Maruti To Launch New MPV In 2019; Will Be Based On Ertiga

• Will be the first MPV in Maruti’s Nexa range.

• Will share mechanicals with the second-gen Ertiga.

• Will be a 6-seater (captain seats), more feature-loaded than the Ertiga.

• Will be more expensive than the Ertiga, closer to the Marazzo range

Maruti Suzuki is going to introduce an MPV in its Nexa range in 2019. The new vehicle will be based on the existing second-gen Ertiga, which Maruti Suzuki launched in end-2018. It retails from the carmaker’s Arena range of dealerships.

Since the new MPV will be retailed from Nexa, it will be a more premium offering, one that would lock horns with the Mahindra Marazzo as well on the price chart. And while it will be based on the Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki will make sure it looks different from the Ertiga, claim sources in the know of the development of the vehicle.

The new MPV will share powertrains with the existing Ertiga, which will soon get a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The specifications of the new diesel engine have been leaked online and it makes around 95PS of maximum power and will be paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The new diesel engine is bigger than the existing Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre unit, and is around 5PS more powerful.

To further distinguish it from the existing Ertiga, the Nexa MPV will get a new name. The MPV will appear sportier and will feature a 6-seat layout with captain seats in the middle. Expect some more changes on the inside too, with definite upgrade in the features list. Since the existing Ertiga already gets many features that we expect from a car in the sub-Rs 10 lakh space, we expect the Ertiga-based Nexa MPV to be one of the most feature-loaded three-row models in this price bracket. Features like LED headlamps, DRLs, new alloy wheels, leather upholstery and cruise control will be seen on the Ertiga’s Nexa version.

The existing Ertiga starts from Rs 7.44 lakh and goes up to Rs 10.9 lakh (both prices ex-showroom Delhi). Expect the Nexa version of the Ertiga to start from over Rs 8.5 lakh, with the top version being priced upwards of Rs 12 lakh.

Source: cardekho.com