The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is the most premium offering in the market from India’s largest carmaker. In many ways a more luxurious version of the Ertiga, it is sold through the brands’ premium network Nexa. A few years after the car was first launched in the market, it has now been given a mid-life facelift. This new car comes with a whole lot of changes, and these include changes on the design, interiors as well as the drivetrain.
LOOKS
The XL6 has always been a handsome looking car that gets some sporty elements. Now Maruti has tried to make it even more appealing. The big change on the face is the new front grille which gets a sweeping ‘X-bar’ element and a generous dose of chrome, something that works well with most buyers. The quad chamber LED reflector headlamps along with LED DRLs look good while the machine-finished two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels are also new. Then there’s the gloss black finish on B and C pillars along with the fender side garnish which gets a chrome element. The 3D LED tail lamps with light guide and smoke grey lens give a sporty feel to the rear of the car. There are 6 monotone and 3 dual-tone body colour options, but the latter are available only on the top Alpha+ trim.
INTERIORS
The interiors continue to look plush on the XL6 and the MPV now gets even more features than before. The front row now gets ventilated seats which is a welcome feature looking at the dreaded Indian summer while the7-inch SmartPlay Pro Touchscreen Infotainment System with voice assist is also new. The XL6 also gets In-built Suzuki Connect system which offers remote functionality with over 40+ features. The car can also be remotely accessed through a compatible smart watch and voice connectivity through Amazon Alexa. The 2ndrow continues to get captain seats something that ensures that the access to the 3rd row is easy. You also get roof-mounted AC for rear passengers and there are ample utility spaces such as air-cooled canholders, smart phone storage, bottle holders in each row.
ENGINE
The biggest change though on the new XL6 is in its drivetrain. The car runs on a next-Gen K-series 1.5L Dual Jet, Dual VVT Petrolengine which offers a peak power of 75.8 kW@6000rpm and maximum torque of 136.8Nm@4400 rpm. Apart from a 5-speed manual the car also gets an all-new 6-speed Automatic transmission something that truly makes the XL6 a better offering than before. It also gets paddle shifters which enhances the drive quotient on the car. The car also gets Smart Hybrid technology which offers better fuel efficiency. Maruti is claiming of 20.97 kmpl on the manual and 20.27 kmpl on the Automatic versions of the car.
SAFETY
The new XL6 is built on Suzuki’s signature HEARTECT Platform which makes optimum use of high tensile steel. The MPV gets 4 Airbags (Driver, Co-driverand front seat side) as standard across all variants. Apart from this you also get Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Electronic Stability Program(ESP) with Hill Hold Assist(HHA) as standard across variants. There’s also a 360 View Camera for ease of parking and ‘approaching object detection’ feature that can sense the presence of moving objects on the screen.
Prices
The XL6 gets 3 trims each in Manual and Auto apart from the dual tone options. Prices for the manual variants begin at Rs. 11.29 lakh (ex-showroom) and go upto Rs. 13.05 lakh for the dual tone. The Automatic ranges between Rs. 12.79 lakh and Rs. 14.55 lakh (ex-showroom). The car can also be owned through Maruti Suzuki Subscribe at an all-inclusive monthly subscription fee starting from Rs. 25,499.
The writer is Senior Editor at carandbike.com