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The perfect budget workhorse: The Suzuki Ertiga

Here’s why the Suzuki Ertiga is the most bang-for-buck family utility vehicle in the segment.

Earl Lee on Aug 11, 2022

Family cars are the unsung heroes of the automotive industry. Family cars are always a hot topic, even if the automobiles themselves aren’t too glamorous. There are options out there that will be like flying first class, but those cars tend to be out of reach for the vast majority of us.

Considering that raising a family is a costly endeavor, the Philippines is lucky to have a model like the Suzuki Ertiga that serves as a sturdy workhorse for you and your family to grow. Here are a few reasons why the Ertiga is the perfect family vehicle for just about any family. To top it all off, you don’t even have to be in a family in order to get utility out of it. The Ertiga is a flexible and adaptable car that can get you from point A to point B no matter if you’re single and working or if you’re raising a family.

Space

It’s overstated in the segment, but seven seats is a definite advantage for families who are growing. Typical Filipino families use five seats or even up to seven when going out. From your direct family to your extended family, the Ertiga can accommodate you.

Though, if you’re not hauling your family around or a bunch of your friends, you can haul a whole bunch of groceries, supplies, or anything that can fit at the back of the Ertiga. With a deep cargo space, you can bring people along for the ride together with bags or other stuff. If you’re all alone and need a ton of space, the Ertiga’s second and third-row seats fold flat and reveal a vast amount of cargo space that can even rival large crossovers or SUVs.

Frugal engine

Suzukis are known for being some of the most frugal vehicles in the market. Because of that, many Filipinos swear by the brand and bask in the fuel savings compared to other rivals in the segment. Heck, the Ertiga can even beat subcompact sedans in some regard, and even subcompact crossovers.

Even in the city, you get double-digit figures, if not close to double-digit figures when traffic is really bad. It’s always smooth sailing to the gas station because the car consumes so little fuel. Even after several years on the market, the Ertiga is still one of the most efficient vehicles we’ve tested apart from hybrids. Even back in 2019, we were able to average 9.4 km/L through heavy city traffic, and then that number bumped up to a staggering 15.1 km/L once the roads cleared up. On the highway, it’s an amazing feat for a little 1.5-liter engine to achieve 20 km/L, though that was done with just one occupant in the car. Do take note, however, that the more weight you add to the car, the lower that figure will go.

Utilitarian and simple interior

Now, there are cars with luxurious interiors that you may feel a little iffy about using day-in-and-day-out. While these cars can be comfy, it may feel like sitting on glass because you’re afraid to scratch something on the dashboard or on the door card. That’s not the case with the Ertiga because it’s a true workhorse that still remains comfortable to sit in.

The materials that Suzuki used in the making of the Ertiga were well-thought-out. The model may be a little spartan for many, but it is good if you want a no-frills vehicle that’s there to keep you comfy and stay durable for a long time.

More comfortable than a pickup truck (maybe even an SUV)

We love our pickup trucks, but man are they bouncy over bumps and potholes. It’s not a totally pleasant experience to drive a pickup all day especially if you value ride quality. The Ertiga, even if it can fulfill the role of a utility vehicle, doesn’t feel like it’s totally given its soul to be rugged beyond your needs. In actuality, it feels like driving a normal car with a ton of space at the back.

In fact, you may even find the ride of the Ertiga comparable if not better than some SUVs out in the market. With all the space inside, you’d think you were driving an SUV, but with how comfortable the chassis is, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were inside a sedan.

Price

To this day, the Ertiga is one of the most affordable MPVs out in the market and one of the best buys in the industry thanks to all of its essential features and its practicality. It’s a tough car to beat in terms of value, and Suzuki has been keeping its price competitive ever since its launch.

You can still score yourself a unit for under a million Philippine Pesos, though it is worth noting that the model has only recently crossed the seven-digit mark, but only by P3,000. If you’re looking for a bargain, however, Suzuki’s most affordable model is priced at P853,000 at the time of this article’s writing. To top it all off, all models of the Ertiga will be seven-seaters right out of the gate. Our recommendation is to get the top-of-the-line model, however, but you always have the option of going down a trim to save money, and if you’re starting a business or starting a family, you’ll need all the money you can get.