Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has brought in the new Eeco. Ashish Bhatia looks at the improvements and additions on the class-leading MPV.
The Maruti Suzuki Eeco continues to be popular with businesses both as a people and cargo mover. From touring to haulage to special application vehicles it dons many hats. To date, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has sold over 9.75 lakh units since its launch in January 2010 as the face lift of Versa launched in 2001. With a 93 per cent market share, in FY2022, the company sold 108,345 units of the Eeco. On a YTD (FY2023) basis, 78,371 units have been sold. In its latest configuration, the Eeco gets a new engine that claims to develop an enhanced power output and fuel efficiency with greater comfort as its USP. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), mentions, “This versatile multi- purpose van with an advanced power train, improved mileage and new features embodies the pride of ownership and living life to the fullest. It represents a whole new attitude, with fresh confidence in its latest avatar. We are confident that Eeco will continue to dominate its segment and receive much more adulation from consumers.”
Improvements and additions
MSIL is claimed to have designed the new Eeco with great thought spared for innovations on the engineering front. The aim was to optimise the Eeco as a dual-purpose vehicle to cater to the evolving needs of its target customers. On the one hand, it is expected to confidently meet the demanding needs of consumers scouting for a comfortable and spacious family car and on the other hand, entrepreneurs that require a practical vehicle with flexible interior space could also consider it. MSIL has upped the style quotient with a new metallic brisk blue body colour. Customers can also choose between solid white, metallic silky silver, pearl midnight black, and metallic glistening grey. Other additions include a digital instrument cluster, a new steering wheel and rotary controls for the AC and heater. It features driver-focused controls, reclining front seats, a cabin air filter (in AC variants), and a dome lamp with a new battery-saver function to name a few. The interiors are refreshed as a result and the company claims to have offered the latest technology and features to live up to the customer aspirations.
On the safety front, there are 11 plus safety features such as engine immobiliser, illuminated hazard switch, dual air bags, ABS with EBD, child lock for the sliding doors and windows, and reverse parking sensors amongst other standard safety features. Srivastava states, “Being a part of families and having provided livelihood to lakhs of entrepreneurs and businessmen, the New Eeco will continue to be a reliable and efficient vehicle. It will cater to a wide range of customer preferences as a comfortable, stylish and spacious family vehicle, while also providing flexibility for business use”. The new Eeco cargo petrol variant features a flat cargo floor that is claimed to have increased the cargo space by 60 litres. In the case of the Eeco Care ambulance shell, the van is offered without a stretcher, rail assembly and oxygen clamps. The special application vehicle will need to be worked upon by a fabricator to comply with the AIS-125 norms deemed suited for registering as an ambulance. This confidence in suiting varied needs stems from engineering.
The new Eeco draws power from a 1.2-litre advanced K-Series Dual Jet, dual VVT engine claimed to develop a peak power of 79.65 hp (59.4kW/80.76 PS) at 6000 rpm (for the petrol variants) which is an estimated 10 per cent higher over the previous generation of the Eeco. It develops a peak-rated torque of 104.4 Nm at 3000 rpm. While the petrol ‘Tour’ variant of the Eeco is claimed to be 25 per cent more efficient with a 20.20 kmpl fuel efficiency, customers can also turn to the Eeco S-CNG variant that offers 29 per cent improved fuel efficiency of 27.05 kilometres per kilogram. This efficiency drops marginally on the passenger variant.
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