Maruti Suzuki has launched the new XL6 in India. Based on the latest second-generation Suzuki Ertiga , the XL6 wears SUV-inspired styling that’s the trend these days for MPVs, but stops short of calling it an SUV, which Toyota-Daihatsu-Perodua and Honda does for the Rush, Terios, Aruz and BR-V, respectively. Instead, it’s being billed as a “premium MPV”.
Suzuki has done a fair bit to differentiate the XL6 from the standard Ertiga, and the “SUV-ness” is rather convincing. The XL6 has a unique face, dominated by a bold grille with a thick chrome bar crossing the S logo. It “enters” the headlamp clusters visually as LED daytime running lights. Speaking of lights, the headlamps are quad LED units.
There’s also a raised hood and a unique bumper design, which integrates silver “skid plates” and black plastic fog lamp surrounds. The cladding flows through the side profile along the MPV’s wheel arches and wheelbase. The 15-inch multi-spoke alloys and wing mirror caps are in black. You’ll also find roof rails and a small piece of trim at the base of the A pillars, mimicking vents.
The rear end is where the XL6 looks the most like the Ertiga, thanks to those Volvo-like L-shaped tail lamp clusters. Here, the lights aren’t just connected by a chrome strip, but also a black panel that houses the Suzuki logo. Again, the bumper is unique – it features vertical reflectors on the edges, black cladding and a silver “underguard”.
If the XL6’s exterior suggests ruggedness, the interior is all about providing more comfort and sophistication over the regular MPV. For one, this isn’t a seven-seater but a six-seater – Suzuki has replaced the three-seat middle row bench with two individual “captain seats”. The chairs have a one-touch recline and slide mechanism to allow easier access to the third row, which has reclining backrests.
The cabin theme is black (Ertiga is beige in India), and the upholstery is leather, with “Premium Stone” trim and silver accents. The family will appreciate things such as ventilated cup holders, overhead console, accessory sockets in each row, and rear AC blower.
For equipment, the XL6 gets Maruti Suzuki’s SmartPlay Studio infotainment (7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), auto air con, keyless entry with push start and cruise control. That’s for the Zeta spec. The top Alpha trim level adds on auto headlamps and a reverse camera. Safety kit consists of ABS/EBD, dual airbags and ESP with hill hold assist for automatic transmission variants.
The XL6 is powered by the same 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine as the Ertiga. The K15 unit makes 105 hp/138 Nm, and comes with Progressive Smart Hybrid mild hybrid tech with a lithium-ion battery. Buyers can choose from a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.
The Suzuki XL6 is priced from Rs 9.80 lakh (RM57,035) for the Zeta MT to Rs 11.46 lakh (RM66,695) for the Alpha AT in India. Will Indonesia and Thailand be next stops?
GALLERY: Second-generation Suzuki Ertiga in Indonesia
