The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is a premium 6-seater MPV that is on retail through the company’s premium Nexa Experience outlets and it is the first 6-seater on offer as a premium people mover. If it looks familiar, you aren’t wrong, for the XL6 is largely based on the Ertiga MPV, however it has received quite a few tweaks to make it stand apart and carry a more upmarket appeal.
On the design front, the XL6 sports a lot of cues that are SUV inspired. The flat front end, the bold new grille, large signature quad LED headlights and sporty looking bumper give it that touch as does the side cladding, roof rails and silver finished front bumper insert and rear diffuser. To further accentuate its sporty appeal, the XL6 rides on fantastic looking black alloys shod with 185/65 R15 rubber. It has been put together quite well and our only feedback on the styling is that the XL6 could do with a shark-fin antenna instead of the start one it currently sports. It is a small detail, but it would go a long way in enhancing the premium MPV’s styling. Apart from that, we really don’t have any complaints and while we were out on the shoot on the outskirts of Jaipur, the XL6 attracted a lot of people, some of whom came with their families to get clicked with the car!
Built on the 5th generation HEARTECT platform, the XL6 has been optimized for cabin space and there is oodles of room in all three rows. Having said that, the best seats in the house are the 2nd row captain seats which take the comfort factor to a whole new level in this segment of MPV. With the 6-seater layout, the cabin looks even more spacious and keeping with the practical nature of this product, the captain seats are fitted on sliders so they can be moved forward in order to free up more space should you need to take people in the third row, or pushed back to use the XL6 as a mighty fine 4-seater with a ton of luggage space.
The cabin has received a lot of work as well and follows a distinct all-black theme that makes it stand apart from the beige one that you find on the Ertiga. While the layout is exactly the same, the all-black look does add that air of premiumness to the cabin. As for creature comforts, the XL6 comes with it all! You get an easy-to-use touchscreen infotainment system for all your connectivity needs. You get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth and USB access as well and the playback quality of the sound system is rather decent. Add to that, the XL6 comes with steering mounted controls and a neat looking instrument cluster with a multi-colour driver information display that gives you access to a plethora of information and vehicle stats.
Maruti Suzuki is offering the XL6 with the 1.5 litre petrol engine that comes with the Smart Hybrid system as standard. There is no diesel offering. The 1.5 litre petrol engine is known for its refinement and linear power delivery which makes it quite a joy to drive. Add to that, the Smart Hybrid system offers a torque boost which makes it easier to perform overtaking manoeuvres or get that added bit of grunt when you step down on the gas pedal. With a power output of 105 PS and 138 Nm of torque, this engine has proved its mettle on other Maruti Suzuki products and does a fine job of powering the XL6 too. To top it off, it is rather frugal as well.
As mentioned, the XL6 is a neat car to drive and it does a fine job of soaking up road undulations and not jostling the passengers about. We have always said that Maruti Suzuki does an excellent job of setting up their vehicle’s suspension to be just right for our driving conditions and the XL6 scores on this as well. For those looking for the added convenience of driving the XL6 around town, it does come with a 4-speed automatic transmission that we have also seen on the Ciaz. However, our choice was the manual transmission that really allows you to keep the XL6 in its peak power band and enjoy a more spirited drive.
Once again, Maruti Suzuki has put together a practical machine that does everything right. For the market that the XL6 is designed for, there is really nothing else out there in that price range that can match up to what it has to offer. You do get amazing value for your money for the XL6 is feature rich, spacious, comfortable, practical and frugal. What’s more, you are backed by Maruti Suzuki’s legendary service and a low cost of ownership. So, if you are in the market for a practical yet premium people mover, the XL6 is your best choice!
Watch the XL6 Review Video
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Price List
Zeta (MT): INR 9,79,689
Alpha (MT): INR 10,36,189
Zeta (AT): INR 10,89,689
Alpha (AT): INR 11,46,189