High life with the all-new XL6

Big cities get into your blood. You can’t be ambitious and be away from them. But a little distance from them every once in a while helps. You get clarity and renewed focus. You realise that there were other things you once liked doing. Like bird watching, or asking the chauffeur to take an off, taking the wheel of the car yourself and driving to unwind in the hills. Today seems like a good day to do it, in an automobile that you gravitate to ever so often: the Maruti Suzuki XL6. 

The XL6 set the template for the luxury MPV on its launch in 2019, and in April this year, the new iteration further consolidated its reputation as a stylish and indulgent car underpinned by traditional Maruti Suzuki reliability. The XL6 has several striking facets but you have always loved the way it makes itself at home in the metropolis. Your playground is also the XL’s playground. And each time you drive it in Mumbai – mostly to escape it – the XL’s adaptable nature makes itself all the more apparent. And navigating Mumbai’s nightmarish traffic, in which people spend hours every day, is no longer as annoying a chore, thanks to the ventilated front seats the XL6 comes with.

Maruti Suzuki’s stylish MPV is a fairly large car that looks the part on high streets and outside tony restaurants that you frequent, but it’s also equipped with light steering and lots of low-end torque, which allows one to squeeze into, or squirt out of city traffic. 

The road to rejuvenation

Villa Athini, your switch-off zone, is located by the river in Karjat, and the drive there takes just the right amount of time to clear the cobwebs in your head. Once you see the back of Mumbai, there are the straights of the Expressway and then, the gently curving roads that lead to the villa start to appear. The experience is almost meditative, especially when the weather is as splendid as it is now. Blue skies, a nip in the air, and mild sunlight, the last of which accentuates the handsomeness of the XL6.

There’s a reason why the XL6 is at home in genteel surroundings and that’s because it looks the part. With an SUV-ish stance, the XL6 blends luxury and practicality. Up front, the striking grille with the chrome crossbar that connects the headlamps lends the XL6 visual solidity, and the 16-inch alloy wheels combined with the strong shoulder line and those smoked tail lamps impart a striking elegance to the MPV. If you are wondering whether the XL6 drives as good as it looks, you would be dead right. On the Expressway and then the lazily meandering road, such as the one that leads to the sylvan parts of Karjat, it comes into its element.

The XL6 has got the basics right. A refined 1.5-litre Dual Jet Dual VVT K-Series motor with progressive smart hybrid tech; a slick-shifting 5-speed manual, and very sorted ride and handling. And it all comes together to form a cohesive whole on the open road. The engine never leaves you wanting for power, irrespective of whether you are orchestrating an overtaking manoeuvre on the Expressway, or putting the hammer down around a gentle sweeper. There is power across the rev range, and the XL6, which is rock-solid at highway speeds, takes to cornering well.  You don’t really have to slow down for bumps or potholes, as the XL6’s pliant suspension soaks in all the undulations, while the strong chassis gives you a sense of rigidity.

This, when added to a comprehensive suite of safety features including quad airbags, ABS with EBD, and ESP, deliver peace of mind when you are at the wheel. The best thing about the XL6 is that it hauls in the miles rapidly, compressing distances with effortless ease. As you turn into the home stretch, Villa Athini appears on the horizon. You are used to the silence, the soothing sound of the river, and are looking forward to spending time on the lounge on the first floor with your Kindle, or watching the day unfold from the balcony. It’s a space that puts you at ease, one that allows you to be you. In many ways, it’s a lot like the cabin of the XL6.

The indulgent life

As befits an automobile that is sold under Maruti Suzuki’s Nexa umbrella, the XL6’s cabin is tastefully done up – the stone finish dashboard is especially lovely – and studded with features that make it a welcoming space, which encourages long stints behind the wheel. With front ventilated seats, cooled cup holders, and 360 View Camera, the XL6 will make every driver glad.

But it also ticks several boxes that would make entire families happy. Which other MPV offers you loads of space and captain seats to enjoy it in at its price point? Then, there are second row AC vents, 209 litres of boot space, and large windows that enhance the airy nature of the cabin. Plus, with built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the slick 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, convenience is at the top of the list. To top it all, in its efforts to employ technology to make life with cars more complete, the XL6 also comes with Suzuki Connect, which offers 40 new functions that can be controlled from your smartphone.

The sun is dipping behind the hills as you drive into Villa Athini. You aim to make the most of your time here. Because, in a couple of days, the city will call again. You may, or may not heed the call immediately, but what you know for certain is that you are already looking forward to the drive back.

Location courtesy: Villa Athini, Lohono Stays

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