Face-off: Old vs All-New Suzuki Ertiga

It took six years before Suzuki was able to perfect the second generation of the Ertiga. That amount of time bore fruit to an entirely different look, as well as significant changes to the interior and performance. With the new model introduced by Suzuki Philippines (SPH) in January 2019, we guess it’s only fitting to compare the outgoing model to the new one. Let’s get down to business, shall we?

One of the key changes in the second-generation Ertiga is found under the hood. It may not be the first thing you’ll notice but the new 1.5-liter engine grants the car additional power, compared to the 1.4-liter engine of the previous model. All in all, the all-new Ertiga has 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque. This is the first time that the Japanese MPV will be offered with a 1.5L gasoline engine.

The most obvious update on the 2019 Ertiga is none other than the design. The quirky-looking, Swift-inspired fascia of the old model has been tweaked to project a sportier and more serious exterior. It now features a taller nose and slimmer headlights for a more youthful appeal.

Moreover, the taillights are larger on the 2019 model. Compared to the old Ertiga, the taillights feature a more intricate shape. The same thing goes with the tailgate and the rear bumper, which have been restyled to match the new fascia.

When it comes to changes in the cabin, the all-new Ertiga boasts a whole new level of comfort and elegance. The dashboard is composed of 30 percent wooden materials, and has more horizontal lines compared to the curvy characteristic of the old interior. The 2019 model features a flat-bottom steering wheel, while the infotainment system appears to be bigger and floating, especially on the range-topping variant. 

Information will now be displayed on three varying infotainment systems, depending on which variant you drive. The base variant gets a 1-DIN audio system with MP3 player and tuner. It’s not much, we know, but step up and you get an 8-inch and 10-inch multimedia audio touchscreen with offline navigation for the mid and top-of-the-line variant. The now-huge infotainment devices float on the dashboard, giving this sense of class in the cabin. 

As a whole, the 2019 Suzuki Ertiga sits atop the brand’s new HEARTECT platform. Suzuki claims this platform weighs lighter yet boasts more rigidity than the old one. This new platform features what the Japanese brand calls as Total Effective Control Technology (TECT), which distributes energy across the vehicle frame to minimize the effect of hard impacts on its passengers. 

Visit the AutoDeal Car Guide to check the 2019 Suzuki Ertiga for more information, such as its price, variant range, and its detailed specifications.