Jason Woosey|Published
The Suzuki XL-6 aims to bridge the gap between the practical people mover and the more aspirational SUV. In our view, it leans a little more towards the minivan side of the spectrum, but that is arguably its greatest strength.
While it shares its bare bones with the Ertiga, a popular budget people mover, Suzuki has given it a thorough restyle that succeeds in providing a more upscale look and feel without sacrificing practicality.
Suzuki Auto South Africa has lent us a silver XL-6 to assist with our coverage of the upcoming local government elections, and we plan to put it to good use to bring you all the latest news and insights from the ground.
Having spent the past month with it, we are already impressed with the practicality and versatility on offer here.
With a six-seat layout (2+2+2), the XL-6 is certainly family- and business-friendly. The unique configuration allows relatively easy access to the third row, as occupants can slip through the gap, while the middle-row seats also have folding armrests that make for a comfortable journey.
As an average-sized male, I was able to sit comfortably behind my own seating position in all three rows, with marginal but adequate legroom and more than sufficient headroom.
Of course, many more occupants will be putting the Suzuki to the test in the coming months as we shuttle reporters around in the name of election coverage.
With all three rows up, there is still enough space for a good few shopping bags in the split-level boot, and perhaps even a few small tog bags. When you need to load larger items, the rear seats fold almost flat.
The cockpit of the XL-6 is solidly built and easy to use. It features a 7.0-inch touchscreen and separate ‘phygital’ controls for the climate system, with the only functional gripe being the lack of a volume knob. Changing the volume is easy enough for the driver, however, thanks to well-placed steering wheel controls.
That simple, solid and user-friendly nature pretty much describes the driving experience, too. It’s a very easy car to drive. There are no unusual throttle or brake pedal calibrations or finicky electronic gearsticks to contend with – everything feels solid, mechanical and precise. There have been many occasions when I’ve chosen the Suzuki for a quick trip to the shops, even when there was a far fancier SUV in the driveway.
Because of its cab-forward MPV design, the XL-6 also has a compact footprint relative to its vast interior size. It’s really a cinch to park, and unlike in many modern cars, the steering wheel actually feels like it’s connected to the wheels.
Performance around town has been adequate so far, but the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine, which produces 77kW and 138Nm, does need to be worked hard when faced with steep inclines. We’ll also soon get to see how it copes with larger loads.
Its compliant, softly-sprung suspension also dishes up a comfortable ride over our rutted and potholed roads, and overall this vehicle feels somewhat trustier than all those politicians promising to fix the mess we're in.
On that note, there’s a hectic month of election coverage ahead for the IOL team, and our semi-long-term Suzuki XL-6 seems more than ready for the challenge.
The Suzuki XL-6 is priced from R361,900 to R402,350 (October 2026).
IOL Motoring