The Ertiga runs a 1.5-litre K15C four-cylinder petrol engine in two forms: a Smart Hybrid variant producing 75.8 kW (103.26 PS) at 6,000 rpm and 139.0 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm, and an S-CNG variant that produces 74.0 kW (100.6 PS) in petrol mode and 64.6 kW (87.8 PS) in CNG mode, with torque dropping to 121.5 Nm in CNG mode. The Smart Hybrid system adds idle stop-start, brake energy regeneration, and torque assist. Gearbox options are a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters for petrol, and a 5-speed manual for CNG.
 

For a family MPV, outright speed isn't the point, refinement and low-end pull are. The 1.5L engine is tractable enough to cruise and build speed comfortably in higher gears from as low as 40 km/h, without needing to downshift frequently. Ride quality can feel slightly firm at low speeds when the car is unloaded, but on highways it feels stable and planted. Bumps and bad roads are handled competently, with body shocks barely filtering into the cabin. Suspension is MacPherson strut up front and torsion beam at the rear, on 185/65 R15 tyres.

Ertiga’s ARAI-certified figures are 20.51 km/l for the petrol manual and 20.30 km/l for the automatic petrol. The S-CNG variant is rated at 26.11 km/kg. The 45-litre petrol tank gives a theoretical range of over 900 km on a full fill, though real-world conditions will bring that down considerably.

In practice, city driving, especially in stop-and-go traffic with the AC on, will see petrol figures drop to somewhere in the 13–16 km/l range. Highway numbers are more encouraging and can approach the claimed figures with a steady throttle foot. Autocar India notes the 1.5-litre petrol engine is refined and quite efficient, which suggests the Smart Hybrid's idle stop-start and brake energy regeneration do contribute meaningfully to mixed use.

The CNG variant is the clear winner in terms of running costs, making it particularly well-suited for high-mileage users and cab operators. The trade-off, as with any CNG vehicle, is reduced luggage space and fewer automatic gearbox options.

The Ertiga's dashboard uses a sculpted design with a metallic teak-wooden finish, and the beige-dominant colour scheme keeps the cabin feeling open and airy. Plastics are hard but the overall quality is a meaningful step up compared to earlier Maruti MPVs, and the switchgear shared with other modern Marutis feels good to use.

Front seats are broad and well-cushioned, with the high seating position giving good all-round visibility. The second-row slides and reclines, and third-row access is made easier via a one-touch release. Smart Flexi Seating enables various fold configurations to balance passengers and luggage.

Higher variants get a 17.78 cm SmartPlay Pro touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control with a PM2.5 filter, 2nd-row console AC vents, and 3rd-row AC with 3-stage control. USB Type-C fast charging is available, along with steering-mounted audio and cruise control.

Boot space stands at 209 litres with all three rows up, expanding to 550 litres with the third row folded. The light interior, while pleasant, does show stains easily, something to bear in mind for families with young children.

The Ertiga's proportions are clean and purposeful, at 4,395 mm long, 1,735 mm wide, and 1,690 mm tall on a 2,740 mm wheelbase, it has the stretched, upright stance typical of a three-row MPV without looking ungainly. The front is defined by a dynamic chrome winged grille flanked by projector headlamps. At the rear, 3D origami-style LED tail lamps add a touch of visual interest to what is otherwise a straightforward tailgate design, finished with a chrome back-door garnish and a rear wiper and washer.

A rear roof spoiler and a floating-type rear roof design break up the slab-sided profile. Depending on variant, the car rides on full wheel caps or machined two-tone alloy wheels, both on 185/65 R15 tyres. Turn signal lamps are integrated into the ORVMs (outside rear-view mirrors). Door handles are body-coloured on lower variants and chrome-finished on higher ones.

The Ertiga is built on Maruti's HEARTECT platform and comes with six airbags as standard across the entire range, with two front, two side, and two curtain airbags. Active safety systems include ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Assist, and TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). ISOFIX child seat anchors are fitted on the second row, and a rear parking camera is available on higher variants.

On crash testing, the India-spec Ertiga scored 3-stars for both adult and child occupant protection in a 2019 Global NCAP test, where it was equipped with two front airbags.

More recently, Global NCAP tested a made-in-India, Africa-spec Ertiga, also fitted with only two airbags, under stricter updated protocols, and it scored 1-star for adult occupant protection. Importantly, these results apply to the Africa-spec version and do not directly reflect the India-spec car's performance.

The current India-spec model has not been tested under Bharat NCAP as of this writing. The six-airbag standard fitment is a meaningful step, but the absence of an updated India-specific crash test rating remains a notable gap for safety-conscious buyers.

Kia Carens is the most feature-rich rival, offering turbo-petrol and diesel engine options that Ertiga doesn't have. The Carens also makes more power from its 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine. The Ertiga counters with a CNG option and significantly better fuel efficiency figures across the board.

Toyota Rumion shares its platform and powertrain with the Ertiga, making it a near-identical mechanical proposition. Rumion’s wheelbase and boot space are identical to the Ertiga's at 2,740 mm and 209 litres respectively. The Ertiga differentiates itself with Smart Hybrid technology and Suzuki Connect connected car features.

Renault Triber undercuts the Ertiga with a smaller, less powerful 1.0L engine. Ertiga’s naturally aspirated petrol variants are considerably more fuel-efficient than the Triber and offer more cabin space, though the Triber's modular seating flexibility remains a point in its favour for buyers who frequently reconfigure the cabin.