XL6 test drive: The premium MPV from Maruti stable

XL6 test drive: The premium MPV from Maruti stable

Maruti launched its premium dealership Nexa in 2015 as a one-stop destination for its premium cars. It sells cars like S-Cross, Baleno, Baleno RS, Ignis and Ciaz. The latest vehicle to roll out through Nexa dealership is the XL6. Here are the details of the premium MPV:

SUV style

The 'XL' stands for 'exclusive' while the '6' indicates this is a six-seater. Maruti has given a premium look to the MPV that can accommodate six passengers comfortably. Though XL6 is a premium derivative of Maruti’s seven-seater MPV Ertiga, the front looks entirely different. It sports a bold grille with two chrome strips running through the centre. The fog lamps get black surrounds. Besides, there is silver finish on the bumper to provide a sporty feel. The skid plates in the front and back, black body cladding, bigger wheel arches and roof rails give it a more rugged SUV look. The alloy wheels are blacked out. Compared to Ertiga, the XL6 is 50 mm longer, 40 mm wider and 10 mm taller. But the wheelbase is same as that of Ertiga. The black theme can be seen in the back too; a chrome strip connects tail-lamps on both sides with piano black finish.

Black beauty

XL6 test drive: The premium MPV from Maruti stable

The interior is also done in black. The dashboard gets wood finish and silver inserts. The interior is designed to look more premium and upmarket. The front cupholders in the front have an air vent each for air-cooling your drinks. The AC vents are similar to that of Ertiga. The XL6 gets Maruti's new-gen Suzuki SmartPlay Studio infotainment unit. The 7.0-inch touchscreen-based system comes bundled with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Suzuki Connect can be added as an option, with features such as geofencing and real-time driving alerts. The MID display in the meter console provides info like gear-shift indicator and other information related to the vehicle. It also gets features like automatic climate control, cruise control and day-time running lamps.

Captain seats

Maruti has replaced the bench-type, second-row seats with individual, plush captain seats. The captain seats are large and comfortable and offer a more upmarket experience. The XL6 could easily beat its rivals in this area. Passengers also get excellent headroom and legroom. Besides, the captain seats, equipped with armrests, can slide and recline too. The third row is also comfortable with enough kneeroom, which can be adjusted due to the sliding middle seats, headroom, roof mounted AC blower with controls and decent seating position.

Enough room

Maruti Suzuki NEXA's new premium MPV XL6

The XL6 is spacious. All the three rows are comfortable and even if all the three rows are occupied, you get a decent 209-litre boot space. If the third row is folded, the XL6 offers 550 litres of boot space.

Smart hybrid

The XL6 will only be offered with a K15B Smart Hybrid petrol engine which is BS-VI ready. The 1.5-litre mild-hybrid engine gets an integrated starter generator and a secondary lithium-ion battery to assist in acceleration. The engine produces 77 kW of peak power and 138 Nm of peak torque and is mated either to a five-speed manual or a four-speed auto gearbox. In terms of driveability, the XL6 offers adequate power. The engine is refined and handles highway cruising and city driving equally well. High-speed stability is good, while the well-tuned suspension offers great travel comfort.

Premium MPV

XL6 test drive: The premium MPV from Maruti stable

Maruti had lacked a premium MPV in its line-up till now. The XL6 fills that gap and offers a complete package with great travel comfort, suspension, and an excellent engine.

Price: The XL6 is available in four variants. The base model Zeta has a price tag of Rs 9.86 lakh while the Zeta automatic costs Rs 10.97 lakh. The Alpha variant has an ex-showroom price of Rs 10.43 lakh and its automatic version is available for Rs 11.54 lakh.

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