The name "Ertiga" is coined from "R-tiga", a pronunciation of "R3" in Indonesian where "tiga" means "three" while "R" stands for "row", referencing its three-row seating capacity.

The Ertiga was previewed by the R-III (R3) concept car showcased by Maruti Suzuki at the 2010 Auto Expo.

It was rebadged in Indonesia as the Mazda VX-1 from May 2013 until March 2017, and also assembled and sold in Malaysia as the Proton Ertiga, from November 2016 until August 2019.

Though both of these engines were also seen doing duties earlier in various models, they are tweaked and retuned specifically for the car to provide fitting performance figures for its customers.

In June 2013, Maruti Suzuki added its Ertiga models[9] with compressed natural gas (CNG).

The Ertiga LXi and VXi have original factory converter kit and are provided with i-GPI (intelligent Gas Port Injection) which Maruti Suzuki claimed will achieve 22.8 km/L (64 mpg‑imp; 54 mpg‑US) premium-equivalent.

On 29 January 2013, the GL and GX trim levels received chrome front grille and double blower air conditioner.

[11] The Ertiga is also offered in diesel variant, which is imported from India and only comes in manual transmission option.

The Ertiga is the second made-in-India product in Suzuki South Africa's portfolio, the first one being the older Alto (A-Star).

The South African market Ertiga is only available with a 1.4-litre petrol engine paired with either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

[citation needed] On 20 August 2015, the facelifted Ertiga was launched at the 23rd Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show.

The interior gets a different seat upholstery, wooden panel on the dashboard and a 9-inch Android touchscreen head unit, in High Definition (HD) 1280 x 720 pixels resolution which no other competitors offer at that time (touchscreen enabled head unit display panel usually only has 1024 x 600 pixels resolution or less).

It is built on the HEARTECT platform, with the development led by chief engineer Satoshi Kasahara.

The GX trim received new dual-tone alloy wheel designs, a rear defogger, automatic climate control in digital format and a 6.8" touchscreen infotainment system from JVC with flatter bezels.

[33] In March 2019, a new Suzuki Sport (SS) trim was added after being displayed as a concept at the 26th Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show in August 2018.

The car is based on Suzuki Sport (SS) trim with new cosmetic upgrades such as dual tone white and black colour, red accents on the exterior, new black grille, seats with red accents and additional smart rear view E-Mirror from XL7 Alpha.

[38] The second generation Ertiga was released in Mexico on 10 November 2018, with two trim levels: GLS (with manual/automatic) and GLX (with automatic only); it is powered by a K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine.

[39] In November 2022, the facelifted Ertiga debuted in Mexico with the same trim levels as the pre-facelift model.

For transmission, all variants comes as standard with a 5-speed manual, however the VXi and ZXi trim levels have the option of a 4-speed automatic.

[42] In April 2019, the E15A 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine paired to a 6-speed manual was made available for the VDi, ZDi and ZDi+ trim levels.

[46] In April 2022, the Ertiga for the Indian market received a minor facelift; trim levels remained the same.

[47] The model surpassed 10 lakh total sales figure in February 2024[48] and was the top selling car in October 2024 for the second month running with numbers of 18,785 units.

[52] The second generation Ertiga was launched in Thailand on 6 February 2019, with two trim available: GL and GX; it is powered by a K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine paired only to a 4-speed automatic.

The GL trim receives a second-row armrest and a 6.2" touchscreen infotainment system with a reversing camera.

The GLX trim receives 15" dual-tone alloy wheels, 10" touchscreen infotainment system and automatic climate control.

It debuted in October 2021 in South Africa, which the model is offered in S, SX and TX trim levels.

The XL6 available in 3 trim levels: Zeta, Alpha and Alpha+; it is powered by a 1.5-litre MHEV petrol engine paired to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

[75] The XL7 was launched in Indonesia on 15 February 2020, it is available in three trim levels: Zeta, Beta and Alpha, with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

[87] The XL7 was launched in Mexico on 8 October 2020 as the Ertiga XL7, comes in a sole GLX trim, paired only with a 4-speed automatic.

[70] The XL6 was launched in South Africa on 23 August 2023, with two trim levels available: GL and GLX; it is powered by a K15B 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.