Why I bought a 2022 Maruti XL6 AT: Quick observations after 800 km

I upgraded from a Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire AMT diesel.

BHPian achintatri recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have driven my XL6 alpha AT for about 800 km till now with a mix of city and highway driving including Khandala and Lonavala Ghats.

Few observations and opinions:

• It is definitely oriented towards fuel economy. It touched 20.5 km/l on the expressway.
• It is not made for enthusiastic drivers so if you feel like getting sedan/hatchback like manoeuvres anywhere including sudden availability of power, it will disappoint you.
• It suffices when overtaking low-speed vehicles say up to 40-50 km/h even on city roads.
• NVH level is good and so is the ride quality
• The worst average I got till now was 11.1 km/l in the city.
• No issues on ghats or inclines even when fully loaded, power is adequate however don't expect high-speed manoeuvres including overtakes.
• I am happy with the sedate driving capabilities in the city and the cruising ones on highways.
• Those looking for driving an MPV like XL6 like SUVs/Sedans/Hatchbacks/Mercs/BMWs and similar cars, please look somewhere else.
• For a family outing with good ride quality and NVH, XL6 is more than adequate.

Update: I am coming from Swift Dzire AMT diesel. After it reached the second gear, it was a rocket perfectly matched for an enthusiastic driver however the manual was much more and I would say perfect fun for that DDis 1.3 Italian engine as compared to the AMT.

My reason to go for XL6 AT are listed below:

1. I needed at least 6 seats for adults with a reference height of 5'7" and ALL the seats in XL6 can accommodate that height for long journeys.
2. I needed a car with a smooth and most importantly a Reliable gearbox better than THE Jerky AMT and an unreliable DCT gearbox and the 6 speed TC gearbox in XL6 is smoother than any auto gearbox out there, no doubt about Suzuki's TC gearboxes.
3. I needed a car that my wife can easily drive and manoeuvre in any condition and XL6 is very car-like to drive as opposed to a steering heavy Innova or a sudden power delivering DCT Carens that can anytime go out of control, especially by new drivers.
4. I needed a safe car and I am OK with 4 airbags if not 6 for the time being considering most of the driving would be city-based.
5. I needed a car with comfortable seats for my family and XL6 seats, all of them are super comfortable.
6. Ride Quality and NVH were important for me too and XL6 scores good in this department as well, however, keep in mind that driving any MPV whether slow or fast over bad roads and bumps will make third-row passengers uncomfortable.
7. The music system and the corresponding sound output are actually better than Carens Bose something that is surprising to me knowing and using the Bose brand for a long.
8. Cruising is a boon on highways, a super silent ride even at high speeds. I could very easily control the speeds just with my right hand.
9. I needed a car that would be fuel-efficient and XL6 is made for those customers who would need value from each and every penny spent on the fuel whose prices are only going to go north.
10. Overtakes with or without loads are not that bad, Engine revs higher if you drop the gear by pressing the A pedal hard or by using a minus paddle shifter but it picks up speed in say few extra 2-3 seconds as compared to enthusiastic driver cars.

So, If you are looking for a family car that would comfortably take your family on those cherishable memories ride without any fuss and load on your pocket (comparing to petrol engines) and where you won't mind reaching your destination a few mins late giving some rest to your heart ('coz it will be busy processing beauty of the comfortable ride rather than digesting adrenaline rush and or anxiety for the perceived risk of driving with risk with your beloved family onboard), XL6 is a perfect car for you.

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

Thanks for this crisp review.

After reading all the posts about lack of power, no progress with rpm, overtaking is very difficult etc. I was wondering how bad it is.

For reference, I regularly drive a humble Hyundai Eon (800cc) - 2 adults, 2 kids and a lot of luggage between Kerala and Bangalore. I never felt the car lacks power for my sedate driving style. Yes, some overtaking manoeuvres need planning, but that's how we should drive right? Calculate the gap, speed of the vehicle and capability of our car.

I think it will be way better than the Eon (I have XL6/Ertiga in my mind as an option for an upgrade).

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

Whichever car you go for, highly recommend driving the car yourself. Don't go blindly on anyone's perspective, including mine. Different people have different needs and different priorities. If the engine works for you and your needs, then why not!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.