- By Sohan Ingole
Introduction
Multi Purpose Vehicle stands for MPV and in this wide segment we already seen Maruti XL6 and Kia Carens, both of them are featured packed and have appealing design also. But today we are comparing this two new age MPV’s directly. Kia launched this Carens in first quarter of 2022 and new age design language and more features are the main reason behind low sales for XL6 in first two quarters of 2022.
But Maruti Suzuki takes a action and launched its facelift last month with some new tech and refreshing design elements. Now both of the MPV’s have lots of things common and similar and that’s why today we will find best recreational vehicle in between both of them.
1. Design-
We got a facelift of XL6 but the car manufacturer doesn’t change the design as much as we are expecting from Maruti Suzuki. We only got some extra chrome work and gloss black finish over there. XL6 has a bold front face which shows its earlier generation footprints and we got led headlamps there too. Vehicle is running on 16 inch alloys which are refreshed here.
Taillights gots smoke treatment which gives some sporty appeal and looks better than earlier also. The design is very much similar with earlier model. Kia Carens is based on Sonet and made with a complete new design language. Carens has a unique face design with all led headlights and also got front parking sensors.
Carens stands on 16 inch alloys with all wheel disc brakes. On its tailgate we will see connecting taillights with a rear parking camera and parking sensors also. Carens has a new age design which is attractive and doesn’t feel bulky also. But in XL6 the design is bit bulky or boxy which affects the aero efficiency of the vehicle. XL6 shows some footprints of the earlier model where Carens has a completely new design language.
Design –
2. Engine and Performance-
Under the engine bay of XL6 we got a 1.5 litre engine produces an 103HP of power with redlines at 6000RPM and 137Nm of torque with redlines at 4400Rpm. The result is it goes 0 to 100Kmph in under 13 seconds, it’s a refined motor with peppy response.
We have a option of 5 speed manual or 6 speed torque converter gearbox unit. Automatic trim will give you the fuel efficiency in between 9 to 12 kmpl and manual unit will writes the fuel economy in 12 to 15 kmpl. XL6 have only one engine option which is a 1.5 litre NA engine, well at the other end Kia Carens offers us three powertrains options. 1.5 litre Petrol engine, 1.5 litre Diesel engine and 1.4 litre turbo petrol unit. With this engine options we will have a option of 6 speed manual, 6 speed TC and 7 speed DCT gearbox.
Talking about the 1.4 litre TGDi motor produces an 138bhp of power with redlines at 6000Rpm and 242Nm of torque with redlines at 1500Rpm. This is a fastest unit in the Carens going from 0 to 100KMPH in just 10 seconds that’s a impressive cause all the 1.5 litre unit goes 0 to 100 Kmph in above 13 seconds. This turbo motor is a punchy unit with next level of refinement, engine noise is null or zero to be say. To improve the overall performance Kia also given us three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport.
As we see both engines, now Maruti Suzuki should really offered us a turbo motor with wide range of transmission options. Cause most of the car manufacturers are offering us a turbo motor with various gearbox also. Now Maruti have to upgrade their engines.
Engine & Performance –
3. Interior-
Starting from the XL6 we have a all black interior with beige coloured roof, dashboard design remains unchanged but we have new a new infotainment system. That continues AC vents treatment is still there for evolutionary effects and sometimes it looks super amazing also.
Coming to that new infotainment screen, this is a 7 inch smart play pro touchscreen infotainment system which have lots of tech like android auto and apple car play, TPMS, radio, media, navigation, energy flow, avg speed, vehicle settings and also Suzuki Connect which gets 40+ connected features like vehicle monitoring, geo fence, remote AC on off, Amazon Alexa connect, smart watch connectivity and more. But instrument cluster got a 4 inch MID which is a bit disappoint here.
Coming to the second row we got two captain seats with height adjustable headrest and armrest as well, the second row is quite spacious with AC vents placed on the roof for better air flow. But in the third row knee room and legroom is very poor, under thighs support is non existent here and therefore it is not comfortable for adults. Inside the Kia Carens interior is finished in Triton Navy+Sahel Beige. It’s a dual tone treatment which is completely new here.
The dashboard design is completely fresh we got a plane simple dash which is finished in hard plastic, above the glove box we have a glossy black treatment with the same 3DX treatment. Now we have a 10.25 inch touchscreen infotainment system which is a new unit and we got lots of tech inside it like a android auto and apple car play, radio, media, navigation, vehicle settings, driving data, valley mode, quite mode, themes and lots of other useful data as well.
In the instrument cluster we will see a 10.5 inch digital instrument cluster which gives lots of information like TPMS, parking sensors, compass, speedometer, tachometer and all other usual bits which we seen in lots of cars. In the second row we have good amount of headroom and under thighs support but legroom is an issue. On the driver’s seat we have air purifier placed right behind the seat, lots of times this air purifier eats legroom.
The captain seats gets one touch tumble down function, when we press a button it automatically reclines and tumble down, this may create ease to access the third row and we can easily go. In third row we have two seats with height adjustable headrest, legroom is extremely poor and headroom is ample in terms of space. But under thighs support and knee room is non existent or null, still we have two roof mounted AC vents, cup holders and reading lights also.
As we see both of the vehicles, Kia Carens has a next level dashboard and cabin with a bigger touchscreen unit whereas XL6 has a smaller touchscreen unit. Carens also has digital Instrument cluster which is missing in XL6. But second row space is better in XL6 than Carens. Overall space and comfort in the cabin is better in the XL6, thanks to the taller body.
Interior –
4. Features and Tech –
Well both of these new age MPV’s are loaded with features and tech like XL6 got front ventilated seats, 360 degree parking camera, Suzuki connect with 40+ features, automatic headlights,
electrically adjustable and retractable orvm, second row AC vents, automatic climate control, 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system, puddle lamp, engine start stop button with smart key and more. Pre Facelift of XL6 missed out lots of features and that’s why now Maruti Suzuki loaded this MPV with more features. Coming to the Carens we will see 8 speakers premium Boss sound system,
64 coloured ambient lighting, 10 inch touchscreen infotainment system system, smart air purifier with bacteria protection, automatic climate control, fully digital instrument cluster, wireless charging pad, umbrella holders, 2nd row one touch tumble, follow me home headlights, paddle shifters, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, auto dimming irvm, cruise control and many more. Yes, Kia Carens has more features and tech compared to XL6.
Features & Tech –
5. Verdict –
We seen this both vehicle deeply and now the pricing kicks here. Maruti Suzuki XL6 costs from 11.29L and goes till 14.55L (Ex-showroom Delhi). And price of Kia Carens starts from 9.59L and will go till 17.69L (Ex-showroom Delhi). XL6 offered in 8 variants and Carens in 19 variants. Maruti Suzuki costs this XL6 very aggressively which makes this MPV costlier than its rivals. Both of these vehicles rival with Maruti Ertiga, Hyundai Alcazar, Toyota Innova Crysta.
But Kia played a clever game here by giving us a wide range in variants where most of the people are going to buy mid trim. I think now XL6 is bit overpriced, considering the amount of features and engine it got. Mid variant of Carens is now most selling and Kia’s strategy for Indian market work very well.
XL6 – 3/5
Carens – 4.5/5
Overall rating to both of these MPV’s–
- Edited by Atharva Patil
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