Maruti Ertiga Diesel spied testing: Maruti Diesels could make a comeback [Video]

Maruti Suzuki discontinued all the diesel engine options in the Indian market after the implementation of the BS6 emission norms earlier this year. Currently, no Maruti Suzuki car for the private car buyers or commercial buyers that offers a diesel engine option. While Maruti Suzuki said that they will not offer a diesel car in the Indian car market, they did not rule out the re-introduction of the diesel engine in the future, if there is a demand for it.

It seems like Maruti Suzuki has started testing its diesel engine with the Ertiga Tour M, which is specifically aimed at the commercial car buyers and taxi fleet owners. The car on the test was caught by 91Wheels testing on the highways.

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While this Ertiga Tour M looks like an exact version of the regular petrol-powered model that is already on sale, the diesel clatter and a few other things give it away. The diesel clatter is quite prominent in this Ertiga and since the new K-Series Maruti Suzuki engines are extremely smooth and silent. Moreover, the video also shows the DDiS badges on the side of the MPV. DDIS stands for Direct Diesel Injection System, which is what all diesel variants of the Maruti Suzuki cars came with in the past.

It should be noted that Maruti Suzuki sourced the 1.3-litre diesel engine from FIAT and then developed a 1.5-litre diesel engine in-house. The 1.5-litre diesel engine even powered the cars like Ciaz and Ertiga in the Indian market before the BS6 emission norms were implemented.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine from Maruti Suzuki is a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that generates a maximum power of 94 Bhp and peak torque of 225 Nm. It was only available with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Maruti Suzuki offers several of its models with CNG. However, it seems that the manufacturer is now working to bring back the diesel engine and initially only the commercial vehicles like the Dzire Tour, Ertiga Tour M will offer the diesel-powered variants. Apart from Maruti Suzuki, the Volkswagen Group has also decided to do away with the diesel engines but all other competitors like Hyundai, Tata and Ford offer diesel engine options.

It should be noted that the price of petrol and diesel fuel in India has become almost similar, which has pushed the sales of petrol vehicles in India. However, there are still many who prefer buying diesel cars over the petrol-powered versions.

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