When people buy a new car, the first thing they look at is the price. Obviously before they start visiting showrooms and test driving their prospective vehicles, they check if they can afford it in the first place.
But determining if one can afford a certain car is the easiest step in the car-buying process. A much more complicated process is determining if you get good value with it.
Of course to get good value, one has to purchase a vehicle that delivers the most (or all) of what a buyer needs and wants.
And if you’re looking for a people-moving MPV, the first thing you’ll need is space. Take the Suzuki Ertiga, for instance. For one thing, it seats seven despite being not much longer than a subcompact sedan. The Ertiga’s interior provides comfortable seating in a 2-3-2 layout with multiple easy-adjust configurations to accommodate various people/cargo-loading combinations. And unlike many 7-seater subcompact MPVs (and even some midsize 7-seat SUVs), the Ertiga’s third-row seat even has decent legroom that will not unduly cramp your legs even on a lengthy drive.
But it’s not just space. MPVs are a staple of long out-of-town road trips, which means they need to provide a lot of comfort and convenience to their occupants along the way. The Ertiga has numerous cup and bottle holders on the center console, rear armrest, and doors, as well as various storage compartments sprinkled throughout the spacious cabin. Its front cupholders even have cooling vents to keep your drinks cold.
The Ertiga has a large tailgate opening, enabling easy loading and unloading of bulky and heavy objects. The rear luggage area has a capacity of 199 liters while the versatile 50:50-split luggage board offers concealed storage for small valuable items when in place and additional room for tall items when removed.
Comfort also exudes from the luxurious ambience of the Ertiga’s interior, which welcomes you with its smart and upscale dashboard and door trim, plush and richly textured two-tone upholstery, and the upscale design accents sprinkled throughout the cabin further enhance the overall functional and premium feel.
More features and functionalities include a state-of-the-art 4.2-inch full-color TFT LCD multi-info display and a generously sized 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a flat-bottom steering wheel with integrated buttons for audio and cruise control, and automatic headlamps with follow-me-home function to light your path as you walk away from the car.
Space and comfort are obvious Ertiga strengths. How about fuel efficiency? Ah, this is where Suzuki’s bestselling MPV truly shines. It’s Suzuki Philippines’ first hybrid, and it’s poised to deliver class-leading fuel efficiency, the Ertiga being the only hybrid MPV in its class.
The Ertiga Hybrid is powered by a fuel-efficient 1.5-liter VVT gasoline engine, which produces impressive torque for quick acceleration. The hybrid powertrain is mated to a easy-shift 5-speed manual or a smooth and responsive 4-speed automatic. An Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) replaces the conventional alternator for charging the battery, while providing assistance during standing starts and acceleration. The Ertiga’s hybrid system enables it to not just achieve stellar fuel economy figures, but also to have stronger and smoother acceleration as well as enhanced engine braking (due to the Ertiga’s regenerative braking system).
It also has Engine Auto Stop Start System (EASS) that automatically stops the engine when the vehicle is in idle to prevent unnecessary fuel consumption, while limiting exhaust emissions and engine noise for a quiet ride.
The Ertiga Hybrid reinforces Suzuki’s reputation of offering fuel-efficient vehicles, posting a stunning 23.54 km/l on the highway, as observed by the Automotive Association of the Philippines (AAP).
The Ertiga Hybrid checks all the boxes for the MPV-crucial aspects of space, comfort, and fuel economy. How about styling? Sporting an understatedly elegant design with its long, flowing lines, the new Ertiga Hybrid presents a handsome front end with a distinctive grille, upmarket chrome accents, and a prominent “Hybrid” emblem on the tailgate. Black accents on the lower portion of the front bumper and on the fog lamp surrounds, plus flashy 15-inch two-tone alloy wheels (with 185/65R15 tires) add a touch of sportiness.
Safety is all-important when your loved ones are traveling with you. Thankfully the Ertiga Hybrid is packed with passive and active safety features. Aside from the usual dual SRS airbags and ABS with EBD, the Ertiga Hybrid is equipped with Hill-Hold Control and Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to help keep you in better control of the vehicle, even in slippery conditions.
Further, the Ertiga’s body structure is based on Suzuki’s TECT (Total-Effective Control Technology) and HEARTECT platform, which makes the body light and rigid and effectively absorbs impact upon collision while improving overall driving dynamics as well as riding comfort.
The new Suzuki Ertiga comes in a variety of colors in GA and GL/GLX variants: Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver Metallic, and Cool Black Pearl for GA variants. On the other hand, the GL and GLX variants come with the following exterior color options: Metallic Magma Gray, Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver Metallic, Mellow Deep Red, Burgundy Red Pearl, and Brave Khaki Pearl.
The Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid comes in four variants with delightfully low pricing: GA M/T Php954,000; GL M/T Php1,093,000; GL A/T Php1,128,000; and GLX A/T Php1,178,000. That’s unbeatable value.
Space, comfort, fuel economy, value for money—with a healthy serving of style and safety—what more can you ask for, indeed?
