It was 1985 when Maruti Suzuki launched its miracle car with enough boot space to accommodate many passengers and luggage at the same time. It was named Maruti Suzuki Omni. It was an instant hit for family and commercial users. Following its legacy, Maruti Suzuki Versa was launched in 2001 with a better engine and proper modifications as per the current industrial requirements and trends. Both these models were a remarkable success, and they eventually became popular choices for commercial vehicles used for carrying freight or for tourists.
The latest in this segment from this brand is Maruti Suzuki Eeco. It is a new model that entered the Indian automobile market and grabbed hold of the lion’s share of it in 2010. The prime aim of launching this new model was to deliver cost-efficient travel companions for Indian families, as well as commercial users. The mileage and usability of this car model are remarkable and perfectly fit into the Indian scenario. In fact, the smaller wheel dimension also delivers ample stability to this car, making it an ultimate choice for cities, suburbs and villages. It is not ideal for driving in hilly areas but is a good choice for economical travel in plains. The latest Maruti Suzuki Eeco comes in six different colours and 10 different variants. The price range of this model ranges between Rs 5.13 Lakh and Rs 6.40 Lakh.
The interior of this car can be customised according to the available options based on the use of a car owner. For instance, it can be a perfect economical family car with stylish seats. It has interior features that can be used to convert into a spacious ambulance. In fact, the car manufacturer has designed specific brochures for accessories, passengers and ambulances. It is a minivan with exceptional features to use as a commercial vehicle. It also packs great interior features as a family car. Hence, Maruti Suzuki Eeco is a name that surprises all.
Since its launch in 2010, it has been a great choice for commercial as well as family cars in the minivan segment. Its pricing strategy and exclusivity still remain unbeatable as it delivers what the Indian domestic and commercial car owners want in the best shape. With its price ranging between Rs 5.13 Lakh and Rs 6.40 Lakh, it has designed excellent variants in the same model and delivered good choices for the car buyers to personalise.
All the variants come in petrol/CNG engines and manual transmission gearboxes. There are a total of 6 variants available in this car model in the market. The variants are mentioned below.
All these models come in the same petrol engine specification. Only the Maruti Suzuki Eeco 5 Seater AC CNG version comes with a CNG engine that can also run on petrol. It also has the same displacement capacity of 1197 cc. These variants of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco have 5-gear manual transmission (MT) system.
Considering these four main models for domestic and commercial use, there are varieties and specifications one can choose from. The last two variants are specifically designed for healthcare systems where the car manufacturer provides the ambulance shell or an entire model for such purposes. The shell model can be modified by healthcare service providers according to their specific industry needs. The ambulance model is designed at a higher price quoted by the car manufacturer at Rs 8.13 Lakh and above.
As mentioned earlier, there are six main variants of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco based on the type of engine and seating arrangements. It means a car buyer can enjoy a good set of options to personalise and meet his needs. This car is ideal for both domestic and commercial use. Whether an owner wants to use it as a tourist vehicle or a freight transport medium, this car is ideal in terms of fuel economy and maintenance. Based on the variants available, here is a list of personalised options one can choose from.
All these models are available in 5-gear manual transmission mode. There are no options available for automatic transmission modes and driving modes either. This car model only allows petrol and CNG versions but no diesel models either. Hence, we can conclude that Maruti Suzuki Eeco has limited personalisation options from which a car buyer has to choose.
In terms of exterior design, it is a very simple MUV or a minivan that has been designed specifically for bigger Indian families and commercial purposes. Since the launch of the Maruti Suzuki Omni in 1985, it has been upgraded in terms of engine and exterior specification to a certain extent. There are many features of the exterior design that have not been changed over the course.
In 2010, Maruti Suzuki Eeco was launched with the aim of recapturing the same Indian automobile market segment as before. This is why it has not specifically changed the exterior design that much but has added graphics and other special features as per the industry requirements. The Eeco model of Maruti Suzuki has the latest exterior design with some alterations made. The colours available in this model are:
These exterior colours chosen by the car manufacturer give this car model a modern look that a car owner will love to flaunt. These new majestic colours have been a great addition to the exterior design features of the latest Maruti Suzuki Eeco models released in all the distributors’ locations. There are no dual-tone colours chosen for this model.
As mentioned earlier, this model was introduced in 2010 with no significant changes made, and the exterior features almost remain the same. Even though issuing three different kinds of models with interior features, Maruti Suzuki Eeco has simpler exterior features that still make this car a great choice in the Indian domestic and commercial automobile market.
The exterior of this Maruti Suzuki car model is balanced to look like a minivan. It falls in the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) segment with two sliding doors and two swinging doors for the driver and the front-seat passenger. The expansive design offers a whole look to this car model and has been a great choice in this car segment.
The front grille with the car logo is simple and carries the legacy of this brand. It is kept black in colour along with the stainless steel logo of Maruti Suzuki, giving a great finish. The design of the front grille adjusts and complements the monochromatic body exceptionally.
As we all know that this car is a family, as well as a commercial vehicle chosen by many families these days, its headlamps are one of the greatest exterior features that the brand has focused upon. It has been paired with clear lens lights with a shiny interior so that the headlamps can offer exceptional visibility during the nighttime. The front lamps are also paired with side lamps that will indicate the movement of the car on the sides as per the driver’s control. Maruti Suzuki Eeco has also packed the headlamp levelling features in all its models.
The tail lamps also possess similar features, with exclusive lights installed inside a dazzling reflector box. It enables the drivers and passengers on the road to get proper signals from the driver’s end of the car.
Maruti Suzuki Eeco comes with four covers on each of the front and rear wheels. The colour of this cover is steel white. The covers are provided to protect the interior features of the car wheels and to add a stylish look to the entire vehicle.
Maruti Suzuki Eeco comes with front-wheel mud flaps apart from the back-wheel flaps. This is a unique feature of this car that has been carried since the inception of the Maruti Suzuki Omni. This exterior feature is added so that the car can be driven with ease in muddy road conditions without fearing splashes on its body. The front mud flaps properly cover the wheelbase and protect the base of the car chassis from splashes.
Maruti Suzuki Eeco has provided outside rearview mirrors on the left and right side of the front door. A driver of this car will be able to have a clear rear view from inside the car and will maintain the safety protocols perfectly. The rearview mirrors added are quite wider in nature when compared to the other cars in this segment.
This exterior feature is only available for the ambulance version of this car model. The ambulance decal is provided with this model only for the healthcare units using this model.
This model of Maruti Suzuki Eeco comes with partly frosted rear side windows in order to offer privacy to the patients who are being carried to a healthcare unit or to their homes.
The same feature is also available for the back door of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco Care Ambulance version. The door window panes are partly frosted for the privacy of the patients being carried to a hospital or home.
Two of the doors are sliding in nature. They slide on a panel installed externally on the exterior body of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco. Only the doors on the driver’s side and the front passenger’s side are swinging in nature.
The previous interior designs of this car model have been a great catch for car owners. This time also, this car has delivered exceptional interior features that surely fit into the expectations of a big Indian family. As mentioned earlier, this car model is available in 5-seater and 7-seater versions, and the interior features are adjusted accordingly. Only the common features are being explained here so that Eeco enthusiasts can get a rough idea of this model’s excellence.
This is a compact minivan version that offers ample space for five passengers, including a driver. After five seating capacities are fit inside, ample car boot space is left to use at the back. When there is a seven-seating arrangement, the boot space reduces considerably but can fit two more persons than the 5 seating version easily. The interior colour has been chosen in such a way that it can match the seating upholstery properly. Let us check the interior features elaborately.
Like before, the instrument panel of this car has been given ample space to store important documents, smartphones, chargers and other crucial things passengers and drivers need daily. The console has a digital display in the Instrument Cluster showing real-time data that a driver needs to ponder upon.
The analogue speedometer has been replaced by a digital one to give it a modern approach and accurate reading of the vehicle’s speed.
A multi-trip meter has been provided on the instrument panel and console part so that the front passenger and driver to record the distance travelled by car easily.
A 12-Volt accessory socket has been provided with interior features to run various gadgets, charge smart devices, etc.
The Maruti Suzuki Eeco car models come with cabin air filters so that the passengers will not have to breathe in polluted air when outside. Even if the windows are closed, the air filter will not let the outside air enter the car without being filtered clean.
This car model comes with both-side sun visors so that the driver and front-seat passenger can sit comfortably and maintain visibility even on the brightest days. The sun visor can be adjusted easily underneath the windshield.
A set of Assist Grips has been installed inside the car since the beginning with Omni variants. It is a great feature that enables the co-driver and other passengers to hold while driving. This grip also enables the passengers to de-board the car easily. They are installed right at the top of the windows on the interior body of the car.
The roof and floor of Maruti Suzuki Eeco have been moulded with lining and carpet. The colour of the lining and carpet matches the seat upholstery in a brilliant way.
The seats come in common black upholstery colour that matches well with the roof lining and floor carpet. Apart from the default seat colour, the seat types can also be personalised based on the top options available with the car manufacturer. The modern seat types can be chosen for all the Maruti Suzuki Eeco models except the Care Ambulance one.
As mentioned earlier, the seating arrangements of this car model come in two different modes. These modes are 5 and 7. The driver seat has sliding features that enable the driver to adjust its distance from the steering wheel.
The front seat headrest is integrated with the seat, whereas the rear seats have fixed pillow headrests for the comfort of the passengers. The front seats can also be reclined.
Only two selected models come with air conditioner and heater features.
We now have a great idea of the interior and exterior features of this model. Based on the discussed points, we can easily figure out how this car has packed the essential features for the Indian market. Maruti Suzuki Eeco is a great choice for short and long drives. Here is a summary of the features of this car model given below.
Maruti Suzuki Eeco is not a car to be chosen if you are concerned about the modern safety features available in the top-level hatchback and sedans. This car is ideal for bigger families and comes with a small package of safety features that barely fit into the industry standards. Let us take a quick look at the features available in Maruti Suzuki Eeco.
A manual headlamp levelling system is installed in all the models so that the oncoming traffic is warned when this car is loaded with passengers or freight. It is a modern safety feature that all cars must have according to industry standards.
An immobiliser is installed in this car model. It is a brilliant safety feature that does not let this car model start unless the correct key is introduced in the socket. Hence, this feature is ideal to stop theft.
All the model variants of Maruti Suzuki Eeco come with interior side impact beams that protect the passengers during a crash to a considerable extent.
As the models do not come with a central lock controlled by the driver, there are child locks installed in every sliding door and window. These locks perfectly protect children inside the car during motion. Children will not be able to open a sliding door when the car is moving due to the excellent lock features.
As per this standard, only one side of the car’s front end is susceptible to crash and damage, not the entire width when it hits a barrier. This feature enables the dissipation of crash energy throughout the body and controls damage.
The seats in all models come with seat belts.
All the models of Maruti Suzuki Eeco come with a reverse parking sensor system.
The driver and co-driver seat belt reminder is installed in the alert system.
All the models come with ABS with an EBD safety system.
The driver and co-driver seats have airbags installed, not for the rear passengers.
The engine specifications of the Maruti Suzuki Eeco are:
Tata Punch, Tata Tiago and other cars can compete with Maruti Suzuki Eeco, but as a minivan, there is no replacement for this car model. The manufacturer has still captured the minivan segment of India since 1985 without bringing too many changes to the model. For commercial purposes, this is a good choice when it comes to price. The ambulance version is also good in terms of sturdiness and features.
In a nutshell, Maruti Suzuki Eeco is a good choice if you want to buy a minivan for commercial purposes. When it comes to safety factors, then this car model is not a good choice at all. Families with 5 or more members can go for this car. It can easily complete long drives at a great fuel efficiency rate. In the MUV and minivan segment, this car beats the other competitors in price but fails to meet the high standards.
Image Source: “www.marutisuzuki.com/eeco”