Buyers looking for a 7-seater family MPV in the Indian car market today have three strong options – Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, Renault Triber and the newly launched Nissan Gravite. Category-wise, the Triber and Gravitas fall in the sub-4 meter segment and attract budget buyers with quite aggressive pricing (starting at ₹5.65 lakh).
Maruti Ertiga, despite being a bit expensive (starting from ₹ 8.80 lakh), has remained the most favorite family car in this segment for the last many years. In such a situation, the question is why people prefer to buy Maruti Ertiga despite cheaper options being available in the budget? Let us know the 5 main reasons that make Ertiga better.
1. Better power and performance
Maruti Ertiga has a 1.5-litre K15C smart hybrid engine, which gives 102 bhp power and 136.8 Nm torque. Whereas both Renault Triber and Nissan Gravite have 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, which gives only 71-72 bhp power and about 96-97 Nm torque.
Even with seven occupants, the Ertiga feels more comfortable and confident in overtaking and long driving on the highway. Triber and Gravite are fine for the city, but the engine seems to struggle under full load. Ertiga's smooth hybrid system also provides extra boost.
2. More space and practicality
The Ertiga is a full-size MPV, which is significantly larger than the Triber/Gravite in length, width and wheelbase. This gives passengers more leg room, head room and shoulder room in the second and third rows. The family gets less tired during long trips.
The Triber and Gravite are good at modular seating (removable third row), but the Ertiga's cabin feels more premium, quiet and comfortable overall. Boot space also gives better options in loading.
3. Better mileage and CNG option
Ertiga gives a mileage of up to 20.5 kmpl in petrol, while the CNG variant gets an ARAI claimed mileage of up to 26 km/kg. In the real world, one gets good run on CNG even in the city. Triber and Gravite are mainly dependent on petrol and their mileage is less than Ertiga CNG.
4. Service Network, Reliability and Resale Value
Maruti Suzuki has the largest service network across the country. Spare parts are cheap and easily available. Users have high confidence in the build quality and long-term reliability of Ertiga. Service centers for the Triber and Gravite are currently limited and availability of parts or service cost can sometimes be an issue. Additionally, the resale value of the Ertiga is very strong.
5. Balance of premium feel, safety and features
The interior of Ertiga looks more mature and family-oriented. There are better materials, automatic climate control, cruise control and a good infotainment system. Safety features have also been strengthened in recent updates. Triber and Gravite offer good features (touchscreen, wireless connectivity) in the budget segment, but Ertiga is ahead in overall build, ride quality and highway stability.
Our advice: The Renault Triber and Nissan Gravite are good 7-seater options in the budget, but the Maruti Ertiga is a better choice for families who want more power, space, comfort, reliability and resale value. The price is a bit high (starting at ₹ 8.80 lakh), but it will prove to be better in the long run.