Suzuki Ertiga (2014) Review

In an effort to broaden its market appeal, Suzuki South Africa has ventured into mommy-mover territory. We drive the seven-seater Suzuki Ertiga.

The Suzuki Ertiga is the brand’s first MPV-type vehicle in South Africa. However the company is keen to point out that it’s not an MPV. It’s called a Life Utility Vehicle and its aimed at being ultra practical, while retaining the fun-to-drive characteristics of the popular Swift.

Specification

Our test unit came in a bright gold colour, which also happened to be the colour of the interior! All jokes aside, the beige interior may not suit all tastes and I have a suspicion that it’ll pick up dirt very quickly. Nothing a set of aftermarket seat covers can’t fix…

There’s no shortage of standard specification either as the Suzuki Ertiga comes well appointed. We had the 1.4 GLX manual which comes with air con, alloys, radio CD/MP3, USB port, central locking, electric windows, fog lamps, 7 seats and a multi function steering wheel. There’s a very clever ventilation unit above the driver’s head which ensures the second and third rows of seats receive warm or cool air. Safety specification is also good as the Suzuki Ertiga features ABS brakes with EBD and dual front airbags.

Engine, ride quality and practicality

Much like the Suzuki Swift, the ride is comfortable and pleasant, and the car can absorb bumps from even the worst roads. It also features commendable ground clearance, making this vehicle ideal on our deteriorating road network. The vehicle feels well built too. Power comes from the tried-and-trusted 1.4-litre naturally-aspirated four cylinder found in other Suzuki products. Power is rated 70 kW, while the torque figure is listed at 130 Nm. It didn’t do too badly on our fuel test route either, with a figure of 7.9l/100 km appearing on the trip computer.

Thanks to a close-ratio five speed manual gearbox, the vehicle doesn’t feel sluggish which was my initial concern. However I was the only person in the vehicle and I never had any passengers. The vehicle claims to seat seven, and I have my reservations about the performance of the Suzuki Ertiga when its fully laden with people. Is 130 Nm enough torque?

Reservations aside, the Suzuki Ertiga is one seriously practical vehicle. With all three rows up, there’s only 135 litres of space, which isn’t much. You can fold the third row of seats down to increase the carrying capacity to 482 litres, with a total 736 litres becoming available if fold the second row flat. There’s an extra 22 litres of storage space under the cargo floor if you’re craving more space.

Conclusion and summary

So it drives well, is light on fuel and is comfortable. Suzuki has tried to make its Ertiga family-orientated, but I feel this car’s success will come from the taxi/shuttle industry. It gives the Toyota Avanza a serious run for its money in terms of value and quality, but the Suzuki badge doesn’t have the same sort of brand trustworthiness. Hopefully consumers can look past this and see the Suzuki Ertiga for what it is.

Another opinion

The Suzuki Ertiga is extremely spacious but also extremely beige. It’s good value for money and certainly walks over the Avanza as a seven-seater people shifter.-Ashley Oldfield

Suzuki Ertiga Price in South Africa

Tested here is the Suzuki Ertiga 1.4 GLX manual, which costs R192 900. The range starts from R159 900. Price includes a 36 month / 100 000 km warranty and a four year / 60 000 km service plan. Servicing intervals are every 15 000 km.

2014 Suzuki Ertiga specs

Engine	1.4-litre 4-cylinder
Power	70 kW
Torque	130 Nm
Transmission	Five-speed manual
Wheels	15-inch alloys
0-100km/h	13.0 seconds (estimated)
Fuel economy	6.6l/100 km (claimed)

We like:
. Value for money
. Practical
. Levels of specification

We dislike:
. Beige interior
. Performance could be inadequate when fully laden at Highveld altitudes

Also consider:
. Toyota Avanza
. Preowned Honda FR-V

The All-New 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vito

The all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vito has officially been unveiled, and will go on sale in various configurations including the Vito panel van, the Vito Mixto and the Vito Tourer family.

Versatile new 2014 Mercedes-Benz Vito

Described as a van for all, the 2014 Vito offers a best-in-class 1 369 kg of cargo capacity, which is the highest payload in its class. It comes with a choice of rear-wheel, all-wheel and now front-wheel drive too.

The vehicle is also the only model in its class available in three lengths (4 895 mm, 5 140 mm, and 5 730 mm) which makes it 140 mm longer than its predecessor. The maximum vehicle height stands at 1 910 mm, to ensure that all versions can fit standard multi-storey car parks and automatic car washes.

Other highlights include a new body design with a Cd value reduced to 0.32, optimised suspension with new electro-mechanical steering, and a redesigned cabin offering more space to both driver and passenger. Theres also an optional Intelligent Light System (ILS) with LED low-beams, daytime running lights and indicators while the main beams have a cornering light function.

Two turbodiesel engines in five power ratings

It will come with two turbo diesel engines which will be in offered in five power options. FWD vehicles will use a new 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit developing 65 kW and 84 kW, while the RWD variants will be fitted with a 2.1-litre unit delivering 100 kW in the Vito 114 CDI, 120 kW in the Vito 116 CDI and 140 kW in the Vito 119 BlueTEC the last pitched as the first Euro 6 engine in its class.

These engines are mated as standard to a six-speed manual, except for the Vito 119 BlueTEC which comes with a 7-speed automatic transmission. All versions are claimed to be on average 20 per cent more fuel efficient than their predecessors.

New assistance systems

In addition, Mercedes is claiming new safety standards for the Vito, saying that it is the only van in its class offering both driver and passenger airbags. Also all models are said to get powerful disc brakes all-round (with 16″ or 17″ braking system depending on the model), as well as Adaptive ESP as standard.

The new Vito’s standard equipment includes Attention Assist that monitors the driver’s condition and Crosswind Assist that “virtually eliminates the effects of gusts acting on the vehicle.” All models will also come with a tyre pressure monitoring system, and optionally with Active Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Assist.

2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition Unveiled

Ford has officially unveiled a new special edition vehicle. Inspired by the F-35 Lightning II Jet and based on the latest 2015 Ford Mustang GT model, meet the 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition.

The 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition in detail

Visually, the 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition wears a Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II livery and has received a wider front splitter made from carbon fibre; rocker mouldings together with a rear diffuser and matte titanium body paint matched with and blue accents. It also offers a yellow finish for the brake callipers, windows tint and mirror covers.

Inside you will find black Recaro seats with yellow accents, a modified instrument cluster as well as performance gauges and F-35 Lightning II elements embroidered in the floor mats and seats.

Ford has not made any modifications under the hood, meaning just like the GT fastback, the special edition will be powered by a 5-litre V8 that delivers 313 kW and 528 Nm of torque.

In addition, the vehicle GT will remain a one-off, and will be sold, via auction, at the Gathering of Eagles charity event to support the EAA Young Eagles program which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.8 million young people since 1992.

Smart ForFour Edition 1 Revealed

Smart has introduced a special “Edition 1” version of the recently launched second generation Smart ForFour which was unveiled just last week.

Smart ForFour Edition 1 detailed

Based on an all-new platform co-developed with Renault, the Smart ForFour Edition 1 will be offered in a unique graphite grey and a lava orange or black tridion safety cell. The vehicle additionally comes with a panoramic roof with sunblind, 16-inch light alloy wheels, sports suspension lowered by 10mm, black radiator grille and chrome tipped exhausts.

Inside, the seats have been finished in a black and orange fabric, while a new multi-function three-spoke sport steering wheel is wrapped in leather. There are also chrome door handles, and velour floor mats, as well as a 3.5-inch TFT instrument cluster with on-board computer, automatic climate control and audio system, brushed stainless steel pedals with rubber studs and a leather gear knob.

Power is said to come from a choice of two three-cylinder petrol engines a 70bhp 1.0-litre motor and a more powerful 89bhp 900cc turbo engine.

PoloTag Competition Hits SA (Video)

We at Cars.co.za do love a good motoring marketing campaign, so be sure to check out some of the best car adverts to see what we’re talking about. To coincide with the launch of the facelifted Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen has announced its PoloTAG campaign.

The facelifted Volkswagen Polo was launched in South Africa not so long ago and to coincide with its arrival, Volkswagen South Africa has come up with an interesting campaign. Due to the popularity of the Volkswagen Polo, this campaign is going to be a hit.

PoloTag: How it works

All you need to do is be in the right place at the right time, have access to Twitter and a valid driving licence. The campaign kicks off in Cape Town (1-2 August), Durban (8-9 August) and Johannesburg (15-16 August) and is a great chance to get behind the wheel of the new Volkswagen Polo.

The challenge is relatively straight forward. You will need to spot the heavily branded Volkswagen PoloTAG car, tweet @VolkswagenSA the car’s location and you could stand a chance of a test drive right there and then. If VolkswagenSA replies to you with #YoureIt, the vehicle will stop and youll have two minute to reach it (an electronic board will display your Twitter handle and a two-minute countdown clock on the top of the car.

Once you’re driving, enjoy the car, and play with the features, but if someone else spots you, then your time is up and that person takes over. To sweeten the deal, the top 10 players who manage to drive the longest go into a draw to win the new Volkswagen Polo for a full year. Cities are quite big places to hide in, so Volkswagen SA will be tweeting landmark clues to help you. For the exact routes and more information, you can visit the VW PoloTag minisite.

PoloTag video

McLaren P1 GTR Confirmed (Update)

Its been 20 years since McLaren took victory at Le Mans in the McLaren F1 GTR and now the brand intends to resurrect the iconic name for an even more special version of the McLaren P1. It’ll be called the McLaren P1 GTR and production of the P1 GTR will only start once the 375^th and final McLaren P1 has been completed.

McLaren P1 GTR details

The McLaren P1 GTR will be a track special so will do away with certain road car necessities. The special edition will show increased levels of performance, grip, aerodynamics and downforce. McLaren will also be throwing on a set of slick tyres and says the P1 GTR will develop more power than the already mental 673 kW of the P1 road car. Rumours suggest this track-going McLaren P1 GTR will develop in excess of 1 000hp or 745 kW.

McLaren say it is developing the P1 GTR because owners are demanding a more track-focused car. A P1 GTR is likely to cost around R35-million and will be custom built to each owners specification. For your money McLaren does also offer consultations with the F1 driver fitness and Design Director Frank Stephenson as well as use of one of the McLaren simulators.

The kicker in the deal however is the participation in a minimum of six international McLaren drive events hosted at F1 circuits around the world. Right now all we have is this teaser image to go on.

The sketch above is a teaser for the extreme concept design version of the P1, which will be presented during an exclusive preview at the McLaren Brand Centre on August 15th at the McLaren Brand Centre and will make its public debut on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn over the course of the weekend.

The McLaren P1 GTR has been confirmed to enter production in June 2015, when the 375th and final example of the road-going car will be built – two decades since the 24 Hours of Le Mans win of the iconic McLaren F1 GTR.

Opel Corsa OPC could have 147 kW

Only a couple weeks after the official announcement of the new Opel Corsa, rumours are beginning to do the rounds about the performance minded OPC.

Corsa OPC potential output

The top of the range OPC is likely to make use of the 1.6-litre turbo the company is already employing in the current Corsa OPC and Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition. Its expected to be tuned a little different for the new generation Corsa, managing around 147 kW and 300 Nm of torque.

No doubt the new Corsa OPC will get an added aggressive body kit to go with the increased power output. Suspension will also get a tweak to make it a bit stiffer and sportier.

Its expected that we should see the Corsa OPC early next year, possibly as soon as the Geneva motor show.

Subaru Teases New WRX S4 Sedan

Subaru has announced it will unveil an all-new 2015 WRX sports sedan called the WRX S4 that will debut in Japan on August 25 2014.

WRX S4 details

The vehicle is said to be offered only in Japan, and although details remain a secret for now, the automaker released the teaser image above and said the vehicle is going to be more sophisticated than the new-generation 2015 WRX that was recently launched in South Africa.

The WRX was officially revealed during the Los Angeles Auto Show last year and is available in South Africa, with the WRX Premium coming in at R449 000, while the Lineartronic retails for R469 000. Both derivatives are powered by an all-new 2.0-litre flat four turbocharged engine with 197 kW and 350 Nm.

The new WRX S4 is expected to be powered by the same engine and feature Subarus Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system for optimum driving performance on the road, track and off-road driving situations. The sports sedan will also apparently achieve “unique overall safety performance” with features such as the next-generation EyeSight, “superior environmental friendliness” and “high-quality feel”.

More information on the Subaru WRX S4 will become available closer to the cars August 25 unveiling. Check back here for updates.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT to be Revealed in September (Video)

Mercedes-Benz has been painstakingly slow in revealing its forthcoming AMG GT model. We’ve seen bits and pieces of it for over a year now, with the latest being this video complete with engine sound.

Sources close to Mercedes-Benz claim that the AMG GT will be revealed online on 9th September 2014. It will then make its official motor show debut at the Paris Motor Show.

Mercedes-Benz has finally revealed details on its brand-new V8 engine for the AMG GT. The new V8 features twin turbochargers housed inside the V, a dry sump for a lower centre of gravity, Euro 6 emissions and has inner exhaust flaps to enhance the sound when driven spiritedly.

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT V8 details:

Cylinder arrangement	V8
Cylinder angle	90°
Valves per cylinder	4
Displacement	3982cc
Bore x stroke	83.0 x 92.0mm
Cylinder spacing	90mm
Compression ratio	10.5 : 1
Output	375 kW at 6250 rpm
Output per litre	94kW/litre
Max. torque	650 Nm at 1750 4750 rpm
Torque per litre	163.2Nm/litre
Maximum engine speed	7 200 rpm
Maximum charge pressure	1.2 bar
Peak pressure	130 bar
Engine weight (dry)	209 kg
Emissions standard	Euro 6

Development without compromise

Weekly News Wrap – 25/07/2014

Catch up with the week’s reviews, news, concept cars and videos here.

New Bugatti Coming in 2016

The head of Volkswagen Group design has confirmed an all-new Bugatti model is on the way, with an expected launch in early 2016.

2014 Citroen C4 Picasso Review (Video)

The Citroen C4 Picasso is a bit of a marvel. From the outside, the car looks like a concept car that escaped the design studio while everyone was on lunch. This is a good thing. Watch this amazing car park itself!

Audi A8 e-tron set for 2015

A recent report by Auto Express claims Audis chief technical officer Ulrich Hackenberg announced the company plans to introduce an e-tron version of the facelifted A8.

All-New Renault Koleos SUV Expected in 2016

A recent report by CarAdvice has revealed that Renaults Australia managing director Justin Hocevar has confirmed the French brand will offer a second generation all-new Renault Koleos by 2016.

Jaguar Reveals F-Type Coupe for Tour de France (Video)

Jaguar Land Rovers Special Vehicle Operations has unveiled a bespoke F-Type Coupe high performance vehicle developed as a support vehicle which will be used during stage 20 of the 2014 Tour de France.

BMW M235i Manual Review (2014)

The BMW M235i is a performance bargain as far as BMWs go, you get near enough M power, with dynamics that have been breathed upon by the chaps at M division in a car that is the best-looking BMW out there.

2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2.5D Review

The 2014 Chevrolet Trailblazer has all the improvements that the initial offering lacked in order to match the might of the class-leading Toyota Fortuner. The engine is more powerful and carries more torque, the interior has had a colour palette adjustment and the infotainment system is a step ahead of the competition.

2014 Hyundai Elantra SA Pricing and Specs

We attended the launch of the facelifted Hyundai Elantra. The redesigned car receives a few visual elements as well as some interior tweaks which will ensure it carries on the success story from the previous car, which went on to win the 2012 South African Car of the Year title.

Top 10 Fastest Accelerating Cars under R550k in SA

R550 000 might sound like a strange number to define the top 10 fastest accelerating cars, but we think it hits the spot just right. It incorporates just the right amount of bang for buck without diluting it with a whole bunch of mainstream German machinery.

Audi Multitronic CVT To Be Phased Out

Despite the German brand being one of the first to use this type of automatic gearbox more than a decade ago,Audi has revealed its plans to axe its Multitronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Rare Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale up for Auction

This extremely rare prototype Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale is to be auctioned off on August 16 2014. It could well become the most expensive Ferrari ever to be sold at auction.

2015 Ford Mustang in SA A first look

Ford took over the Sandton Convention Centre last week as 1 000 gathered dignitaries and industry stakeholders elbowed each other out the way with their iPads and smartphones, poised to record the first glimpse of the 2015 Ford Mustang.

Ford Fiesta is Best Selling Car Ever in the UK

The Ford Fiesta has been named as the best-selling car of all-time in the UK after registering a total of 4 115 000 sales as of this July 2014.

Porsche Macan launched in SA

Stuart Johnston got behind the wheel of the baby Porsche SUV – the Macan. Read his driving impressions here.