Maruti Suzuki XL6 1.5 CNG Zeta MT

Autocar India

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Go for the Honda Elevate VX CVT - for your needs, it is the easiest upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki WagonR and the most practical for daily use. The seat is higher than a regular car but not too high, so it is easier to get in and out without climbing. The rear seat is spacious and comfortable, the doors open wide, and the floor is relatively flat, which helps. The boot is big and square, so a folded wheelchair fits cleanly. The CVT is also seamless in operation and will feel like a big upgrade over the AMT in your Wagon R.One thing to be aware of: the boot lip will be a bit higher than your WagonR's, so you lift the wheelchair a little more while loading.If you often carry more people or want a lower loading height for the wheelchair, look at the Maruti XL6. It has very easy step-in and comfy captain seats in the middle row. But you will likely need the third row folded to keep the wheelchair in the boot.When you test drive, carry the folded wheelchair and try loading it, and have your mother step in and out of the rear seat to check the height and support.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Go for the Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha+ 6‑speed automatic; with 3-4 km daily runs and six onboard, it best blends easy ingress, smooth city drive, and comfortable captain seats.Captain seats in row two make entry and exit easier for ageing knees, and the 2740 mm wheelbase opens usable room in all three rows. The 6‑speed torque‑converter automatic is easiest in stop‑go traffic, smoother than an AMT at 10-20 km/h and simpler than a DCT. With just 300-400 km a month and 3-4 km daily, a petrol XL6 fits and avoids diesel DPF issues on short trips. Its compact footprint keeps parking stress low while still seating six comfortably.The one thing you give up is strong highway punch; the XL6’s naturally aspirated petrol feels adequate, not quick, when fully loaded and overtaking at 80-100 km/h.If your trips grow longer and frequent around 500+ km a month with 4-6 hour highways, consider the Kia Carens with 1.5‑turbo DCT (6‑seater) for stronger performance and 2780 mm wheelbase.During the test drive, seat your parents in the second row, try the one‑touch tumble to the third row, and check creep smoothness and gear changes at 10-20 km/h.

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Kia Carens

Autocar India

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Since you've been a Maruti loyalist and don't want to consider the excellent Kia Carens Clavis at all, the only options you have are to either get another Maruti Suzuki Ertiga or opt for the Maruti XL6, which is essentially a 6-seater Ertiga with black interiors, some added features and a body cladding to visually give it a rugged look. Unfortunately, there are no other car-like, spacious 7-seaters in the market that price point.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

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The Mahindra XUV 7XO is tuned to deliver a lively performance and not efficiency. Thus, for you, we would rule it out as your 1st priority is running cost, plus with nearly all of your driving within the city, you really don't need that level of performance. Opt for the Kia Carens Clavis; the diesel automatic is somewhat above your budget and pricier than the Maruti Suzuki XL6. But it would be well spent given the Clavis' comfort levels, features and premium feel inside. As for your query on CNG, it is quite safe; auto manufacturers today take a lot of care in the engineering of it. But with the Maruti XL6, you will have lower boot space, and CNG queues can be quite long.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Both the MPVs you've shortlisted are incredibly capable but have surprisingly different appeal. In most cases, for this budget, we would recommend the Kia Carens Clavis for its greater variety of powertrains, more upmarket interior and longer list of features. However, given your detailed set of requirements, in this case, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki XL6 instead. For a start, even the top-end automatic version falls well within your budget, whereas you'd have to settle for a mid-spec variant of the Clavis Turbo DCT. While not as powerful as the 1.5 T-GDi in the Clavis, the Suzuki K15 1.5 petrol is sufficiently powerful and a great all-rounder; as you've rightly said, you don't really need a turbo at all. Moreover, its 6-speed torque converter automatic is smoother and will be easier for your wife to get used to. The XL6 lags on features, but it has all the essentials and then some. And finally, while both cars have thus far proven reliable enough, Maruti's reputation over the past 4 decades suggests the XL6 will be hassle-free over the course of its life.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Considering all your requirements, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki XL6, which is essentially a more premium version of the Ertiga. The XL6 will offer captain seats at the rear, which your parents would find more comfortable than the bench setup in the Ertiga. It also has a more premium look and feel inside.The ride is also comfortable, and the 1.5-litre petrol engine is efficient and paired to a torque converter gearbox which is far smoother than an AMT. The XL6 does not feel lively and peppy, and its setup is more for calm and relaxed driving, but it meets your requirements for good luggage space and worry-free ownership.At you budget, you would get a mid-spec variant which would be equipped with all of the essentials like a touchscreen music system and automatic climate control. We would rule out the Kia Carens as it is only available with a manual option and in a lower trim. Its replacement, the Carnes Clavis, offers the automatic option; however, prices start at Rs 16 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Kia Carens

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

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Between the two, we'd recommend the Kia Carens Clavis, which feels more premium in comparison. Not only is its interior quality and fit-finish better than the Maruti's, but it also has more space in all three rows. One added advantage is that with the Clavis, you get a bench seat in the middle, giving the fifth passenger an option to sit in the middle row or the third row. While they won't have the luxury to choose with the Maruti Suzuki XL6, which can only be had with two captain chairs in the middle row. The Kia's 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the controls feel light and easy too. The Maruti XL6 might have a slight edge in terms of fuel efficiency; however, the Kia's engine wouldn't be too far behind.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Between the two, if you are looking for something more premium and newer, we would suggest going for the Kia Carens Clavis in the HTE (EX) variant. It is the newer of the two and is also larger, offering a greater sense of space. Overall, it feels more premium and upmarket both inside and out.In terms of equipment, both cars are fairly well equipped, but with different highlights. The Maruti Suzuki XL6, being the top variant, offers features such as leatherette upholstery, ventilated front seats and alloy wheels. The Clavis, on the other hand, is offered with a sunroof, which the XL6 does not get.When it comes to performance, both cars are quite similar as they use 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines. While the Clavis has a more powerful engine on paper, it is also the larger and heavier car, which reduces that advantage in real-world driving. Where the Clavis clearly stands out is engine refinement and sound insulation, where it feels a notch better than the XL6.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

•13w

Between the two, if you are looking for something more premium and newer, we would suggest going for the Kia Carens Clavis in the HTE (EX) variant. It is the newer of the two and is also larger, offering a greater sense of space. Overall, it feels more premium and upmarket both inside and out.In terms of equipment, both cars are fairly well equipped, but with different highlights. The Maruti Suzuki XL6, being the top variant, offers features such as leatherette upholstery, ventilated front seats and alloy wheels. The Clavis, on the other hand, is offered with a sunroof, which the XL6 does not get.When it comes to performance, both cars are quite similar as they use 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines. While the Clavis has a more powerful engine on paper, it is also the larger and heavier car, which reduces that advantage in real-world driving. Where the Clavis clearly stands out is engine refinement and sound insulation, where it feels a notch better than the XL6.Overall, if you are choosing between the two, we would recommend picking the newer Carens Clavis over the Maruti Suzuki XL6.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Keeping your priorities in mind, two good options are the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and Maruti Suzuki XL6. Between the two, the XL6 will cost you roughly Rs 60,000 more for a comparable variant, but you get a more upmarket cabin and a slightly more stylish exterior. In your budget, the Ertiga ZXi and XL6 Zeta are good picks, as both come equipped with almost all the features you’re likely to need.Another option worth considering is the Citroen Aircross X Turbo. It has a strong engine and offers excellent ride comfort, especially on bad roads. However, it won’t match the Maruti duo in terms of fuel efficiency.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Citroen Aircross