2022 Maruti XL6 vs Kia Carens vs Maruti Ertiga

Mahindra Marazzo and Hyundai Alcazar are also part of this comparison.

2022 Maruti XL6

What you'll like:

• A 6-seater MPV at the price of C segment sedans & some compact SUVs
• Improved stance with upsized wheels + tyres and cosmetic exterior updates
• Comfortable captain seats & spacious cabin make it a fantastic car for the chauffeur-driven
• A competent BS6 petrol with excellent fuel efficiency. Convenient automatic available as an option
• Significant updates including DualJet engine, 6 speed AT with paddle shifters, ventilated front seats, telescopic steering, Suzuki Connect with voice activated controls, UV cut glass for windows
• Improved safety kit consisting of 4 airbags, ESP & Hill Hold Assist, integrated TPMS, 360 degree camera, etc.
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experience.

What you won't:

• Petrol-only. No diesel on offer. CNG may be a future option
• Updated engine lacks outright grunt. Tuned for fuel efficiency and suitable for relaxed cruising only
• Cabin updates have not significantly upped the premium factor over the outgoing car
• Captain seat layout means just 2 people on the middle row
• Build, quality & refinement are ordinary for a car costing well over a million rupees. Not a “premium” Ertiga
• 3rd-row isn't for everyone as the 2nd-row doesn't tumble forward, making ingress / egress tricky
• Some missing features like auto-dimming IRVMs, sunroof, curtain airbags etc.

Official Review Link

Kia Carens

What you'll like:

• Fresh styling that will appeal to a larger audience (unlike the polarising Alcazar)
• A practical & sensible 3-row family car that's well-built. 3rd-row seat is actually useable
• User-friendly interiors look really good (blue shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• 1.4L turbo petrol with 7-speed DCT offers more than adequate performance. Extremely refined too
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Impressive ride quality with neutral car-like road manners
• The Carens' safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS etc as standard.

What you won't:

• 2nd-row legroom is just ordinary, despite the seat travel of the 1st-row being restricted
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• Reliability of the 7 speed DCT in a heavier car is a concern
• Unknown safety rating. The Seltos just barely managed a 3-star Global NCAP rating!
• Some niceties missing vs the Alcazar - no 360-degree camera, no full virtual dials, no panoramic sunroof
• Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector & XUV700 offer way more spacious cabins

Official Review Link

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

What you'll like:

• A 7-seater MPV at the price of a C segment sedan. Sub 10-lakh petrol variants are well-priced
• Practical & spacious cabin, now with a usable 3rd row & larger boot
• A peppy petrol, efficient diesel & convenient automatic on offer = take your pick
• Car-like to drive and city-friendly size (unlike most other 7-seater MPVs)
• Features such as that sweet head-unit, projector headlamps, cooled cup-holders & more
• Dual airbags, ABS + EBD, Isofix anchors & parking sensors are standard. Automatic gets ESP too
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experience

What you won't:

• Build, quality & refinement are strictly average for a million-rupee car
• Diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• 3rd-row isn't for everyone as the 2nd-row doesn't tumble forward, making ingress / egress tricky
• 4-speed Automatic feels old & outdated. Not available in the top variant either
• Some missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM and auto headlamps + wipers (expected at this price)
• Waiting periods are 5-9 months long for certain variant.

Official Review Link

Mahindra Marazzo

What you'll like:

• A clean looking Mahindra (for a change!) with a robust, abuse-friendly build
• Nice & roomy cabin. 1st & 2nd seat rows are spacious, while the captain seats are terrific
• A 3rd-row seat that can actually be used by adults
• 1.5L diesel offers good driveability & fuel economy. 6-speed MT is smooth to use
• Compliant ride quality with neutral road manners for a MUV
• Impressively refined & more carlike-to-drive than other body-on-frame SUVs
• Dual airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, Isofix & ABS are standard
• Features such as 2 front armrests, adjustable lumbar support, rest Reminder, economy mode etc.

What you won't:

• With the 3rd seat row in place, the boot is rather small for a vehicle of this size
• No petrol or automatic variants on sale. Almost all competitors have petrols and ATs in the line-up
• Some design errors such as the cramped engine bay (try accessing the battery) & hard-to-use handbrake
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Many important features missing (keyless entry & go, auto-dimming IRVM, leather-wrapped steering, telescopic steering adjustment, auto headlamps & wipers etc.)

Official Review Link

Hyundai Alcazar

What you’ll like:

• A 3-row family car that's well-built inside out
• User-friendly interiors look really good (brown shade is awesome) and have quality parts
• 2.0L NA petrol & 6-speed AT deliver a very smooth and refined driving experience
• Economical 1.5L diesel is available in MT & AT variants. Offers good driveability
• Comfortable ride quality with neutral road manners
• Unladen ground clearance of 200 mm is perfect for Indian roads
• The Alcazar's safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, auto-hold, TPMS etc.
• Impressive kit (fully digital instruments, 360-degree camera, 2nd-row wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, paddle shifters, Bose sound system, cooled seats & loads more)
• Hyundai's competent after-sales service & wide dealer network

What you won’t:

• Oddball love-it-or-hate-it face. We find the Alcazar's front design to be weird & overdone
• 2nd-row legroom is mediocre (captain seat variant). Compromises have been made to accommodate the 3rd-row & boot
• 3rd-row seat is best suited to kids only. Not really a place for adults
• Rs. ~3 lakh OTR premium over the Creta on the higher variants is too much!
• Nothing for enthusiasts here. The 2.0 AT is tuned very conservatively
• Diesel’s 113 BHP & 250 Nm – although adequate – are the lowest in the segment
• The Creta 1.4L DCT is a lot, lot more fun to drive
• Competitors like the Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus & XUV700 offer way more spacious cabins
• Some misses (no petrol AT 7-seater variant, auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims etc.)

Official Review Link

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

IMHO, the Kia Carens is the best MPV this side of the Innova. Car-like to drive, a wide range of engines & AT transmissions (including Diesel AT), comfortable suspension and well carved-out space (unlike Hyundai which messed up the Alcazar's packaging). Heck, even when compared to the mighty Innova, 50% of buyers might choose the Carens because it's easier to drive, softer to ride and has a more city-friendly size.

One of the cars that's impressed me the most this year. It's also a rare MPV that looks good, I quite like that funky face.

Here's what BHPian AYP had to say on the matter:

If the Alcazar wouldn't have been in this poll, I would have voted for the Carens. But since the D segmented, Alcazar has found a place in this poll, I'd rather go for the base Innova, the XUV 7OO AX7 or the Hector Plus.

Voted for others.

Here's what BHPian msa.30789 had to say on the matter:

Voted for the Shark. Though the features and engine/gearbox are limited in nos, it has the most spacious interiors and can easily accommodate 8 people comfortably. Did 16000 odd km with my shark and it easily cruises as 120+ even with full loads. Getting mileage of 17 km/l on highways, though it drops to 12 / 13 km/l in cities. It also has one of the most silent cabins.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.