Thanks to its versatile nature, our new MPV is settling into the long-term fleet rather nicely. Find out how the Suzuki XL6 has been faring below. 
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Time spent: 2 months
Distance covered: 1 129 km
Average fuel consumption: 8.4 L/100 km
We like: Versatile tracking vehicle, brief moments of solace for parents.
We don’t like: 45-litre fuel tank limits range
Despite its fledgling status in CAR’s long-term test fleet, the XL6 has quicky become sought-after among our staffers; the photography and videography departments favouring such features as its foldable four rear seats, large windows and massive tailgate for everything from carting expensive equipment to tracking photography. These attributes haven’t been lost on my family, either, as we’ve valued the separate rear seats for their ability to keep the peace among the young ones on outings to the shops or the beach. The faux leather seats that form part of the GLX specification have also proved handily wipe-clean; great when the little ones are dusted with sand or wielding ice creams.
Related: 2023 Suzuki XL6 Pricing and Specifications
More recently, CAR’s Gauteng-based digital editor Alex Shahini used the XL6 as a runabout while in Cape Town for the opening round of this year’s Toyota GR Cup. I suspect that the higher fuel consumption is a result of this racer’s quest to stay in the zone, but the notorious south-easterly winds we’ve been experiencing of late are also renowned for their ability to hamper the efficiency of high-sided vehicles such as the XL6.
The 1.5-litre engine is still far from being run in properly, and with that in mind I’ve got two trips planned. The first is a reconnaissance run on the route planned for our upcoming adventure SUV shootout that will appear in the July issue of CAR, and then a quick run to the Eastern Cape to compete in the second round of the South Africa-Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro series in Gqeberha.
Related: Living With it – Suzuki XL6
The two trips will comprise more than 2 000 km of driving on the smooth surfaces of the Garden Route, as well as rough gravel roads in the Tankwa Karoo, where the XL6’s 180 mm ground clearance and lower body cladding will no doubt come to the fore. The trips will also serve to try and match the 6.8 L/100 km achieved during out fuel route in the December 2023 toad test.
