You would be forgiven for not being enthusiastic about the new Suzuki Ertiga at first glance. Even with the aesthetic upgrades, it still looks rather plain. Yet, this seven-seater from the Suzuki stable offers so much more than what meets the eye. Dubbed as Life Utility Vehicle, the Ertiga seems to gives more emphasis on function rather than form.
The new Suzuki Ertiga retained its predecessor’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder VVT 16-valve K14B engine which produces 95 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 130 Newton-meters of torque at 4,000 rpm. When driving solo, acceleration is relatively brisk considering its 1,770-kilogram weight. With all seats occupied, however, you’ll be reminded that you are driving a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with a subcompact’s engine. Yet, the Ertiga’s modest but capable mill offered enough grunt when traversing steep mountain roads. Having a four-speed automatic transmission, one just had to press a button to turn off the overdrive function or pull the gear lever to switch to low gear when the going got a little tougher than expected.