Maruti Suzuki XL6 2020 Review: Prices, Features, Specs, offers and variants

Maruti Suzuki XL6 Variants and Features Suzuki XL6 variants and features

Maruti has kept the variant differentiation super simple for the XL6 as it is only offered in a total of 4 variants. There are only 2 root variants namely the Zeta and the Alpha. They are further differentiated on the basis of the gearbox. There are 2 gearboxes options on offer. The first one is a 5-speed manual transmission and the second one is a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The Zeta as well as the Alpha, both are available with the automatic or manual gearbox. The base XL6 Zeta is priced at INR 9,79,689, while the XL6 Alpha comes at INR 10,36,189. The XL6 automatic variants are priced at Rs. 10,89,689 and Rs. 11,46,189, respectively. The XL6 is available only with the petrol engine which is BS6 compliant. Suzuki has announced its exit from the diesel engine market in India by April 2020. Hence all the launches by Suzuki in the future will only offer a petrol engine like the XL6.

We Recommend

We would recommend you to go for the cheapest option available with the XL6 which is the Zeta variant with the manual gearbox. It is priced at Rs. 9, 79, 689 (Ex-showroom Delhi). It is the most value for money variant in the line up as it provides almost everything that the Alpha has to offer. There is not much of a difference in terms of features between the Alpha and the Zeta variant. Well, whatever more is offered by the Alpha variant can be counted on fingers. We would not recommend going for the automatic variant as the gearbox is outdated and comes with only 4 gears.

Also Read:

How will Mahindra Xylo respond to its new rival, the XL6?

Is the popular Innova Crysta a better choice?

How will Honda BR-V place itself among the rivals?

Maruti Suzuki XL6 Engine and Performance

As history tells us, Maruti has been great with shuffling the same engine into different car models. Well, things are no different with the XL6 as it comes with a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder petrol motor which debuted on the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. This motor has been developed by Maruti domestically and is also BS6 compliant. It churns out 103 Bhp of power and 138 Nm of peak torque. Rather than giving the XL6 the same old engine fitted to the Ertiga, Maruti has made a smarter move by giving it the more powerful engine from the Ciaz. But don’t be fooled by the move, the 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine feels nothing but adequate in the XL6.

Maruti has tuned the engine very well for urban use as the drivability is great even in stop and go traffic. This engine can pull from anything above 1000 rpm which enables it to start off the line in a very smooth manner. Within the city, this engine provides a good amount of low-end torque which is required to amble around in stop and go traffic conditions. Once on the highway, the engine turns into a cruiser and can easily do 100 to 120 kmph all-day. Even while the engine is of free-revving nature and the rev limiter kicks in at 6300 RPMs. Hence, if you try to attempt a quick overtake, this engine will ask for an upshift. This engine feels the best in the mid-range and feels quite refined for the most part. The gearbox is slick-sifting and has short throws which make it a breeze to operate. The clutch is quite light too and the engine performance is as expected from an MPV in this price range.

The XL6’s engine also gets the smart hybrid technology like the Ertiga and the Ciaz. It uses a dual-battery setup and the lithium-ion battery is placed under the front passenger’s seat. It is a very mild hybrid system unlike some of the Toyota ones which are a proper hybrid. Its primary objective is to improve the fuel-efficiency. It switches off the engine when the car comes to a standstill and switches the engine on once the clutch is pressed.  This hybrid is a lot better than that of its rivals as it works seamlessly. The ARAI FE rating has gone up to 19.34 kmpl against the old car's 16.04 kmpl. Overall the engine of the XL6 is tuned for fuel efficiency and feels adequate even under full load.

How well does the 2020 XL6 accelerate?

While the 0-100 kmph performance is the last thing that a customer would care about in the MPV segment, the XL6 still performs admirably. It is the second quickest car in its segment from 0-100 kmph. It completes the 0-100 kmph sprint in exactly 12 seconds beating all of its rivals but the Honda BR-V.

Under a full load, the Innova Crysta will be performing better than the rest of the bunch as it comes with a much more powerful engine. But it should be kept in mind that the top of the line variant of the Innova costs almost double the amount in terms of price when compared to the XL6. Honda’s BR-V is the quickest from 0-100 kmph due to higher power figures and lighter kerb weight.

How good is the XL6's ride quality?

What differentiates a good and a great MPV is its ride quality. Great ride quality is the reason why Toyota’s Innova is still preferred by many buyers even though it is priced at a premium. The XL6 comes with a typical suspension set up but Suzuki has tuned the suspension quite well for Indian road conditions. Within the city, the XL6 can easily soak in the bumps and potholes as the suspension is well damped. It can take most Indian roads with ease but very sharp bumps or potholes do manage to unsettle the XL6 but it recovers from it quickly. The ride is not on the softer side but it is nothing close to stiff either. It is a well-tuned suspension for an MPV and it manages to keep its occupants away from most jerks and undulations on the road. Once on the highway, the XL6 feels well planted but changing lanes at high speeds does make you realize it is an MPV. There is an acceptable amount of body roll in the corners and a considerable amount of nose dive as well under hard braking.

The steering wheel feels premium to hold and is quite light at city speeds. This makes it a very city-friendly car as nowhere you will feel that you are handling an MPV. The ride and handling dynamics of the XL6 is very car-like. It makes it very easy to nip it around in city traffic and also in and out of tight parking spaces. On the highway doing triple-digit speeds, the steering picks up enough heft and it does not feel nervous in any way. The steering is pretty much direct but it lacks any feel or feedback. The XL6 is no fun-to-drive car and its ride and handling package is focused mostly on comfort and convenience.

The Honda BR-V is the best handling car of the lot and the Xylo is pretty much the worst handler in this segment. The Innova continues to provide a superior ride and handling package which id due to the bigger dimensions and tires. The XL6 then is an all-rounder as it offers quite a mature ride along with neutral handling dynamics. On bad roads, none of the MPVs disappoint and provide better comfort than most hatchbacks or sedans.

How do the brakes work for Maruti Suzuki XL6?

Braking is one of the most important aspects of a car’s safety.  Hence, the XL6 comes with ABS and EBD as standard. It comes with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. We believe the Suzuki should have provided disc brakes at the rear as well to differentiate it from the Ertiga. But nonetheless, the XL6 comes with adequate stopping power and stops from triple-digit speeds without much drama. The brake pedal feels a bit spongy but the brakes bite quickly even on a light press.

There is nothing to complain about the XL6’s braking power as all the cars in this segment come with similar braking hardware. In fact, even the most expensive car in this segment, Toyota Innova, comes with drum brakes even at the rear. 

How much mileage does the new XL6's BS6 engine return?

Suzuki has always made cars that provide excellent fuel economy and XL6 is no different. It comes with the best-in-class fuel economy. The only downside is that no diesel engine is on offer and hence XL6 is only offered in the petrol variant. The good part is that Suzuki has provided the XL6 with a mild hybrid system which boosts the fuel economy figures of this petrol engine. It provides 19 kmpl for the manual variant and 17.99 kmpl for the automatic variant which is the best considering its size and fuel type.

The only advantage the rivals have over the XL6 in terms of fuel economy is that they continue to offer a diesel variant which has better fuel economy figures. As Suzuki has announced its exit from the diesel engine market we cannot expect a more frugal engine either. But if you are a petrol buyer, then the XL6 is the most frugal car you can buy in this segment.

Maruti Suzuki XL6 Exterior Design and Styling

MPVs are known to be notorious for having functional and boring interiors as well as exteriors. The XL6 is not different then, it looks like nothing other than an MPV. In fact, the XL6 is an Ertiga in a more sporty outfit. The XL6 comes with minor changes in physical dimensions when compared to the Ertiga. Just like the Ertiga, the XL6 has light sheet metal used on the exteriors and the build quality is just about average. The biggest difference between the Etriga and the XL6 is in the front. Where the Ertiga adopts a neutral styling, the XL6 looks more aggressive and more upright than the Ertiga. It gets a new Quad-LED reflector headlamp setup which looks more contemporary. From the sides, there is not much change and it looks almost like the Ertiga.

The rear end of the Ertiga had always been busy but the XL6 takes it up a notch. The rear looks quite busy and there is not much difference here either. Suzuki has added some cladding at the back to make it look more SUV-ish. There are piano black elements added to the rear which helps the rear look have a fresh appeal. But overall, the added exterior design elements make the XL6 look beefier and more aggressive than the Ertiga. But not to an extent that you will be mistaking the XL6 for an SUV.

Even though the XL6 is longer than the Ertiga it is still the shortest car in its segment in terms of overall length. Hence the knee room for the 3rd-row passengers is also the least when compared to its rivals. The biggest car in the segment is Toyota’s Innova, but it is also the most expensive car of the lot. Although, the best ground clearance is undoubtedly provided by Honda’s BR-V.

Exterior Features

• Sporty roof rails

• Muscular contours

• Side body cladding

• Quad-LED Headlamps

Maruti Suzuki XL6 Interior and Comfort

Suzuki has not put much effort into differentiating the XL6 from the Ertiga in terms of interiors. The interiors of the XL6 are a direct carry forward from the Ertiga. The biggest differentiator is that the XL6 gets an all-black treatment on the inside instead of the black and beige. Also, the XL6 gets captain seats instead of a full rear bench like in the Ertiga. 

The overall interiors look better in black but that said, the interior quality is nothing to talk home about. It is just about average and the quality of the plastics is exactly like that of the Ertiga. The ingress and egress are easy due to the wide-opening doors but they do not have any European car like a reassuring thud on closing. On the inside, the XL6 offers an ample amount of legroom, headroom and shoulder room, especially for the first 2 rows. 

The middle row is the most comfortable which comes with captain seats. Large windows make the cabin feel quite airy despite the dark-colored interior. The carpets are also black in color which are easier to clean and maintain compared to the beige ones in the Ertiga.

On the dashboard, the XL6 gets dark grey faux wood trim with an aluminum finish on the borders. It looks quite contemporary according to MPV standards and helps lift up the ambiance. There are 12 V sockets available on all 3 rows and the cabin has ample storage spaces.

 All-around visibility is also excellent and the middle row seat provides excellent space and comfort for long journeys. Getting in and out of the 3rd row of seats is not very difficult as it comes with a one-push recline feature. The 3rd row is best suited for kids and long journeys will be quite cumbersome for adults in the 3rd row. The under-thigh support on the 3rd row is almost negligible and you sit in knees-up position. Overall the cabin is very user-friendly and the ergonomics are also well sorted.

How cool is the XL6's Infotainment system?

The infotainment experience is one of the most important aspects of the cabin’s interiors. The XL6 comes with a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen with Suzuki’s Smartplay Studio. We believe that Suzuki should have given at least an 8-inch screen as some hatchbacks get a bigger screen. However, the touchscreen is very responsive and performs just like it should. It remains adequately bright even under direct sunlight. The sound output is just about average and Suzuki should have given it better sounding speakers.  

Other tech features include:

• 4 Speakers 2 tweeters

• Voice commands

• Apple car play and Android Auto

• USB and AUX connectivity

• Steering mounted audio controls

• Navigation with live traffic updates

How big is the XL6 boot space?

MPVs are meant for hauling people around in comfort and with that, the amount of boot space becomes even more important. The XL6 is a bit of a disappointment though as it comes with the least amount of boot space in this segment. To enhance the boot space you can fold down the 3rd row of seats to free up 550L of boot space.

The boot also comes with removable flooring which provides a deeper storage space once removed. It can take in a maximum of 2 suitcases which should be enough for a weekend worth of luggage for most families.

The Xylo and the Innova provide the most boot space due to their bigger dimensions. The Xylo even trumps the Innova in terms of boot space. In order to liberate more space, all the cars provide a feature to fold the 3rd row of seats. Once the 3rd row of seats are folded you can haul in a lot of luggage. But with the 3rd row up, all the MPVs provide enough room for at least the airport transfers. 

Maruti Suzuki XL6 Safety and Reliability

With the automotive safety norms kicking in India every manufacturer has been seen making certain safety equipment as standard. Hence, the XL6 comes with dual front airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, ISOFIX child seat anchors, ABS + EBD with brake assist, rear parking sensors and high-speed warning buzzer as standard. We do not expect a 5-star rating from the XL6 as Suzuki has given it nothing extra in terms of safety when compared to the Ertiga. The automatic variants come with hill hold as well as an electronic stability program. Here are some of the standard safety features available on the 2020 XL6:

• Dual front airbags

• Reverse parking sensors

• Reverse parking camera

• Brake assist

• ABS with EBD

• ISOFIX child seat mounts

• High-speed warning buzzer

How Do Maruti Suzuki XL6 fares against the Rivals?

Maruti Suzuki XL6 VS Mahindra Xylo

The Mahindra Xylo has been on duty for quite some time now and hence it is the oldest car here. It is also the only car that does not come with any touchscreen infotainment system. Mahindra has been so busy with its new launches that the Xylo has not been updated or even on its updated list yet. But the Xylo stands strong once you count in the basics an MPV should offer. It has ample space on offer and provides an excellent ride quality. But once compared to the XL6 it looks and feels outdated and the XL6 has more to offer in almost every way.

Maruti Suzuki XL6 VS Innova Crysta

For a very long time, Toyota’s Innova has been in a league of its own. But now rivals have been catching up and offer more in a lot of ways. But the Innov stays at the top of its MPV game and still continues to provide the most premium experience in the segment. It also comes with Toyota’s excellent after-sales service and an engine that comes with bulletproof reliability. It is the most powerful car in its segment and remains the benchmark in the MPV space. But once you factor in the price of the Innova the XL6 looks like a very lucrative offer. The difference between the top of the line XL6 and the top of the line Innova is almost Rs. 10 lakhs!

Maruti Suzuki XL6 VS Honda BR-V

Honda’s BR-V is a very competent product and comes with the best outright performance. But outright performance is not the primary concern for most MPV buyers. The BR-V offers a very spacious cabin and the cabin quality feels a tad bit better than on the XL6. But what the BR-V misses out on is the captain seats which are an icon of sheer comfort and space. Also, the XL6 costs cheaper but where the BR-V excels is the engines on offer as it still continues to offer a diesel engine.

Final Verdict

The XL6 tries to achieve what the Innova already has but excluding the taxi market. It comes with some new features and design elements but very much remains an Ertiga under the skin. Well, this is another attempt by the largest manufacturer in India to redesign a car and sell it under a new name. The XL6 then improves upon the Ertiga and tries to provide a more premium experience than the Ertiga. The biggest difference between the XL6 and the Ertiga is the captain seats. Hence with the DNA of the Ertiga, the XL6 is a very practical car with a more premium package. It is certainly a car worth considering if you are looking for an affordable MPV in the market.