Kia Carens Vs Maruti Xl6: Which Is The Better Option?

Kia Carens and Maruti Xl6 are premium, well-priced and spacious three-row vehicles that present a good alternative to a much more expensive three-row SUV or MPV.

New Delhi: The Carens by Kia has been its fourth launch but could also be its most interesting one since it is more of a combination between an SUV and an MPV. Kia calls it an 'RV' but in terms of its aggressive pricing, the main competition to some extent can be seen as the Maruti XL6.

The XL6 is the more premium version of the Ertiga but is also being sold in Nexa sales outlets plus having some sort of SUV-like styling. To put an end to the confusion that buyers might have, these two are premium, well priced and spacious three-row vehicles that present a good alternative to a much more expensive three-row SUV or MPV.

Here is our comparison.

Which looks better?

The Carens clearly looks bigger because it is taller, longer and wider than the XL6. The design is also unlike anything else that we have seen from Kia with a unique headlamp/DRL design plus the grille. Look closer and there is high attention to detail with the grille or even the overall quality.

At 4540mm, the Carens are one of the longest cars at this price point and it shows. The XL6 is smaller but is a better-looking version of the Ertiga. The front-end is changed from the Ertiga while there is cladding too.

However, in comparison to the Carens, the XL6 has smaller 15inch wheels vs the 16s of the Carens while the higher 195mm ground clearance of the Carens vs the 180mm of the XL6 also makes the Carens have a more authoritative stance.

Which one has the better interior?

Cars like these need to have premium interiors plus also lots of space because these cars would be used for long road trips or owners might sit in the second row.

The upholstery choice in the Carens is different but also gives a luxurious look with blue/beige upholstery while the dashboard has a gloss black panel with the same pattern as on the exterior grille.

The materials used along with the design are really high quality. The XL6 is also suitably premium over the Ertiga with an all-black look, faux wood finish and better quality of materials over the Ertiga.

The Carens feels a bit more plush though. Features and luxury go hand in hand with the Carens having a bigger touchscreen plus a digital instrument cluster. There are touch controls for the AC, ventilated front seats, 64 colours ambient lighting, Bose audio system, sunroof, air purifier, rearview camera and the 2nd-row seats which electrically fold over.

The second row in the Carens can be either a bench seat or a captain seat with cupholders/sunshade/retractable table etc. 6 airbags are standard in the Carens while front/rear parking sensors plus connected tech are the extra tech features.

In the Carens, even the third row gets a charging facility and AC vents. The XL6 does not get so many features but gets a touchscreen, optionally connected car tech, cruise control, individual captain seats and more.

Which is more comfortable?

The Carnens and XL6 are hugely spacious three-row cars with enough space even in the third row. The advantage that the Carens has is that the 2nd row has an electronic one-touch tumble feature which makes entry into the rear seat easier.

The third row in the Carens can even have tall passengers with surprisingly good leg/knee room. The XL6 third row is tougher to get into but the space there is also quite good. You can use these two as three-row cars.

The Carens second row with the captain seats offers more adjustability with the armrests, sliding forward the seat or even the backrest. The seats offer good legroom and headroom with optimum thigh support as well. The XL6 seats are slightly firm but offer good space as well if not the same level of adjustability.

Which is better to drive?

The Carens gives you three engine options right from a diesel 1.5l to a 1.4l turbo petrol and a 1.5l petrol. We tested both the turbo petrol and the diesel with the diesel impressing with its economy, torque and effortless cruising.

The turbo petrol is more fun but also delivers decent fuel economy with the DCT automatic. The Carens overall is easy to drive and is car-like. However, the excellent ground clearance is also a big bonus and it does help in clearing our roads or even on road trips.

The ride is also compliant and refinement is very good with only the diesel getting slightly noisy. But it is a comfortable and easy to drive car despite the size. The XL6 is also easy to drive and its single 1.5l petrol engine delivers decent performance.

Of course, it lacks the torque of turbo petrol or diesel but it is smooth and rev-happy. The XL6 manual is a better option due to its better mileage but the automatic does bring in more convenience even though it is 4-speed auto.

The Carens diesel gets a 6-speed torque converter auto while the turbo petrol gets a 7-speed DCT. The gearbox in Carens is more responsive while getting more mileage for sure while the manual XL6 claws it back in terms of fuel efficiency.

Verdict

Prices for the XL6 starts at Rs 10.14 lakh and can go onto Rs 12.02 lakh. The Carens start at an aggressive Rs 8.99 lakh to Rs 16.9 lakh. The entry-level variants of the Carens offer fantastic value with the 1.5l petrol while the top-end variant as shown here carries a premium over the XL6.

That said, this test has a clear winner in form of the Carens which is bigger, more feature-rich and offers more engine options plus more space. The Carens top-end justifies its price due to its premium interiors or even it is exterior/driving or features. 

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