Bookings open for Maruti XL6 facelift

Maruti could choose to plonk in a new 6-speed torque converter to replace the age-old four-speed unit they currently use.

Maruti has revealed that they are now accepting bookings for the XL6 facelift. The XL6 is a premium offering from the brand, that is based on the more utilitarian Ertiga. It has a more upmarket cabin that Ertiga, and its facelift can now be booked for an advance of Rs 11,000 at any NEXA showroom or the website.

Underneath its bonnet, the XL6 has a 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 104bhp and 138Nm. The transmission options are a 5-speed manual, or an automatic. Now with the outgoing car, Maruti offered a 4-speed torque converter as the automatic option and that’s an ageing unit which has no place in modern cars. We expect Maruti to debut a new 6-speed torque converter which will be up to modern standards, and a better fit for the free-revving 1.5-litre engine.

Another area that could see a bump up is safety. Six airbags will be mandatory pretty soon in all new cars and we believe Maruti could pre-empt this move and offer them at least on the top-spec variant of the XL6.

Once refreshed, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 will renew its rivalry with the Kia Carens and the more premium Hyundai Alcazar to an extent. The launch of the facelifted XL6 is expected in the coming weeks.