Targeted at the young and tech-savvy customers, the leading Indian carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, on Thursday launched the updated premium MPV XL6 at a starting price of INR 11,29,000 ex-showroom for the Zeta manual variant. The new model will be available through the company’s 450 NEXA outlets spread across the country.
Also available is a subscription through which customers can have the vehicle at INR 25,499 per month. The company confirmed to have received around 3,600 bookings for the vehicle since its bookings commenced on April 11, 2022.
With a total investment of INR 220 crore into the project, including the powertrain, the premium MPV comes with the Next-Gen K-series 1.5L Dual Jet, Dual VVT engine with Progressive Smart Hybrid Technology along with dual fuel injection, reduced friction and increased compression ratio compared to older generation engine, delivering a peak power of 75.8kW at 6,000rpm and a max torque of 136.8Nm at 4,400rpm.
Customers can choose between a 5-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed Automatic Transmission with paddle shifters. The company claims a mileage of 20.97 km/l for the MT variant and 20.27 kmpl for the AT one.
Following the newly derived Crafted Futurism design language from the brand, the new MPV gets a new front grille design along with a new bumper design with white cladding up front, while at the rear, it gets a new spoiler design along with shark fin antennae, smoke finish front the taillights and a revised tailgate with white cladding at the bottom of the bumper. It also gets a set of updated 16-inch machine finishes with dual-tone alloy wheels as standard.
Furthermore, on the tech side, it gets updated with a new 7-inch Smartpro infotainment system with advanced voice assist, a perforated upholstery with ventilated front seats, among other.
In addition, it gets the latest Suzuki Connect, through which customers can control various functions, including remotely accessing and operating the AC function, door lock, headlamps off, hazard lights, alarm, etc.
On the safety side, the MPV now underpins the new fifth-gen HEARTECT platform using used high tensile and ultra-high tensile steel.
CV Raman, CTO, MSIL, noted that the vehicle has gained additional 20kgs in the manual transmission form, while in the AT form, it weighs 35 kgs more than its predecessor.
Additionally, the vehicle has standard safety features including quad airbag, ESP with Hill-hold assist, ABS with EBD, brake assist, rear parking sensors, 360 view camera, 2nd-row ISOFIX child seat anchorages, speed alert system, driver and co-driver seat belt reminders along with TPMS, Cruise Control, Driver side auto-window up with anti-pinch, auto headlamps with follow me home functionality.
Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO, MSIL, noted that the company plans to bring in a slew of new products and update its current product portfolio as it believes that mobility solutions should be accessible to all.
It must be noted that MSIL has claimed to have sold over 100,000 XL6 ever since its debut in 2019. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, stated that the MPV segment holds about 8.5% of the Indian car market.
Last year around 260,000 MPVs were sold in India, out of which 160,000 were from Maruti Suzuki, he added.