Maruti XL6: a market increasingly dominated by SUVs, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 carves out its own distinct niche as a premium MPV that refuses to compromise on style, comfort, or practicality.
Sold exclusively through Maruti’s upmarket NEXA outlets, the XL6 takes the immensely practical Ertiga platform and elevates it with distinctive styling, captain’s chairs in the middle row, and an all-black interior that distances it from its more utilitarian sibling.
After spending two weeks with the XL6 across Mumbai’s congested streets and the winding coastal roads of Maharashtra, I’ve gained fresh appreciation for how this six-seater balances everyday usability with the premium touches that increasingly discerning Indian families now expect.
Maruti XL6 Design: Distinctive without Extravagance
While sharing its core architecture with the Ertiga, the XL6 establishes its own visual identity through several key design elements. The front fascia adopts a more imposing appearance.
a bold chrome-accented grille flanked by sharp quad-LED projector headlamps that provide excellent illumination after dark. The redesigned bumper with its silver skid plate element adds visual muscle without appearing excessive or contrived.
Along the sides, black cladding around the wheel arches and lower door sections creates a more rugged impression, complemented by side skirts that visually lower the vehicle.
The blacked-out alloy wheels (16-inch on higher variants) contrast effectively with the body color, while the floating roof design with darkened D-pillars adds a contemporary touch.
The rear continues the premium theme with LED tail lamps connected by a chrome strip, a roof spoiler, and a redesigned bumper that completes the visual package.
Available in six colors including the striking Nexa Blue and Auburn Red, the XL6 manages to overcome the inherent boxiness of MPV architecture through thoughtful design elements that add character without sacrificing the practical shape necessary for interior spaciousness.
Maruti XL6 Cabin: Space Meets Sophistication
Step inside the XL6, and the all-black interior theme immediately differentiates it from the dual-tone approach found in the Ertiga. The dashboard adopts a horizontal layout centered around a 7-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen.
silver accents providing visual relief from the predominant black surfaces. While some hard plastics remain, the overall material quality feels appropriate for the vehicle’s premium positioning, with good fit and finish throughout.
The leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons provides a sporty touch, while the instrument cluster combines analog dials with a multi-information display showing essential vehicle parameters including real-time and average fuel efficiency.
What truly defines the XL6 experience is the seating configuration. The second-row captain’s chairs – a first for Maruti in this segment.
offer exceptional comfort with individual armrests, excellent thigh support, and nearly 60mm of sliding adjustment to balance legroom between second and third rows.
These seats recline significantly as well, creating business class-like comfort for middle-row passengers that few competitors can match at this price point.
Access to the third row comes via a single-touch mechanism that tilts and slides the captain’s chairs forward, creating a reasonable entry path even for adult passengers.
The third row itself offers better accommodation than many competitors, with sufficient headroom for passengers up to 5’10″ and adequate knee room when the middle row is positioned thoughtfully. The nearly flat floor in this area provides a more natural seating position than many SUVs with their compromised third rows.
With all seats up, the boot offers 209 liters of space – sufficient for a weekend’s soft luggage or a substantial grocery run. Fold the 50:50 split third row.
and this expands to 550 liters, while folding both rear rows creates a cavernous 692-liter cargo bay with a nearly flat floor – versatility that family buyers will appreciate during furniture shopping expeditions or airport runs with substantial luggage.
Maruti XL6 Performance: Balanced Efficiency
Under the hood, the XL6 features Maruti’s tried-and-tested 1.5-liter K15B naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing 105 horsepower and 138 Nm of torque.
This proven powerplant comes paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic, both driving the front wheels.
Performance feels adequately matched to the vehicle’s purpose, with sufficient low-end response for urban conditions and reasonable highway cruising ability when not fully loaded.
The mild hybrid system with its integrated starter generator provides subtle assistance during acceleration while enabling auto start-stop functionality in traffic – small but meaningful contributions to everyday efficiency.
During our extensive testing, the manual variant consistently returned 16-17 km/l in mixed driving conditions, while the automatic settled around 14-15 km/l – impressive figures for a vehicle of this size and capacity.
The CNG variant, introduced in later iterations, offers even more compelling running costs with approximately 26 km/kg efficiency, though at the expense of reduced boot space when all seats are occupied.
Maruti XL6V Driving Dynamics: Comfort-Focused Competence
Nobody expects sports car handling from a family MPV, and the XL6 wisely prioritizes ride comfort and stability over corner-carving capability.
The suspension – MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear – delivers well-judged damping that absorbs typical urban road imperfections without excessive body movement.
The steering offers progressive weighting that increases appropriately with speed, though feedback remains limited – a common characteristic in this segment where ease of operation typically trumps driver engagement.
Despite its boxy proportions, the XL6 maintains reasonable composure during directional changes, with body roll that remains within acceptable limits even when pushed moderately hard.
Ground clearance of 180mm proves sufficient for navigating the typical obstacles encountered on Indian roads, including the aggressive speed breakers that challenge many vehicles with longer wheelbases.
The turning radius of 5.2 meters, while not exceptional, allows for reasonable maneuverability in tight urban environments where MPVs sometimes struggle.
Noise suppression deserves particular praise, with effective insulation against road and wind noise even at highway speeds. Combined with the comfortable seating and effective climate control system.
this creates a refined environment that reduces fatigue during longer journeys – a crucial consideration for the family road trips this vehicle was designed to undertake.
Maruti XL6 Features: Premium Necessities
The XL6 comes well-equipped with features that family buyers prioritize, particularly in higher variants. The SmartPlay Studio infotainment system offers wired.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth streaming, and voice recognition functions through a reasonably responsive 7-inch touchscreen. The six-speaker audio setup delivers adequate sound quality for this segment, though audiophiles might seek aftermarket upgrades.
Automatic climate control with roof-mounted rear vents for second and third-row passengers ensures comfort throughout the cabin regardless of outside temperatures.
Convenience features include keyless entry with push-button start, electrically folding mirrors, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and cruise control that proves valuable during highway journeys.
Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program, hill hold assist (on automatic variants), ISOFIX child seat mounts, and a reverse parking camera with guidelines.
a comprehensive package that addresses family safety concerns. The XL6’s platform has performed well in Global NCAP testing, providing additional peace of mind for safety-conscious buyers.
Maruti XL6 Ownership Experience: Maruti’s Dependability with NEXA Service
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of XL6 ownership extends beyond the vehicle itself to the ecosystem that supports it. Maruti Suzuki’s legendary service network ensures maintenance support virtually anywhere in India, with reasonable parts pricing and technicians familiar with the platform’s fundamentals.
The NEXA ownership experience adds premium touches like relationship managers, digital service booking, and more upscale service lounges compared to standard Maruti facilities.
The company’s strong resale value further enhances the overall ownership proposition, with XL6 models typically retaining value better than many competitors – a significant consideration for value-conscious Indian buyers calculating total ownership costs.
Maintenance intervals of 10,000km align with industry standards, while the relatively simple naturally aspirated engine and proven mechanical components promise reliability that has become synonymous with the Maruti Suzuki badge.
Maruti XL6 Verdict: Practical Premium Transportation
The Maruti XL6 succeeds by addressing a specific need in the Indian market – families seeking three-row versatility with a touch of premium appeal without stretching to significantly higher price brackets occupied by SUVs like the Alcazar or Tata Safari.
Its blend of practical space utilization, comfortable captain’s chairs, efficient powertrain, and Maruti’s reassuring ownership experience creates a compelling package for buyers prioritizing functional family transportation with moderate premium touches.
While lacking the visual appeal and commanding road presence of similarly priced compact SUVs, the XL6 counters with superior space efficiency.
particularly for passengers in all three rows – a tangible everyday benefit that becomes apparent during family outings or when regularly carrying multiple adults.
At a price range of approximately ₹11.29 lakh to ₹14.55 lakh (ex-showroom), the XL6 occupies an interesting middle ground between mainstream MPVs and more expensive three-row SUVs.
For practical families seeking maximum utility per rupee spent, with a touch of premium appeal that elevates it beyond purely utilitarian options, the XL6 represents a thoughtfully balanced proposition that deserves consideration despite the market’s ongoing SUV obsession.