XL6 CNG Long term Ownership Review | Whether going for CNG was the right choice !

Recently crossed 55,000 km run on my trusty Maruti XL6 CNG (zetta), I couldn't help but reflect on the incredible journey we've shared. From road trips to daily commutes, this 6-seater has been my reliable companion. In this review, I'll dive into the nitty-gritty of owning an XL6 CNG, including its performance, mileage, and cost-effectiveness.

Comfort and Performance

The XL6 CNG is a masterclass in comfort and practicality. With ample space for six passengers, it's perfect for family road trips or daily carpooling. But what truly impresses is the engine's performance. Even with a full load, the XL6 CNG accelerates smoothly, without any noticeable power lag. The transition from petrol to CNG is seamless, making it an excellent choice for those who want the flexibility of dual fuel options. 

The comfort of the seats are also satisfactory and the middle captain seats are its usp! Very comfortable and spacious. I have covered all these aspects in detail in several of my youtube videos too where you will get a more involving and clearer picture. I have attached those videos in this blog in later parts. So let us proceed further...

Boot Space

A 6 seater or a 7 seater car of this size already has smaller boot space as compared to a normal 5 seater car. No doubt fitting of a CNG cylinder in the car further reduces the useful boot space and the same is the case in XL6 CNG car too. However, things have been better and smartly managed here. The cylinder is covered in a way that one can place a small bag over the wooden plank (a strong wooden takhta is there). And the cylinder hides under it. Further the last row of the seat is completely foldable over which the luggage can be kept. These things would be more clear if you see my videos which I have attached in the later part of my blog. 

A Cool Ride: XL6's Impressive Air Conditioning System

One of the biggest concerns in a long car is whether the rear passengers will get the same cooling effect as those in the front. But the XL6 puts those worries to rest. Its air conditioning system is incredibly effective, and the roof-mounted blower ensures that even the last-seat passengers stay cool and comfortable.

I experienced this firsthand during a long drive from Delhi to Prayagraj by road and back during peak summer season. With temperatures soaring to 47-48°C, I was worried that the AC might struggle to keep up. But I was pleasantly surprised. The cooling was so effective that my kids, who were sitting in the rear seats, asked me to increase the AC temperature and even switched off the blower!

An additional cooling feature is cooled glass holders under central console. You can place some small bottles there during any long trip and the air coming through the vents will make the water chilled. Hence an useful feature it is.

So a big thumbs-up 👍

Mileage and Running Costs

Now, let's talk numbers. In city driving, I am getting a mileage of around 24-25 km/kg on CNG. On the highway, that number jumps to an impressive 34 km/kg. Yes, you have read it correct. You can even check this in my youtube videos which I have attached in later portion of the blog.

Let us again come back to the maths. To put that into perspective, if I were running solely on petrol, my mileage would be around 15-16 km/liter. With CNG priced at approximately ₹77/kg and petrol at ₹100/liter (in Delhi), the savings are substantial.

Cost Analysis: Is CNG Variant Worth It?

For simplicity and better understanding I have brought this in pure calculation form. Please note that these are based on approximate averages which I had arrived at and this may vary a bit from person to person depending upon driving style as well as driving conditions. So accordingly you may tweak it. I would further like to add here that the cost of CNG and Petrol varies from time to time as well as from state to state. So you can accordingly calculate depending upon what prices you are getting the fuel. So lets proceed ..

Lets assume the yearly running of the car is 20,000 km. Then the calculation goes as under:

In Petrol: 

- Fuel consumption: 20,000 km/year / 15 km/liter ≈ 1,333 liters/year

- Fuel cost: 1,333 liters/year × ₹100/liter ≈ ₹1,33,300/year

In CNG:

- Fuel consumption: 20,000 km/year / 25 km/kg ≈ 800 kg/year

- Fuel cost: 800 kg/year × ₹77/kg ≈ ₹61,600/year

So the annual savings on fuel would be ₹71,700 [ ₹1,33,300 - ₹61,600 ]

So Over a five-year period:

- Petrol: ₹1,33,300/year × 5 years ≈ ₹6,66,500

- CNG: ₹61,600/year × 5 years ≈ ₹3,08,000

Total savings over 5 years:

₹6,66,500 (petrol) - ₹3,08,000 (CNG) ≈ ₹3,58,500

Now, let's calculate the savings over 1.5 lakh km:

Assuming the same mileage and fuel prices:

- Petrol: 1,50,000 km / 15 km/liter ≈ 10,000 liters

- Petrol cost: 10,000 liters × ₹100/liter ≈ ₹10,00,000

- CNG: 1,50,000 km / 25 km/kg ≈ 6,000 kg

- CNG cost: 6,000 kg × ₹77/kg ≈ ₹4,62,000

Total savings over 1.5 lakh km:

₹10,00,000 (petrol) - ₹4,62,000 (CNG) ≈ ₹5,38,000

Considering the premium for the CNG variant is ₹1.25 lakh, it would take around 1.75 years to break even. After that, it's all savings!

Room for Improvement: Areas for Enhancement

While the XL6 has impressed me in many ways, there are some areas that need attention:

Rear View Camera:  XL6 CNG was not given with any rear view camera. That I got it installed from the Nexa showroom. The camera's angle is not ideal, providing more of a ground-level view rather than a clear, straight rear view.

Infotainment System: The system can be glitchy, with instances of hanging and crashing. Additionally, it lacks wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring a wired connection for navigation. 

Ventilated Seats: Unfortunately, this feature is not available in the CNG version. Maruti should give an option for the same even in CNG version.

Interior Space: The car's width can be a bit of an issue, with the elbows of two well-built adults touching when sitting in the front seats. Please don't confuse it with the head-room which is great in this car. Its only that its a bit narrow car. 

Infotainment Screen Placement: The screen's positioning can cause reflections during bright daylight, making it difficult to view.

I think by addressing these areas, the XL6 can become an even more compelling package.

Conclusion

The XL6 CNG has been an excellent choice for me, offering a perfect blend of comfort, performance, and cost-effectiveness. While the initial premium may seem steep, the long-term savings on fuel costs make it a worthwhile investment.

Watch My XL6 CNG Review Videos:

• How and why I switched over to XL6 (CNG) car. Check the below video to know about the same. 

• I have covered the roundabout of the car in my below video, do watch it to get a better understanding of the same.Must watch to get a thorough appreciation of what the car offers.  

• In the below video I will take you to a 5000 years old Harappan City. It is in Rakhigarhi in Haryana. The journey was done in my friend's XL6 (CNG), Nexa Blue car.  It is a must see video for all those history lovers. You will get some very important information about the origin of the people living in India. I won't reveal here much, just take a deep dive in the video.

• In the below video we have calculated the city mileage of my car. This is one of the most popular videos in its segment. A threadbare calculation was done in this video.  

• It's too much of calculations! Why not take a scenic drive to some remote location surrounded by hills and within the jungles in tiger territory. A fun filled drive with friends will take you all to the scenic location of ancient Neelkanth Mahadev temple in Alwar in Rajasthan. A very least known place and the temple is said to draw its history way back to the times of Mahabharata. It is near Virat Nagar where Pandavas had their agyatvas. Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor tried to demolish the entire structure but he was unable to do so. These are all covered in the visit. At a shorter distance there is also a huge Lord Mahavira statue and ancient remains of Jain temple as-well. I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy the drive. And yes in this video I have calculated what the XL6 CNG car gives mileage while running on petrol. Do watch it. Om Namah Shivai 🙏

• If you are done with my above videos then its time to watch my next video and a very popular one on youtube, That is my drive on Delhi Mumbai Expressway. The Expressway is a gem and an engineering marvel. In this video I have tested the capabilities of the car extensively and also calculated separately the mileage on CNG and on Petrol. 

• Now its time to be part of my journey where I got record mileage on my XL6 CNG. The journey was from Prayagraj to Noida. It was a distance of over 700 km run which I did on a single day drive. So watch the same. 

I am sure if you have gone through this blog and my suggested videos, you must have got a detailed understanding of what this car is all about.  

So stay tuned and don't forget to comment and share the reviews with your friends. 

Thanks very much.👍👍😊

[You can check my earlier blog on my XL6 CNG here XL6 CNG review | Is it worth buying ]

Also check my other popular blogs:

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Electrifying India: The challenges Ahead

Trip to Badrinath & Mana Village | A close save

Ancient cave paintings in Dhadhikar in Alwar | A place one must visit |adventure

Visit to Bhangarh Fort, the most haunted fort.

My visit to Golden Tusk Resort in Jim Corbett National Park

My Trip to Badrinath and Mana Village in Himalayas (In Hindi)

My visit to Bala Quila Fort- A place you cannot miss

My visit to The Vijayran Palace Resort Jaipur

[Disclaimer: The aforesaid views and experience are personal to the author and should not be taken as any professional advice. Further the author shall not be liable for any errors or omissions in the information and viewers are advised to check the same from concerned official sites or offices. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, nation, company or individual. We always respect the dignity and feelings of any religion, ethnic, individual, groups, nation, company etc.]