For the longest time, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga has been the default choice you’ve wanted an affordable but still useful family MPV. But that hasn’t been the case lately with a flurry of new options like the Renault Triber at one end and the Kia Carens at the other. So to cover off the newer competition, Maruti Suzuki has given the Ertiga an upgrade. A focus has been to shore up the CNG variants, now also available in a better-equipped ZXi variant. We see how this 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG has turned out.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG facelift exterior changes

Now you’ll need a keen eye to tell the facelifted Maruti Suzuki Ertiga from the previous version. The most noticeable change is the new grille with the more striking chrome blades. You get two new paint shades – Splendid Silver and Dignity Brown – as well as a new set of dual-tone alloy wheels. There’s a chrome band to the boot but most of the important changes aren’t immediately visible.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG facelift driving impressions, CNG specifications, mileage

The Ertiga now gets a wider range of CNG variants but a more significant change though is that the 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga facelift now gets the updated 1.5-litre K15C four-cylinder petrol. This motor comes equipped with the DualJet tech which improves overall efficiency and driveability although power figures have dropped marginally by 2PS and 1 Nm to 103PS and 136.8 Nm from the K15B.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

In this CNG variant, the outputs drop slightly more to 100PS and 136 Nm in the petrol mode while in the CNG mode this drops further to 88PS and 121.5 Nm. The petrol Ertiga facelift can be had with a five-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic with paddle shifters while the CNG is manual only. You also lose out on the mild-hybrid tech with the Ertiga CNG.

The Ertiga is fitted with a 60 kg water equivalent CNG tank, the segment norm. Being factory fitted, it’s well-integrated too. You fill the tank through the nozzle in the fuel filler cap and there are twin fuel gauges in the instrument cluster. You also get a useful graph in the MID that shows you your fuel usage ratio between petrol and CNG. As with most CNG cars, you miss out on consumption and range data.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?
2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

You can’t start the Ertiga in CNG power alone, which is a bit of a miss considering you will need to have some amount of petrol in the system but Maruti Suzuki says this has been done to reduce engine wear and improve lubrication.

But Maruti Suzuki has ensured the switchover is quite seamless. As you would expect, this new 1.5-litre K15C motor has taken to this CNG conversion well. Below 2,000 rpm, the 12PS and 15 Nm deficit in the CNG mode isn’t too apparent. The loss is more apparent in harder, full bore acceleration but commendably, in either fuel mode, there is still a fairly flat, usable supply of performance even with the mild hybrid assistance missing here. Usefully, Maruti Suzuki has been able to retain that crisp, low-end peppiness that makes their cars so city-friendly. Of course, this feeling may be slightly diluted with a full load of passengers, as an Ertiga is regularly used.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

In a pleasant surprise, the Ertiga is actually marginally quicker in the CNG mode in certain situations as our in-gear acceleration times show. At low revs in higher gears, Maruti Suzuki’s work to ensure consistent fueling in the CNG system seems to have been effective. Impressive, considering the performance deficit.

Now we couldn’t put the Ertiga CNG through our full mileage test but the 26.08 km/kg CNG efficiency figure should make it possibly the most efficient and the most economical to run three-row car in the country.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

The sense that the Ertiga CNG makes no excuses for its efficiency focus becomes more apparent when you consider the progressive clutch and precise gear shifts. Either way, you don’t need to change gears too often when you are just trundling along with the wide power band. Of course that changes when you need to pull an overtake considering the Ertiga CNG isn’t the fastest car on our roads, given the lesser performance and upto 100 kgs of added kerb weight. The lack of a sixth gear is also apparent here.

The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG gets retuned suspension to handle the added weight of the CNG componentry. So the MPV has retained its plush ride quality. Very little of our broken roads or obstacles like rumbler strips disturb the Ertiga’s demeanour, and much of it is kept away from occupants. Despite its large, boxy footprint, the Ertiga feels light on its feet in traffic or on the open road. As you would expect, there is noticeable body roll and we also wish Maruti Suzuki had reworked the steering to re-centre effectively and be more direct.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG facelift interior, features

The changes to the inside of the facelifted Ertiga are again subtle, so you get new beige/light grey upholstery and darker wood trim. This has spruced up the cabin slightly and there are more features too like connected car tech but with the CNG variant not being available with the top trim, you miss out on the new Smartplay Pro system.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

This isn’t too much of a loss considering this older infotainment is still a fairly intuitive one but with competitors now offering CNG fuel options on their top trims, the lack of features like a reversing camera, cruise control and auto headlamps feels stark in a car priced over Rs 13 lakh on-road. You do get a height-adjustable driver’s seat, climate control and projector headlamps though.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?
2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

As before there’s quite a bit of space in the cabin, helped by the larger windows and high roof. The second row is adjustable for recline and fore-aft movement, so finding a compromise for all three rows of passengers isn’t a problem. The dedicated roof-mounted blowers are a boon as always. The third row too is spacious enough for children or small adults with the large windows and reclining seatbacks, although you do end up sitting in a knees-up position as with most such arrangements.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

However, the smart space management that endears cars like the Triber and Carens to us is lacking to an extent in the Ertiga’s cabin. Entering the third row takes some contorting, there are only 12V power outlets in the last two rows and cubby holes are limited to the door pockets.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga facelift CNG, overall safety

Being a factory-fitted CNG system, Maruti Suzuki has put in quite a few fail-safes. The Ertiga CNG can’t be refuelled with the engine off and the piping is stainless steel and corrosion-resistant. The nozzle is also leakproof, and in case there is a leak, the system can shut off the fuel supply and release CNG directly into the atmosphere.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

In terms of other safety equipment, again the last of a top-spec variant has put the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG at a disadvantage. You don’t get the four airbags and ESC from the ZX Plus, this variant is limited to the government-mandated two airbags and airbags. There are also no rear disc brakes. In unladen panic braking situations, the MPV’s rear can step out of line although the outright stopping distance and the feel from the pedals are par for the course.

2022 maruti suzuki ertiga cng review, road test - the best cng car you can buy?

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG facelift prices, verdict

Now the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga can’t match newer competition in the features, safety and practicality it offers, largely solvable with the addition of a tops-spec ZXi Plus variant in CNG guise. But it is the only three-row CNG car you can buy in the country now. That’s an immense advantage is an MPV that is fundamentally efficient, easy to drive, spacious and perfectly attuned to the needs of a value-seeking buyer.

The 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is priced at Rs 11.97 lakh for the base VXi while this ZXi variant costs Rs 13.17 lakh, both on-road Mumbai.

2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG facelift real-world performance

Performance petrol mode

Acceleration

0 to 100 kmph – 12.9s

In-gear acceleration

30 to 50 kmph(3rd) – 4.0s50 to 70 kmph(4th) – 5.6s
60 to 80 kmph (5th) – 8.9s

Braking

100 to 0 kmph – 46.4m, 3.3s

Performance CNG mode

Acceleration

0 to 100 kmph – 14.3s

In-gear acceleration

30 to 50 kmph(3rd) – 4.1s50 to 70 kmph(4th) – 5.5s
60 to 80 kmph (5th) – 8.6s

Text: @tuhinguha
Images: @man.vs.tarmac

Follow @odmag on Instagram for more on the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga 2022 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 8.35 Lakhs
Displacement
1462cc
Transmission
Automatic
Max Power(ps)
87.55
Max Torque(Nm)
136.8
Mileage
20.30 Kmpl

Kia Carens 2022 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 8.99 Lakhs
Displacement
1493cc
Transmission
Manual
Max Power(ps)
115
Max Torque(Nm)
250
Mileage
-NA-

Maruti Suzuki XL6 2022 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 11.29 Lakhs
Displacement
1462cc
Transmission
Automatic
Max Power(ps)
103
Max Torque(Nm)
136.8
Mileage
20.27 Kmpl

Renault Triber 2021 Full Spec

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 5.3 Lakhs
Displacement
999cc
Transmission
AMT
Max Power(ps)
72
Max Torque(Nm)
96
Mileage
20.5 Kmpl

Keyword: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG review, road test - the best CNG car you can buy?

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Where is the Suzuki Jimny made?

Find out where Suzuki produces the Jimny products and whether the 5-door and 3-door derivatives share a factory. The Jimny model is well-loved in South Africa for its compact design and capable drivetrain. Recently, the Japanese automaker introduced a 5-door variant of the popular offroader alongside its 3-door sibling to ...

View more: Where is the Suzuki Jimny made?

Most affordable crossover from every brand in South Africa

A dominant force Alfa Romeo Tonale Audi Q2 BAIC Beijing X55 BMW X2 BYD Atto 3 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Citroen C3 Fiat 500X Ford Puma Haval Jolion Honda WR-V Hyundai Venue Jaguar E-Pace Jeep Renegade Kia Sonet Mahindra XUV300 Lexus UX Maserati Grecale Mazda CX-3 Mercedes-Benz GLA MINI ...

View more: Most affordable crossover from every brand in South Africa

1.5 years with my Suzuki Access 125: Likes, dislikes and problems faced

During this time, I clocked over 17,000 km and the fuel efficiency has been around 50 km/l. BHPian JDMBOI recently shared this with other enthusiasts. Purchased Purchased in May 2022. It has been 1.5 years. Cost- Rs 1,03,000 (Top model) in Sonipat, Haryana. During Delivery Recent picture Other scooters ...

View more: 1.5 years with my Suzuki Access 125: Likes, dislikes and problems faced

How roomy is a Suzuki Jimny 5 Door

The new 5-door derivative of the popular Suzuki Jimny has arrived and is set to take the 4×4 market by storm. We take a look at how much extra space you are actually getting with the new model. Adventure for all One of the most hotly anticipated vehicles of 2023 ...

View more: How roomy is a Suzuki Jimny 5 Door

Suzuki Japan Tour 2023 - Visiting the wondrous Japan

Suzuki South Africa invited us to go check out what they're up in Japan, their home ground. Here's our a video on what went down. As far as dream destinations go, Japan is usually one that tends to come up in conversation for a myriad of reasons. One of ...

View more: Suzuki Japan Tour 2023 - Visiting the wondrous Japan

Ranger vs Hilux – This is the best-selling used car in South Africa

Best-selling used cars in South Africa 1. Ford Ranger – 1,790 units 2. Toyota Hilux – 1,486 units 3. VW Polo – 1,429 units 4. VW Polo Vivo – 977 units 5. Toyota Fortuner – 853 units 6. Mercedes-Benz C-Class – 739 units 7. BMW 3 Series – 641 ...

View more: Ranger vs Hilux – This is the best-selling used car in South Africa

First drive in the new Suzuki Jimny 5-door in South Africa

Getting started This is where the fun begins Everything you need Final thoughts Suzuki Jimny 5-door The new Suzuki Jimny 5-door may be longer than the vehicle we’re used to, but it is still one of the best fun-sized SUVs you can buy in South Africa. I was lucky ...

View more: First drive in the new Suzuki Jimny 5-door in South Africa

Suzuki Jimny 5 Door (2023) First drive review

The popular Suzuki Jimny is now available with two extra doors and we were on hand to test the new model on its official SA launch. We headed off into the wilds of Bostwana to put this plucky little 4×4 to the test. Adventure for everyone One of the year’s ...

View more: Suzuki Jimny 5 Door (2023) First drive review

How roomy is a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Suzuki’s Jimny 5 Door Specification and Pricing

New Suzuki Jimny 5-door officially launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

Suzuki Grand Vitara colours and price guide

Can you fit a bike in a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

How to replace a headlight bulb on a Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki Jimny With “Little G. Traditional” Body Kit is Mini Geländewagen

R530,000 SUVs that rival the new Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max

Next-generation Suzuki Swift revealed – What you need to know

EICMA 2023: Suzuki unveils new GSX-8R sportbike

Suzuki Jimny With G-Class Body Kit Is The Cutest Off-Road Conqueror

2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX globally unveiled

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel