Here it is, the Proton Ertiga. In what has been a very busy year for Proton, this is the fourth and final product launch for the national carmaker after the Perdana, Persona and Saga introductions in June, August and September respectively.
The Ertiga name was confirmed earlier today in a teaser video by Proton, which means that not only is the MPV a straightforward rebadge of the Suzuki Ertiga (just like the Mazda VX-1), even the donor car’s name has been maintained. By the way, this will be the first ever Proton, whether homegrown or based on something else – to not have an original name. A Proton Ertiga R3 anyone?
The Ertiga is a rebadged Suzuki Ertiga facelift, with knock down kits coming from Suzuki in Indonesia. Our ASEAN neighbour is the regional production hub for this model – Suzuki exports the Ertiga as a CBU model to the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to the tune of 800 to 1,000 units per month, but this is its first CKD export order. The Japanese company expects orders of around 1,500 units per month from Proton, to be assembled in the under-utilised Tanjung Malim plant.
The Ertiga is a three-row MPV for emerging markets. It first surfaced in India – a market where Maruti Suzuki is the market leader – back in 2012, before going on sale in MPV-dominated Indonesia. The facelifted version made its debut at last year’s Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2015 show, sporting minor exterior and interior revisions and an unchanged powertrain.
The Ertiga is a three-row MPV that is capable of seating seven. However, in Malaysia it’s classified as a six-seater. This is because the donor Suzuki comes with a lap belt for the middle seat in the middle row, and lap belts (as opposed to the more protective three-point belt) aren’t good enough for Malaysian regulations. There, a six-seater three-row MPV in 2-2-2 formation.
Sitting on a stretched Suzuki Swift platform, the Ertiga measures 4,265 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,685 mm tall, with a wheelbase length of 2,740 mm. Compared to the MPV that it’s brought in to rival – the Perodua Alza – the Ertiga is 5 mm shorter but has a roofline that’s 65 mm higher. The Alza’s 2,750 mm wheelbase is 10 mm longer.
The Exora, which will continue to be sold, is significantly larger – 327 mm longer 114 mm wider and 6 mm taller – which means that there’s a place for both in the family. And of course, the homegrown effort is a seven-seater. Proton is now calling the Exora a C-segment MPV and the Ertiga a B-segment MPV.
The chassis is par for the course – MacPherson struts for front suspension, a torsion beam at the back, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes and a 45-litre fuel tank. The EPS electric steering’s turning radius is 5.2 metres. It might also be worth noting the Ertiga’s 185 mm ground clearance, which is pretty high – 30 mm higher than both the Alza and Exora, and just 15 mm short of the gangly Avanza.
Moving under the hood, we have a 1.4 litre engine with 92 PS at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm. This is the familiar K14B unit with DOHC, VVT, timing chain and drive-by-wire throttle. It’s mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or an Aisin-sourced four-speed torque converter automatic. Zero to 100 km/h is completed in 11.8 seconds for the MT and 13.9 seconds for the AT. Proton quotes fuel consumption at a constant 90 km/h cruise, and it’s 5.7 l/100 km for the MT and 6.0 l/100 km for AT – good enough for EEV certification, the brand’s first.
Three variants will be available – Executive MT, Executive AT and the top Executive Plus AT. As standard, the Ertiga comes with halogen headlamps (reflector type), front and rear foglamps, electrically-adjustable side mirrors, rear parking sensors (two eyes), rear wiper, 15-inch wheels with 185/65 GT Radial Champiro tyres and a full-size spare tyre. Four colours are on the plate – Ruby Red (the Perdana’s hero colour), Carnelian Brown (new on the Persona), Metal Grey (Saga) and Cotton White.
Inside the MPV’s two-tone (light grey and beige seats) cabin, you’ll find middle row seats that are slidable within a 240 mm range. They are also 60:40 split-folding, with one-touch access to the third row, which split folds 50:50.
There’s also an integrated CD/USB player with four speakers, ceiling-mounted rear air-con (with cooling coil and blower control) and 12V power sockets (one in front, one for the middle row). The Ertiga is a four-star ASEAN NCAP car and it comes with two front airbags, side impact beams, ABS with EBD and two Isofix anchors. No electronic stability control to be found, though, just like the original Suzuki.
Move up to the Executive Plus AT, and Proton throws in chrome trim for the front foglamp housing, power foldable side mirrors, LED turn signals on the side mirrors, extra under bonnet insulation, audio controls on the steering wheel, two dashboard tweeters (to make it six speakers in total), a height adjuster for the driver’s seat, chrome inside door handles and pockets in the back of both front seats.
Here’s the Ertiga’s spec list that we’ve compiled, in point form:
Proton Ertiga 1.4 Executive MT/AT
Engine, drivetrain
1.4 litre K14B petrol engine
92 PS at 6,000 rpm
130 Nm at 4,000 rpm
DOHC, variable valve timing with metal timing chain
Multi-point Injection
Drive-by-wire throttle
Five-speed manual or four-speed torque convertor automatic (Aisin)
0-100 km/h: 11.8 sec for MT, 13.9 sec for AT
Fuel economy (at 90 km/h): 5.7 l/100 km for MT, 6.0 l/100 km for AT
Chassis, suspension
Stretched Suzuki Swift platform
MacPherson struts front suspension
Torsion beam rear suspension
Front brake discs
Rear drum brakes
45-litre fuel tank
Dimensions (length, width, height): 4,265 mm, 1,695 mm, 1,685 mm
Wheelbase: 2,740 mm
Weight: 1,175 kg for MT, 1,185 kg for AT
Turning radius: 5.2 m
Ground clearance: 185 mm
Exterior
Reflector halogen headlamps
Front and rear foglamps
Bulb-type tail lights
Chrome front grille
Chrome rear garnish with red tail light extension bars
Turn signal indicators on front fenders
Electrically-adjustable side mirrors
Remote control key fob
15-inch alloy wheels with GT Radial Champiro Eco tyres (185/65R15)
Full-size spare tyre
Two rear parking sensors
Rear window wiper
Four colours: Ruby Red, Carnelian Brown, Metal Grey, Cotton White
Interior
Two-tone interior (light grey and beige)
Polyurethane steering wheel
Integrated head unit with CD, USB player
Four speakers
Back-lit instrument cluster with trip computer
Manual air-con
Ceiling-mounted rear air-con (with cooling coil and blower control)
12V power sockets (1 front, 1 middle row)
Six three-point seat belts (2-2-2)
Beige fabric upholstery
Middle row seats – Slidable (240 mm range), 60:40 split-folding, one-touch access to third row, centre armrest, two Isofix anchors
Third row seats – 50:50 split-folding
Under-floor storage compartment
Safety
Two front airbags
ABS with EBD
Side impact beams
Four-star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating
Proton Ertiga 1.4 Executive Plus AT
Adds on:
Chrome trim on front foglamp housings
Power-foldable side mirrors
LED turn signals on side mirrors
Under-bonnet insulation
Audio controls on steering wheel
Two dashboard tweeters (six speakers in total)
Height-adjustable driver’s seat
Chrome interior door handles
Back-seat pockets on both front seats
No estimated pricing yet, though. For that, we’ll have to wait for further announcement from Proton. We’ve had a short preview drive of the Ertiga at Proton’s Shah Alam track, and it’s coming up right after this.
GALLERY: Indonesian-market Suzuki Ertiga
