I've been a silent reader for more than a decade of this wonderful forum. Happy to be part of it. This will be my intro & upgrade thread to keep things short and simple. So here goes.
Choosing between Ertiga ZXi+ AT vs XL6 Zeta AT for a family of 5.
These two are models with similar ex showroom price.
Background: Need to replace a flawless Honda diesel WRV. 5 years, 75k run and only replaced due to need for bigger car as travelling with family is increasing.
History: Premier Padmini (sold), Fiat Palio (sold), Preowned Brio AT (Sold), WRV, City AT
We keep cars for long, both the fiats were with us for 9 years. Brio for 7 years.
Usage: 60% city and 40% highway
Occupancy: 75% max 5 and 25% full house (7 including children).
Need: 1000kms+ road trip are becoming more frequent. Driving in 2 cars is taking fun out. Usual suspects Munnar, Kodai and Valparai.
Boot: Must accommodate 2 carry on size suitcases, 2 duffle bags and a 25 L thermos watercan on road trips. 2 check in and 2 carry on size luggages for airport dropoffs with last row folded.
Budget: Max 20L (including exchange of WRV). The more we save better. Will use for international vacation rather than spend on a depreciating asset. Already had 2 vacation this year from money saved from no travel for last 2 years
![Big Grin](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png)
.
Family says should be easy to drive for 60+ youngster - AT is mandatory, period. Diesel not considered this time due to BS6 mess. Will be primarily driven by 60+ youngster. Will be replacement for both WRV manual and Brio AT (sold), so for city and highway usage.
Should have got the BRV auto back in the day, but so much for auto box with low FE those days. Atleast BRV is 3*** with stable body structure, sigh. Diesel WRV was tantalizing with mileage. It does give 16 in city traffic and 23 highway.
Others options considered:
Forced to choose between these two as Marazzo (4****) doesnt come with automatic. If only this came with TC AT box and petrol options, it would be straight pick, another sigh. This travelogue
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...lika-puri.html (Mahindra Marazzo: Road-trip to Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, Chilika & Puri)
kindled our memories from 2014 family road trip we had on a rented innova, hence the need to upgrade. Thank you kbishwa for sharing this wonderful log!
Almost lateral upgraded to Marazzo in 2021, thanks to member hserus (
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/chenn...s-chennai.html (Used car dealer - VJ Cars, Chennai)). One test drive out of the showroom, all turned sour,
Too many complaints:
Left leg started complaining
60+ youngster complained post driving
Random autowalla trailing us complained for stalling the car in narrow road city traffic
That was that, no more manuals. Especially when we want to replace a manual. The clutch was different and we couldn’t adjust in the short city drive. No ESP, step motherly treatment from manufacturer (from review thread).
Carens – almost perfoect car, but sadly not considered as same 3*** as Ertiga twins but want to stick to clock work service.
Servicing is important:
Incident 1: Chose Palio over Swift for the superior drive and European build at that time. Serviced fiat in TATA more than at Fiat service center. Fifth year into owing Fiat, no dealers started accepting this car due to unavailability/long wait time of spares. Was best man for a cousin wedding, so had to drive him to the wedding hall. Prepped car, ordered online parts and serviced at FNG, wash and polished. This car came with a notorious reverse gear lock which had to be lifted to prevent accidental reverse engagement. Had changed this very part during service. D-day, drove to the hall with the groom and I over shot the wedding hall entrance by 20 ms. No biggie right, one can reverse 20 m. Nope, car had other plans. This supposedly superior build car reverse gear would not engage
![EEK!](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.png)
. Now I'm stuck with the bridegroom and everyone is signaling me to reverse. I hit the gas and zoomed fast forward, drove across the entire block took three rights and dropped him safely back at the entrance to a sea of bewildered and angry faces. I reasoned we shouldnt reverse into a marriage hall to avoid the angry faces greeting us.
Incident 2: 2015 Chennai floods. Gave car for service at FNG. Couldn’t get car back in time, with water level rising had to drive brio in more than knee deep water to escape city. Also showed importance of higher GC, Hence replaced Fiat with WRV rather than Jazz.
These showed the importance of a manufacturer who could support and service cars through its expected life span (atleast 10 years). No more falling to perceived superior tech/build and not able to service 5 years down the line.
Have experienced Fiesta hatch DCT for 3 years. Fast and slick gear shifts is nice, but had experienced juddering (1st to 2nd and back) in long slow traffic and gear selection confusion at particular instances. Reliability or the lack of it was always running at back of your mind.
DCT on a turbo petrol vs vanilla TC Ertiga is déjŕ vu Palio vs Swift moment.
Triber 4**** - no AMT head bobbing and last row sits on rear bumper and does not get retractable seatbelts.
Hexa - no good samples, too long and post warranty
Innova Crysta - Too long for city usage, and nope, cannot sell kidney for a new one now. Exceed 20L set budget.
XUV 5***** – excellent offering, but how difficult was it to add a 200 litre boot? After experiencing XUV 500 rentals, how will it hold up in the long run is questionable. Did anyone mention waiting period?
Any other good options that is missed out? What do Honda car owners upgrade to? No sign of new Honda BRV. No new safe MUVs lined up for people love travelling in groups. In the 15-20 L there is severe dearth of safe family cars. Even Ertiga twins will be downgrade in terms of absolute safety (3***) but will get ESP for active avoidance in this case.
Before anyone suggest renting bigger cars for road trips:
The most fun we ever had was 2014 family road trip on rented carzonrent Innova.
But from 2015 it all went down hill.
2017: Xuv500 - no working rear AC.
2018: Xuv500 - no working AC - cancelled trip;
2019: Scorpio with side facing seat was sent instead of innova - returned and drove in 2 cars. From then on - no more abused rental.
Mind says do the lateral upgrade to BRV/Innova auto, even now, but family is not happy with odo tampered second hand market.
So finally two chosen options:
Ertiga ZXi+; +ves:
1. Reverse camera
2. Can be used as spacious 5 seater with a big boot
3. Good for airport runs.
Xl6 Zeta
+ves:
1. Fatter 195 tyres,
2. LED lights: +ve in rain?
Technical Queries:
1. Member Leoshashi mentioned post suspension change his old XL6 has transformed. Is the suspension setup between these two cars same or different? Will 195/R16 in ertiga make the ride quality worse?
2. How is the braking between the two, Is Xl6 better due to fatter rubber?
3. What is the point of # of stars if no 7 seater comes with 7 head restraints and seat belts (except Crysta). Its appalling in this day even after GNCAP recommendation manufacturers are not providing it. Even our youngest is taught to buckle and in car seat before car starts rolling.
Ertiga in middle east is offered with 7 seat belts and head restraints. See attached image below for reference (image credit: Teyseer Suzuki)
Is it feasible as a DIY or any new member needs to be added? Can member Leoshashi please provide part number for these?
4. Ertiga ZXi+ has UV cut glass? Xl6 has reverse camera? - no mention of both in brochure.
5. Can the airport run with 5 members and 2 full suitcases be done with XL6, how do owners manage? Ideal combo would be XL6 with 7 seats, but that doesnt exist.
DBHPian Leoshashi please comment as well on the seatbelt DIY.