If you are thinking of buying an MPV in India, there have been two obvious choices in the market, the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova. Since they compete in two different price segments, both absolutely dominated their respective segments. However, South Korean automaker KIA shook up the standings at the start of 2022 with the launch of its second cheapest product, the Carens. Based on the Seltos, the Carens adds a third row of seats and new styling making it an instant hit among many Indian consumers. But how does it fare against its established rivals? Today we have this detailed comparison to find an answer to this question.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs KIA Carens Vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Exterior Design
Looks are a very subjective matter. So, there is no clear winner in this department. While the Toyota Innova Crysta looks like an MPV, the Maruti Suzuki Eritga and the KIA Carens offers a more SUV look.
Maruti Suzuki recently gave the Ertiga a mid-life update featuring a new chrome ‘Winged’ grille and muscular bonnet and sleek lines all around. The side profile is simple with a single crease running along the length of the vehicle with a new dual-tone 15-inch alloys. The rear features a busy design with the taillights and creases on the boot lid but doesn’t look overdone.
Compared to this, the Kia Carens looks like a mix of SUV and MPV. The Carens is the first offering from the to features its new organic design philosophy that started off with the EV6 globally. The split headlight setup with the gaping grille gives the Carens an aggressive front look. The side is all practical and business-like with a large glass area and 16-inch alloy wheels. The rear end features an all-LED taillight setup and chrome finishing around the bumpers.
The MPV like Toyota Innova Crysta’s design gets a large front grill and lots of chrome all around. The Innova is also larger and wider than the other two cars in this comparision.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs KIA Carens Vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Interior Design and Features
In terms of interiors, all the three cars follow a different philosophy. While the Maruti Ertiga goes for a floating upright design with beige colour scheme, the KIA Carens opts for a more premium inlay dashboard with black and beige theme, while the Toyota Innova Crysta offers an all-black cabin with a mechanical design. All models get a different sizes of touchscreen infotainment unit that offer Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with other functions like all power windows, digital MID, keyless start/stop function, automatic climate control, reversing camera among others.
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In addition to the above-mentioned feature, the KIA Carens also offers a Bose speaker system, single-touch tumble-down middle-row seat, 64 colours changing ambient lighting and a sunroof among others.
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs KIA Carens Vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Pricing
Prices for the Maruti Ertiga start from Rs 8.41 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base LXI model and goes up to Rs 12.79 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top ZXI Plus AT variant. The Kia Carens range starts from Rs 9.60 lakh (ex-showroom) for the entry-level Premium variant and goes up to Rs 17.70 lakh (ex-showroom) for the flagship Luxury Plus Diesel AT model.
Read Also: All You Need to Know About Maruti Suzuki Cars
The Toyota Innova Crysta is the most expensive of the three with prices starting at Rs 18.09 lakh (ex-showroom) for the 2.7 GX 7-seat variant. The top-of-the-line 2.4 ZX AT 7-seat model will set you back Rs 26.76 lakh (ex-showroom).
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs KIA Carens Vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Powertrain
Moving to the powertrains, all models are offered with petrol engine option, while the KIA is the only one to offer a turbo petrol unit as well. The Innova Crysta and the Carens are both offered with a diesel engine option as well. The Maruti Ertiga is the only car to offer CNG option.
The Maruti Ertiga offers 2 engine options – a petrol and a CNG. The petrol is a 1.5-litre petrol unit that churns out 100 bhp and 137 Nm of peak torque. The engine also features smart hybrid tech. The CNG powertrain is similar but makes a lower peak power and torque figures of 85 bhp and 122 Nm. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic (petrol only).
The Kia Carens is available in two petrol and one diesel engine options. The 1.5-litre petrol unit produces 115 bhp and 144 Nm and comes paired to either a 6-speed manual or IVT transmission option. The other petrol option is the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol the puts out around 140 bhp and 242 Nm. This unit comes mated to either 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT. The last powertrain option is the 1.5-litre turbodiesel which is rated for 115 bhp and 250 Nm and comes with either a manual or an auto transmission.
The Toyota Innova Crysta gets both petrol and diesel options as well. You get a 2.7-litre petrol which churns out 164 bhp and 245 Nm while the 2.4-litre diesel 148 bhp and 343 Nm respectively. Both engines are offered with a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission option.
Read Also: Guide To Buying the Right Toyota Car
Maruti Suzuki Ertiga Vs KIA Carens Vs Toyota Innova Crysta: Mileage
All cars in this comparisions are frugal by nature. The Maruti Ertiga leads the chart with a claimed economy of 20.51 kmpl. The Ertiga is followed by the KIA Carens which returns 18 kmpl in the diesel manual guise, while the Toyota Innova Crysta is the least efficient with a claimed mileage of 14 kmpl in the diesel guise.
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