Maruti XL6 launched: Why should you buy?

For a country which cannot get enough of the high-riding vehicles, Maruti has given us a new one. Called the XL6, the newest product from Nexa premium showroom is Ertiga in new, slightly rugged clothes. If you want to know how it stacks up against the people mover, click here to read about the sibling rivalry between the two. However, the XL6 is much more than that. So read on to find out why you should consider buying the all-new XL6 or should you put your money elsewhere. 

What's good about it?

What sets the XL6 apart from the Ertiga are six seats on the inside instead of seven. The second-row bench has been replaced with individual captain seats. This might come in handy for customers who never utilize all the full seven seats of the Ertiga. Secondly, the cabin also gets an new all-black theme and the wood on the dash has been replaced by similar dark inserts. 

On the outside, the cosmetic changes include a redesigned fascia with a new grille, new headlamp cluster, black body cladding all around with blacked-out ORVM, bash plates both fore and aft, a black insert on the tailgate and contrasting roof rails. The XL6 does appear distinct and handsome from certain angles. And the added cladding also brings in a rugged appeal to the already good looking MPV. 

Since it will be sold through the Nexa dealerships, the XL6 would also get a premium ownership experience. It also gets a sleuth of safety features as standard fitment under the aegis of Nexa Shield. And there’s the option and convenience of two-pedal set up in both the variants. 

What’s not so good?

Maruti Suzuki is only offering the XL6 with a single petrol engine option. Sure, the 1.5-litre K15 petrol motor is frugal and potent enough. And people looking for a rugged diesel version will surely miss it. We hope to see the 1.5-litre diesel from the standard Ertiga to make its way into the XL6 as well.

Available only in the Zeta and Alpha trims means the XL6 is a feature-rich vehicle. But this also means that the XL6 demands a premium of a couple of lakh over the equal-spec Ertiga.

The best variant to buy?

The top-spec Alpha trim is the one to go for if you don’t need the convenience of the automatic. That trims offers everything that the automatic trim offers for almost Rs 1.1 lakh less. 

Specifications

1462cc, four-cylinder, petrol engine

103bhp at 6000rpm 

138Nm at 4400rpm

Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic

Did you know?

The name XL6 is a nod to the mid-sized SUV that Suzuki made between 1998 and 2009 called the XL7. The XL7 was a seven-seater and was positioned above the Grand Vitara in the American market. In India, the XL-7 badge was worn by the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara sold between 2003 and 2007.