Cheapest 4X4 7-Seater SUV You Can Buy! » MotorOctane

When we think of Maruti cars, fuel efficiency is the first thing that comes to mind. You sacrifice performance for fuel efficiency when you buy a Maruti. But that isn’t necessarily true, as you can get this V6 Maruti SUV for just Rs 4 lakhs. Many people don’t even know about this SUV. 
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V6 Maruti SUV? Does It Exist? 

Yes, it does. Maruti has built up a reputation as a maker of fuel-efficient hatchbacks, but this wasn’t always the case. Maruti used to be daring back when they launched cars like the Grand Vitara and Kizashi. You may have heard of these 2, but we are sure the Grand Vitara XL7 wouldn’t ring any bells for you. 

The Grand Vitara XL7 was Maruti’s first 7-seater SUV, and it remains the only 7-seater SUV Maruti has ever made, and barely anyone knows about it. There have been many other 7-seaters, like the Ertiga and Invicto, but this is the only capable off-roader Maruti has ever made. The XL7 was a CBU import from Japan, which meant it was pretty expensive. It was priced at around Rs 20 lakh in 2004, and this amount was ginormous back then. This amount is pretty significant in 2026 as well. It is one of the rarest Maruti models ever, and now you can buy the XL7 for a mere Rs 3.5 lakh. 

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V6 Maruti SUV – Looks 

It looks very un-Maruti-esque. Road presence isn’t Maruti’s forte, but that isn’t the case for the XL7. The boxy SUV stance, giant wheel arches, tail-mounted spare wheel and the chrome grille give it he look of an American SUV from the 90s. The boxy theme carries over to the headlights and rear taillights.

It stands its own in the current SUV-dominated market, and it stood its own in 2003 against its rival, the Endeavour. Back then, other SUVs in the market included the Mahindra Bolero, Scorpio, and Tata Safari, and this was a revelation. Other rivals included the Hyundai Terracan and Honda CR-V, and suffered a similiar fate to the XL7, fading into the shadows.  

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Features 

It is a 23-year-old car, so don’t expect the amenities that you get with modern cars. But it does get basic features like – 

• Air conditioning with 2nd row and 3rd row vents
• Height-adjustment for the seatbelts
• Ashtray and cigarette lighter (because that’s what you did if you were rich in the 00s)
• Central locking
• Rear wiper
• Leather seats
• Tilt & telescopic steering adjustment
• Powered front windows

More importantly, the cabin is quite practical. You get ample storage throughout the cabin, along with a roomy 2nd row and a practical 3rd row. The boot space is ample with all the rows up. 

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V6 Maruti SUV – Powertrain

The XL7 is powered by a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine, which is also the biggest engine that Maruti has ever sold. The V6 produced 170 bhp and 231 Nm of torque, which means it can keep up with current Maruti models. But unlike current models, you sacrifice mileage for this power. It has a claimed economy of around 10.8-12.0 litres/100km, which is equivalent to 8-9 kmpl. 

In 2003, it was offered with a 5-speed MT and a 4-speed AT. This particular model is equipped with the 4-speed AT. But more interestingly, it gets a 4WD drivetrain. The V6 engine and 4WD drivetrain make it a serious off-road vehicle.  

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Should You Take The Risk? 

It is a Maruti, so spares should be cheap, right? Don’t be so sure, as many service centres may not even know that Maruti ever sold a V6. Finding spares would be a massive task, and you should only take this risk if you have a trusted spares supplier. Moreover, the V6 seems enticing on paper, but the fuel efficiency would trouble you in the long run. It would be a bad decision to buy it as your daily driver. 

But the price is a mere Rs 3.5 lakh, so you are getting a 4WD V6 for less than a base-variant S-Presso. If you keep aside a couple of lakh and intend to use it as a fun utility-vehicle on the weekend, the risk isn’t that great. There aren’t many electronics that could go wrong, and issues would be purely reliable. Moreover, let’s not forget that it is a Japanese car at the end of the day, so it is by no means unreliable. 

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