Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG launched in India

Maruti Suzuki has launched the CNG powered variant of the Ertiga MPV in India. The CNG variant is dubbed the Ertiga Green, highlighting the MPV's low emission credentials while running on CNG, a cleaner burning fuel when compared with petrol and diesel. CNG is the third fuel option for the Ertiga, with the MPV already being available in petrol and diesel engine guises. 

The Ertiga Green is available as a dual fuel version. The 1.4 Liter K-Series petrol engine (94 Bhp-130 Nm) of the Ertiga has been converted to run on CNG. A five speed manual gearbox transmits torque to the front wheels of the MPV. The petrol tank will be retained on the Ertiga Green, for longer trips outside the city where availability of CNG dispensing outlets can be a concern. 

The Ertiga CNG is available in two variants, LXi (priced at 6.52 lakh rupees) and VXi (priced at 7.30 lakh rupees). Both prices reflect ex-showroom Delhi figures, as specified on the Ertiga's official website. The CNG powered Ertiga variants are about 52,000 rupees pricier than the petrol powered models.

As the car is a dual fuel version, the driver can toggle between petrol and CNG modes through a dashboard mounted switch. The CNG tank of the Ertiga Green is expected to replace the third row of seats. Effectively, this makes the Ertiga Green a five seater. All said, the exact specifications of the Ertiga Green will be announced in the coming days.

The latest variant of the MPV will go on sale in the Indian states that have CNG dispensing infrastructure in place. The Ertiga Green is the 6th CNG powered car in the Maruti Suzuki stable, joining the likes of the Alto 800, the Eeco, the SX4, the WagonR and the Estilo. All these cars are dual fuel models, capable of running on petrol or CNG. 

Although after market CNG conversion kits are available freely in India, the factory fitment of such kits does come with a host of advantages. Optimal CNG conversion necessitates strengthening of certain engine components and the suspension, crucial aspect that is taken care of by factory fitted kits. Also, factory fitted kits come with an accompanying manufacturer warranty. 

With a wide range of CNG powered cars on sale, Maruti Suzuki is targeting buyers looking at cars whose running costs are lower than both petrol and diesel models. The claimed fuel economy of the Ertiga Green stands at 22.74 Kms/Kg. The Ertiga can also be ordered with petrol and diesel engine options, in 5 and 7 seat variants.