Can the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid smash its MPV rivals? [Poll of the Week]

The seven-seater MPV battle royale in the Philippines welcomes another challenger, making the competition tighter and more interesting. This time, Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPH) has unleashed its arsenal, the 2023 Ertiga Hybrid.

2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid

The arrival of the Ertiga Hybrid is sort of not surprising as Suzuki Philippines already previewed it during the Philippine International Motor Show (PIMS) last September 2022. Although, during that time, SPH didn’t confirm that it will be bringing in the hybrid version of its seven-seater MPV. What SPH did during PIMS was to showcase its hybrid technology.

Fast forward to the present, the 2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid is now officially launched in the Philippines. It is available in four variants with a starting price of Php 954,000 while the top-of-the-line trim retails at Php 1,153,000. Of note, all variants come with a hybrid powertrain. And the entry-level 2023 Ertiga is the most affordable hybrid vehicle in the Philippines as of this writing.  

The 2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque. The gasoline engine is mated to an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG), and it also comes with a 12-volt lithium-ion battery. Transmission options can either be a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual.  

The Ertiga Hybrid is eyeing to make an impact in the local seven-seater MPV segment 

This makes the Ertiga a mild hybrid seven-seater MPV, which is currently the only MPV in the Philippines and in its segment to come with the said powertrain. To put things in perspective, the Suzuki Ertiga goes up against the likes of the Toyota Avanza, Mitsubishi Xpander, Nissan Livina, Hyundai Stargazer, and Honda BR-V, among others. 

Having a hybrid powertrain, SPH said that the Ertiga Hybrid can yield notable fuel economy. The car brand claims that it can do 12.5 km/l on city driving, which is 7.6 percent better than the regular gasoline engine found on the Ertiga. This fuel eco run is certified by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP).  

It comes with cruise control

The 2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid now also comes with a Cruise Control feature, which can be useful in long highway drives. This also makes the Ertiga at par with other of its segment rivals that have Cruise Control, the Xpander, Stargazer, and BR-V.

Suzuki PH also wants to highlight that the Ertiga Hybrid qualifies for the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) law. This means that future Ertiga Hybrid owners will be exempted from number coding. Other perks include a 15 percent off on vehicle registration, priority lane on vehicle and franchise registration, and TESDA training program, among others.

The 2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid comes with a starting price of Php 954,000

2023 Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid Variants & Price:

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GA M/T - Php 954,000

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GL M/T - Php 1,068,000

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GL A/T - Php 1,103,000

Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid GLX A/T - Php 1,153,000

That said, do you think that the Suzuki Ertiga Hybrid can smash its rivals in the seven-seater MPV segment? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.