<p>Maruti Suzuki has done a better job with the XL6 than Toyota has done with the Rumion, when it comes to distinguishing the cars from Maruti’s own Ertiga. The exterior looks largely re-done — apart from the shell itself — and sports many blacked out elements. There’s an addition of chrome too, and the thick chrome strip separating the new LED headlights stand out. There are plenty of creases in the bumpers and the light designs, and even the side profile has a good aesthetic appeal with the window line swooping up around the third row windows. The tail-lights also get a transparent cover instead of the red one in the Ertiga, and the red lighting strip inside the cover looks very classy. Despite being based on the Ertiga, the XL6 has its own identity, and where the Ertiga looks like a purpose built MPV, the XL6 looks like a premium family car.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The XL6 also trades its beige interiors for black, and gets leatherette upholstery to add to the premium quotient. The all-black interiors in the MPV and the stone finished inserts around the cabin and dash look upmarket. The air-con vents are housed behind a pseudo dashboard-width long diffuser, and the floating 7-inch touchscreen infotainment sits atop it. While overall quality of materials and finish are good, there are some hard plastics used. And in typical Maruti fashion, some switches used in the MPV have been borrowed from smaller Marutis.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>When a manufacturer is designing a vehicle that is inherently light but has to possess a good amount of load carrying capacity, it has to make some compromises on the overall suspension setup. The Ertiga based XL6 faces a similar issue. Since the Ertiga is designed to carry people, the suspension also performs best when the car is loaded. When driven alone with no passengers or luggage, the XL6’s suspension is not as comfortable as you’d expect it to be, and you will feel a few bumps and thuds filter through into the cabin. However, when you do have passengers on board, the XL6’s suspension settles up beautifully, allowing for a pliant and comfortable ride. This also makes the XL6 a great highway tourer, since the ride stays flat throughout.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Many other factors also add up, making the XL6 a good intercity commuter. There’s enough space in all the rows, and even the third row can accommodate smaller adults over long distances. Unlike the Ertiga, the middle row gets captain seats, which have soft cushioning to exude a sense of comfort. The XL6 also gets perforated leatherette seats on the front row, because it houses a feature we all have come to love — ventilated seats.</p><p>For a manufacturer, designing a vehicle like the XL6 presents unique challenges, since it has to balance vehicle lightness and load capacity. This often results in a compromise in the suspension setup. The Ertiga, primarily designed for passenger transport, shows its strengths when fully loaded. That is when the suspension comes into its home, offering a smooth, comfortable ride. However, when driving solo without passengers or cargo, the ride in the Ertiga can feel less refined, with bumps and vibrations more noticeable inside the cabin. The case is no different in the XL6, as it is mechanically identical to the Ertiga.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Despite this, the XL6 excels as a highway vehicle, providing a stable and comfortable ride especially when carrying passengers or cargo.&nbsp; The XL6 also stands out as an excellent vehicle for intercity travel, thanks to its spacious interior across all rows. Even the third row can comfortably fit smaller adults for extended trips. A key differentiating factor between XL6 and Ertiga is the middle row's captain seats, which offer enhanced comfort with soft cushioning. The XL6 also gets perforated leatherette seats on the front row, because it houses a feature we all have come to love — ventilated seats.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Maruti Suzuki XL6 has been designed to be an effortless car to drive, and it delivers on that. Whether it is city commutes or mile munching on highways, the XL6 does it all in a very calm and relaxed manner. It has not been designed to push hard, and when you try to, it doesn’t give much back. The engine has a pretty flat torque curve with no mid-range punch, and you really have to work the gears if you want to get going. The engine, however, is very tractable, so when you’re driving with a light foot, it can pull from really low RPMs as well, allowing you to make fewer shifts.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Talking about shifting, it is the 5-speed manual gearbox that’s the pick of the lot on the XL6. The clutch action and the gear shifts are smooth and easy, and you won’t feel in need of an automatic even in traffic. It does miss out on a sixth gear though, and while it is not required from a performance standpoint, it would have been a good addition for highway cruising. The 6-speed automatic on the other hand is not great. It does get paddle shifters, but the box is sluggish to shift.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is tuned to offer a hassle-free driving experience, and it achieves this with aplomb. It's not a car designed for aggressive driving, and pushing it hard yields little in terms of performance. The engine lacks mid-range punch and requires you to actively shift gears for quicker acceleration. However, the engine tractability is a plus, and it pulls smoothly even from low RPMs, helping with usability in urban conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>When it comes to transmission, the XL6's 5-speed manual gearbox stands out. Its smooth clutch action and gear shifts make driving effortless, reducing the longing for an automatic transmission. However, the absence of a sixth gear is notable at highway speeds. While not necessary for performance, a sixth gear could have enhanced fuel efficiency at highway speeds, and lower engine speeds would’ve also helped keeping the NVH levels down when doing triple digits. The 6-speed automatic on the other hand falls short of expectations. Despite having paddle shifters, the transmission feels sluggish and less responsive, taking away from the otherwise smooth nature of the XL6. And given how easy it is to use the manual, there’s no real reason to shell out the extra amount for the automatic transmission.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Engine</td><td colspan="2">1.5-litre in-line 4-cylinder K15C engine</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Power</td><td>102 bhp at 6,000 RPM</td><td>99 bhp at 6,000 RPM (petrol mode); 87 bhp at 5,500 RPM (CNG mode)</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Torque</td><td>136.8 Nm at 4,400 RPM</td><td>136.0 Nm at 4,400 RPM (petrol mode); 121.5 Nm at 4,200 RPM (CNG mode)</td></tr><tr><td>Transmission</td><td>5-speed manual / 6-speed automatic</td><td>5-speed manual</td></tr><tr><td>Seating Capacity</td><td colspan="2">6</td></tr><tr><td>Fuel Type</td><td>Petrol</td><td>Petrol + CNG</td></tr><tr><td>Mileage</td><td>20.51 km/l (MT); 20.30 km/l (AT)</td><td>20.51 km/l (petrol); 26.11 km/kg (CNG)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Based on Suzuki’s new Heartect platform, the XL6 does a fair job when it comes to keeping its passengers safe. The Ertiga that the XL6 is based on scored a 3-star rating from Global NCAP for adult and child crash protection, the new XL6 does a better job at protecting its passengers than its predecessor, while still leaving room for improvement. It gets a handful of safety features too, including four airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake assist, ESP, hill hold, engine immobiliser, front seat belt pretensioners, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and more. Connected car features add another layer of safety to the car by including emergency alerts, breakdown notifications, stolen vehicle notification and tracking, tow away alert and tracking, geofencing, time fencing, and valet alert.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The XL6, built on Suzuki's Heartect platform, ensures good passenger safety. The Ertiga that the XL6 is based on scored a 3-star rating from Global NCAP for adult and child crash protection, and while things have improved significantly from the last gen Ertiga, there's still scope for betterment. The XL6 is equipped with a range of safety features, such as four airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake assist, ESP, hill hold, front seat belt pretensioners, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. Adding to its safety credentials are various connected car features too. These include emergency alerts, notifications for breakdowns and stolen vehicles, tow-away alert and tracking, geofencing, time fencing, and a valet alert.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In terms of equipment, the XL6 has all the basics in place, despite not offering some premium features. It gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment which offers a handful of features, including wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and connected car features like remote start, smartwatch connectivity, and Alexa. The infotainment is paired to a six-speaker Arkamys surround sense music system, which has an immersive sound. However, it continues to get an analogue instrument cluster with a small digital insert for odometer and trip computer readouts.</p><p>The XL6 comes well-equipped with tech features, although lacking certain high-end options. It includes a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which provides several functionalities, such as wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, along with connected car capabilities like remote start, smartwatch connectivity, and Alexa integration. The system is connected to a six-speaker Arkamys surround sense music system, offering a rich and immersive audio experience. However, the vehicle retains an analogue instrument cluster, complemented by a small digital display for odometer and trip computer information. There’s also no inclusion of other tech features, such as a wireless phone charger.</p>

<p>Over the last few years, Indian buyers have been flocking towards compact and subcompact SUVs, and away from sedans, hatchbacks, and MPVs. The rugged looks and good proportions have been the biggest draw for Indian buyers, who seek large cars with commanding driving positions to navigate through poor urban roads. This has meant the end for many cars across segments, including in the MPV segment. However, there are still a few cars that hold out against SUVs, offering Indian buyers a product that is not mainstream anymore. And the XL6 is one of them. It sits squarely in the compact SUV price bracket, offering a little more space and one extra seat than rivals. The feature list isn’t long either, and the engine is sedate. Yet, for the few people in the market who are looking for a premium MPV on a budget, the XL6 remains a great choice, thanks to its comfortable captain seats in the middle row, and the plush and effortless driving experience.</p>