki say?

André Venter, divisional manager for sales and marketing at Suzuki Auto South Africa, said:  "The Ertiga remains an engineering showpiece for Suzuki Auto, having stretched the available interior space to 2665 mm on a platform length of only 4265mm. This makes the Ertiga a true seven-seater and gives it an effective loading capacity of 736 litres if the two rear passenger seat rows are folded flat into the Ertiga’s floor.

"All models in the Ertiga range has an adjustable second row of seats and third-row passengers can easily enter and exit the vehicle thanks to large opening rear doors and a one-touch fold and access system. The Ertiga has attracted a loyal and passionate following, thanks to its MPV-sized cabin and its Swift-like driving dynamics".

Drivetrain

All Ertiga models are powered by Suzuki’s proven 1.4-litre engine. The engine features electronic fuel injection and variable valve timing to deliver 70kW at 6000 rpm and peak torque of 130Nm at 4000 rpm. Fuel consumption is recorded as 6.6l/100km in a combined testing cycle. 

The 1.4 four-cylinder engine drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox, while a four-speed automatic gearbox is available in the GL specification level.