Best Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 Variants Under Rs 15 Lakh for Long-Distance Road Trip Lovers

What a Long-distance road trip lover looks for in a car

A long-distance road trip lover seeks comfort, performance, fuel efficiency, and safety in a car. An excellent road trip vehicle will offer comfortable seating with ample legroom, headroom, and storage for luggage. The car should have good fuel efficiency for cost-effective travel and advanced safety features for peace of mind. The convenience of modern tech features, like touchscreen navigation and Bluetooth connectivity, enhances the travel experience. The best cars for long drives in India should have all these attributes.

Additionally, solid performance on different terrains and reliable handling at high speeds are crucial for enjoyable and stress-free journeys. Both Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 have found favour among long distance road-trip lovers in India for their performance as well as ride and handling attributes.

Why Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 are popular MPVs among Long-distance road trip lovers

Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 stand out among long-distance road trip lovers for their blend of comfort, performance, and innovative features. Both models offer spacious interiors with ample legroom and headroom, ensuring comfortable journeys. The sizable boot capacity handles luggage needs effectively. In effect, both are comfortable cars for road trips in India.

Kia Carens, with its robust petrol and diesel engine options, delivers strong performance, while Maruti Suzuki XL6’s mild hybrid engine ensures good fuel efficiency. Both vehicles offer advanced safety features, including ABS and multiple airbags. Their handling characteristics – stable at high speeds and responsive steering feedback – ensure safe and enjoyable drives.

Also read: 10 DC Design cars & how they look in the REAL world: Maruti Swift to Mahindra XUV500

The convenience features like automatic climate control, touchscreen navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity add to the comfort and ease of long journeys. Moreover, their attractive pricing makes these models an excellent value proposition, further enhancing their popularity among road trip lovers as cars for highway as well as city driving in India.

However, while the Carens offers a variety of powertrains, its DCTs are somewhat unreliable. This could bias the buyers towards XL6 because of Maruti’s reputation for its wide-service network, which the Kia is currently lacking.

For this comparison, we take a look at the Carens and XL6 variants priced between Rs 13 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. You may also like to read our comparison of the Kia Carens with Maruti Suzuki Ertiga as cars for long distance driving.

Our variants shortlist for Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 in Rs 13-15 Lakh Range

Variant	Price (INR)
Kia Carens Prestige iMT	13,25,000
Kia Carens Prestige Diesel iMT	13,85,000
Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT	14,75,000
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha AT	14,06,000
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT	14,66,000
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT Dual Tone	14,82,000

The Kia Carens Prestige iMT and Diesel iMT variants stand out for their impressive safety features, including ABS and 6 airbags, and Bluetooth connectivity. Both have a reasonable boot capacity of 216 liters for luggage and offer good ground clearance, ensuring a smooth drive on diverse terrains.

The Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT variant, in addition to the above features, provides an automatic climate control system that enhances comfort on long trips. It is powered by a petrol engine, making it a good fit for those preferring petrol vehicles. If you’re a family-focused buyer, you can read how the Kia Carens stacks up against Maruti Suzuki Ertiga.

The Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha AT and Alpha Plus AT variants come equipped with advanced safety features and Bluetooth connectivity. They offer modest boot capacity (209 liters), but their mild hybrid engine ensures better fuel efficiency.

Finally, the Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT Dual Tone variant, while similar to the other two Maruti Suzuki variants, boasts a dual-tone finish for those who desire an aesthetic edge.

Best variant among Kia Carens and Maruti Suzuki XL6 for Long-distance road trip lovers

The Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT stands out as the best variant for long-distance road trip lovers. It combines impressive safety features, including ABS and 6 airbags, with comfort and convenience attributes such as automatic climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.

The good ground clearance and high-speed stability ensure a comfortable and safe ride on diverse terrains and at high speeds. Moreover, the petrol engine and decent fuel efficiency make it a cost-effective choice for long-distance travel. We also have our comparison of the Carens with Maruti XL6 in terms of their design and style.

The Top 3 choices

The top three choices for long-distance road trip lovers are the Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT, Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha AT, and Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT.

Variant	ABS	Airbags	Bluetooth Connectivity	Boot capacity	Automatic Climate Control	High-speed Stability
Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT	Yes	6	Yes	216	Yes	Stable
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha AT	Yes	4	Yes	209	Yes	Stable
Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha Plus AT	Yes	4	Yes	209	Yes	Stable

The Kia Carens Prestige Plus iMT excels with its automatic climate control and superior safety features. While the XL6 fares well in its ride and handling, the Kia Carens, an MPV with a car-like disposition, takes it up a notch.

The Maruti Suzuki XL6 Alpha AT and Alpha Plus AT variants are great for those prioritizing fuel efficiency, thanks to their mild hybrid engines. All three variants have good boot capacity and high-speed stability, making them reliable choices for long-distance road trips.

In conclusion, these variants are attractive for long-distance road trip lovers due to their blend of safety, convenience, performance, and fuel efficiency. Their additional features, such as automatic climate control and Bluetooth connectivity, further enhance the journey’s comfort and enjoyment.

Also read: Upcoming 2022 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza rendered