Suzuki's latest people carrier indeed encourages thinking big. With 6 seats rather than 7, it gives more than it takes, and the value for money is exceptional.
I have had the opportunity to sample the Suzuki XL6, and the model on test was the GL, which proved to be rather good.
Exterior
It looks rather sophisticated - like someone who would come to a party and not help themselves to your cutlery. It has a modern and sleek design that turns heads wherever you go. During my time with it, I had loads of people asking me about it too. I'm not sure why it's not talked about more.
With a clear tail-light design and a modern LED headlight design up front, 15" alloy wheels make it more than comfortable for the road and provide ample clearance too. The spoked alloys give it a modern look that doesn't shy away from convention.
With it being 4445 mm in length, 1775 mm in width, and 1755 mm in height, it provides ample room and space for you to live with day-to-day. Black cladding covers the wheel arches and is scattered around the body of the car; it shares a common theme with the previous model that I had driven, the Fronx.
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Interior
They strayed away from their conventional interior design and went a different route. The deal between Suzuki and Toyota came into play here again - the interior is the same as the Rumion, but there are a few trim pieces that are presented differently.
The GL model on test comes with a 7" infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple Car Play, the same system as in the Baleno (or even the Toyota Starlet). The clarity of the reverse camera is excellent, and it is easy to use. I would have liked the ability to change the theme, but I couldn't find the functionality. I went into every single setting I came across and didn't find it.
There are 6 seats instead of 7, and it's much better in my opinion - the second row is captain seats with individual armrests providing you with additional comfort and individualism. With ample legroom and wrapped with pleather and cloth, it is comfortable and is a nice place to be. There is a marble-like finish on the dashboard, and I like it. And it features keyless entry and start.
The rear passengers have dedicated A/C (provided that it is turned on). I found it to be quite useful when you're trying to cool down the cabin; however, I'd prefer using the lowest setting as it can be quite noisy. Included in this package are ventilated cup holders to keep your drink cool.
Oily Bits
Like in most Suzukis, the engine is a 1,5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine putting out 77 kW of power and 138 Nm of torque, providing sufficient power for your needs. However, the automatic gearbox is a bit sluggish, and I'd suggest the manual as it would have a smoother power delivery. Another downside to the automatic is, of course, the fuel consumption.
It is quite thirsty; Suzuki claims it is about 6l/100kM, but I averaged about 7.3l/100kM. It must be mentioned, though, that this was achieved mainly in city driving and congested areas. I'm sure if you're doing longer trips it would be better. (If you use it as an Uber, the results might be varied.)
With a fully loaded cab, I thought it would struggle a bit, but it didn't. On a trip down the N2 in search of nice scenery for photographs, it held itself well. It didn't struggle and had enough power to perform overtakes where needed.
Practicality
When it comes to luggage capacity, it has 209 litres of boot space with the 3rd row up. When they are down, that number is bumped up to 550 litres; with the 2nd row of seats down, it increases even more to 692 litres which is a huge amount.
There is a hidden compartment in the boot for your valuables that I found to be quite useful for something like laptops and cameras as there is no backboard, so this will prevent thieves from seeing what you have in the boot.
Safety
Considering the XL6 is an MPV you'd be carrying a few passengers and they need to be safe. Safety features include:
- SRS front dual airbags
- ABS with EBD function
- Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)***
- Hill hold control (Automatic transmissions only)
- Rear parking sensors
- ISOFIX child seat anchorages
- Pretensioning and force-limiting seatbelts
You might be thinking that it's not a whole lot but considering the size of the XL6, it is impressive.
General Thoughts
The Suzuki XL6 is supposed to rival something like the Honda BRV, I can't say if it's a fair comparison as I haven't driven the BRV. However, I can tell you that the GLA auto comes in at R 370 999 whereas the entry-level BRV is about R 400 000. That saves R 29 000 if you opt for the XL6. Is it better than the BRV for that kind of money? With such a saving, I don't think it matters.
The Suzuki XL6 is a great MPV with tons of value; Suzuki has tons of experience and the XL6 showcases their expertise in the field. It doesn't try too hard to impress, and that's a good thing.
Lu-Allen Kruger - proudly CHANGECARS
