The New Suzuki XL6 Is Here To Challenge The Rush, BR-V, Xpander

We can’t stress enough how much crossovers and SUVs are the rage these days. Even simply jacking up the suspension and adding a bit of body cladding is enough to make a simple MPV into a showroom sales success. Absent from this MPV turned crossover scene is Suzuki, at least until now as the Japanese brand has just unveiled the new XL6, a more rugged version of the Suzuki Ertiga.

The Ertiga roots are clearly seen in the XL6, but Suzuki has done numerous upgrades to separate the two vehicles. This includes a new front fascia which features a revised front bumper and a new grille with a horizontal bar running across it. Providing illumination are sharp quad-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights. The sides largely carry unchanged, while the rear LED tail lights from the Ertiga are carried over into the XL6, though the tailgate sees some revisions, including a black treatment about the chrome garnish. Of course, the obligatory body cladding and satin silver skid plates round up the changes made to the XL6.

Likewise, the XL6’s interior remains fundamentally the same from the Ertiga, though because this is marketed by Maruti Suzuki in India as a more premium vehicle than the Ertiga, a host of material upgrades have been made to enhance the interior ambiance of the Ertiga. A black interior replaces the beige ones found in the Ertiga, while the faux wood trims have also been swapped for what Suzuki calls a “stone” finish. Higher variants feature leather upholstery as well as captain’s chairs for the second row.

For the Indian market, the Suzuki XL6 features the same 1.5-liter inline-4 K15 petrol engine, though this is supplemented by a small electric motor along with a Li-ion battery pack. However, the powertrain system does not let the XL6 run on electricity alone, which essentially makes the XL6 a mild-hybrid. Total system output is 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque, sending power to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.

In terms of safety, the Indian-market Suzuki XL6 features dual SRS airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, and rear parking sensors on all variants, while electronic stability control with hill start assist is only offered on the automatic variants.

The Suzuki XL6 is now on sale in India, while no word has been provided yet when or whether the Suzuki XL6 will arrive in our market.