Maruti Suzuki has launched an improved version of the Eeco MPV in India at a starting price of Rs 5.13 lakh. The highlight for the new Eeco is the addition of the K12N engine which can be had either in a petrol-only avatar or a dual-fuel CNG/petrol variant. Although the Eeco is more popular in the taxi and cargo market, four variants are available for private buyers too.

Maruti has replaced the ageing G12B engine (first introduced in 2010) in the Eeco with the company’s latest K12N 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, Dual Jet, Dual VVT motor. When fed with petrol, this engine develops 80bhp (as compared to 72bhp before) and 104.4Nm of peak torque (as compared to 98Nm before). When fed with CNG, the power drops to 71bhp (G12B developed 62bhp) and the peak torque developed is 95Nm (up from 85Nm). Only a five-speed manual transmission is offered. The increase in performance has not dented mileage though, and Maruti claims the new Eeco will go 19.71km on a litre of petrol and 26.78km on a kilogram of CNG.

Eeco’s overall design has not changed since it was first launched as the Versa in 2001. Function takes priority over form, with a space-maximising boxy design and simple body lines all around. The Eeco is bare-boned in terms of equipment on the outside, with clear lens reflector headlamps, black bumpers at the front and rear, and steel wheels on all variants. The Eeco’s highlights are the old-school sliding doors for the rear cabin.

The Eeco is the only car in the company’s current lineup which harks back to the company’s hard-plastic-filled basic interior design. The Eeco can be had in five- or seven-seater configurations, all featuring thin, contourless seats with integrated headrests. One can order the Eeco without air conditioning too. Further, it gets mandated safety features like dual front airbags, ABS+EBD, reverse parking sensors, and seatbelt reminders as standard.