Maruti Eeco Facelift: The Indian commercial and family transport landscape has a new entrant in the form of the revamped Maruti Eeco facelift.
This well thought out workhorse is now a useable form of transportation with some aesthetic appeal, and yet it still remains as the cheapest passenger vehicle in the nation!
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Maruti Eeco Facelift The Evolution of Design: Plain to Dhansu
The facelifted Eeco jumps headlong into someone’s wish list with cosmetic tweaks that enhance its barebones-appeal yet manage to keep intact the no-nonsense feel and image of the car.
The front end gets an overhaul with a modern-looking grille with horizontal bars and tasteful chrome treatment that leaves an impression of expense rather than excess.
The headlamps retain their traditional box shape, but have new internal components that offer better light distribution. The new more angularly styled fog lamp housings make the front bumper appear even more rugged, and provide better protection against anywhere bushes or cow collisions (just kidding).
Travelling further down the profile, the side panels retain their basic cleanliness, but now have subtle character lines to lower visual mass and produce more intriguing light play.
Up higher, the window surrounds are blacked out which adds an appealing sense of contrast. Those steel wheel covers have also been redesigned to look like alloys from afar – a neat styling trick that boosts their appearance without running up the bill unnecessarily.
The rear meanwhile finishes that off with new tail light clusters with LED elements on upper spec cars so that they are not only better illuminated at night but also have a more modern nighttime image.
The latter is installed with reflectors designed to improve safety as well as contribute to the overall detailing that breaks the monotony of the rear surface.
The choice in colors reflect some intriguing thinking, offering colors with deeper metallic finishes such as Pearl Arctic White, Silky Silver, Metallic Glistening Grey and even the more vibrant Blazing Red – acknowledgements of the diverse usage patterns of the vehicle, ranging from commercial to family.
Cabin Touches: Actual and Practical
You step into the updated Eeco and it doesn’t feel like the cabin you’ve been waiting six decades for, but it was time well spent — the interior finally feels like a big leap forward and all the changes make it even more practical, no less robust.
The simple dashboard design remains, though it’s made with nicer materials and has a better feel and closer panel fits.
The instrument cluster now features a new multi-information display that offers drivers a variety of vehicle information such as fuel and more, all highlighted with better readability.
The gear selector is mounted on the dashboard to maximize the utilizable space of the front cabin and to also ensure comfortable shift operation that draws a balance between practicality and convenience.
Now more comfortable seating is realized through thicker and softer seat cushions and backrests with additional padding* and attractive nubby covering that possesses a high-end leather ovelook and wear for year of use with the double stich cover.
The passenger version’s second row bench now has a recline function which makes long trips less taxing – a real boon for family buyers.
The optional third row retains the convenient folding function for superior space versatility in terms of consideration of passengers and cargo.
Storage is well thought out with other compartments sized well for what you carry on a daily basis. All grades come with a locking glovebox, and door pockets are now big enough to take larger water bottles – small but useful day-to-day changes.
Mechanical refinement – Where reliability meets speed.
Under the refresh, the Eeco continues to boast it’s consistent 1.2 litre K-series petrol engine has now been tweaked again for more smoothness and improved efficiency.
In petrol guise this engine makes 73 ps at 5500 rpm and 98 Nm of torque at 3750 rpm while the best part is that in CNG combined mode (Hybrids are always better), the same engine churns out 63 ps of power and 83 Nm of torque – figures which offer optimal performance and super efficiency from a car targeted at operating economics.
Meanwhile, the five-speed manual gearbox gets recalibration for smoother shifts and with better defined gates, the latter particularly beneficial in city-commute situations where you’re constantly at it with the lever. Pedal leverage is modified for a lighter clutch effort, with reduced driver fatigue in heavy traffic.
Its rugged suspension, now with updated bushings, retains the basic fundamental design but with enhancements in absorption of road impacts – without sacrificing load-carrying capability by the commercial segment. The re-tunable shock valving offers a progressive feel to damping and over certain terrain (eg. light load) improves ride quality.
Localization through Feature Integration : Practical Improvements
The updated Eeco has some of these touches that do a lot to enhance the ownership experience without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.
The audio system gains Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free use as a phone and/or audio player – a major benefit for commercial and domestic operators.
Safety as a consequence isn’t skimped upon with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, and rear parking sensors now standard on all variants – amending an area of the outgoing model that had been fairly heavily criticised.
The body is strategically strengthened in key sections to enhance shock absorption and minimise inertia charging, yet the vehicle retains its price accessibility.
For comfort equipment, it comes with power windows, central locking and manual-controlled air conditioning – nothing that overwhelms the driver, but adds a noticeable effect to its every day usage, without such expensive electronics which could affect in its long-term reliability in harsh operating environment.
Market Positioning and Value Proposition
Maruti Suzuki has placed the updated Eeco at a ridiculously value for money starting asking price of ₹4.63 lakh (ex-showroom) – which also makes it the most affordable people carrier in the country despite the updates.
This pricing recognises the important roles of the model as part family workhorse, looking to get maximum use for minimum outlay as well as for commercial operators working to a strict budget.
The versatile variant structure comprises 5-seater and 7-seater passenger vehicles as well as two cargo vehicle options available with or without windows – versatility which covers a range of usage scenarios from family trips to last-mile delivery.
The carmaker said the factory-fitted CNG option affords high fuel economy for high-mileage users and at the same time, Maruti’s acclaimed reliability.
Ownership economics are brought to bear, not only serving purchase price, but also with best-in-class fuel economy, with the CNG optimised version offering running costs that are much lower than comparable diesel vehicles.
Even in smaller towns and rural areas, maintenance accessibility is guaranteed by the nationwide service network – an important aspect, especially for commercial operators.
Maruti Eeco Facelift Conclusion
On the whole, the new Maruti Eeco is a sensible progression – it takes a plain jane sort of a vehicle and makes it look quite attractive without taking away from its basic premise of being a good, no-nonsense mode of transportation! With all the worthwhile design upgrades and equipment additions, without compromising on its value-for-money factor, Maruti has made it a far tempting proposition for those looking for budget-friendly people mover, whether for business or personal use.
“We have revitalized the Eeco, that offers an excellent value proposition for customers in need of a full vehicle, with powerful performance and spacious interiors, at a price point like never before in the market, without making compromises on the safety and comfort,” says Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales) at the country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MISL), while launching the car.
It’s a sensible compromise that keeps the model competitive in a segment where pragmatism will always have to triumph over luxury pampering.
