XUV300 Latest Update
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| Aggressive -Dynamicaly-sibling of 500-chettas look sport utility vehical |
Latest update: Mahindra will introduce AMT in the XUV300 range for both petrol and diesel engine options and an AMT variant as already been spotted. The XUV300 has been launched in the country at a starting price of Rs 7.9 lakh (ex-showroom India).
Mahindra XUV300 Variants: The XUV300 is offered in four variants - W4, W6, W8 and W8(O).
Mahindra XUV300 Engine: The XUV300 is offered with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel unit. The new petrol unit churns out 110PS of power and a class-leading 200Nm of torque. The diesel engine has been carried over from the Mahindra Marazzo but detuned to make slightly less power at 115PS. However, it produces the same amount of torque at 300Nm, making it the torquiest offering in its segment. Both engines are offered with a 6-speed manual transmission only. Mahindra also has an all-electric version of the XUV300 in the works. It will be launched in the second half of 2020.
Mahindra XUV300 Features: The XUV300 comes equipped with various segment-first features including seven airbags, dual-zone climate control and heated ORVMs. Other features in its expansive list are a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors with camera, LED tail lamps, DRLs, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The XUV300 gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, all four disc brakes, power windows and steering modes as standard.
Mahindra XUV300 Rivals: The XUV300 takes on the likes of the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport, Honda WR-V and will also compete against Hyundai’s
Exterior:
The XUV300 is based on Ssangyong’s Tivoli. And hence, the XUV shares its basic stance with the Tivoli. But there are a few key differences. Firstly, overall length has been shortened by chopping the boot area (after the C-Pillar) to shorten the length by 200mm, from 4195 to 3995mm. As a result, when viewed from the side, the XUV300 looks a bit strange as the design ends quite abruptly.
Also, the Tivoli’s ground clearance of 167mm is lower than the XUV300. Even though it has been raised for India, the XUV300 sits lower than the competition. However, it boasts of a segment-leading wheelbase, which along with the 215/60 R17 tyres on our top-end W8 (O) test car, give it a confident look.
In terms of design, the XUV300 looks similar to the Tivoli, but Mahindra state that every panel is different from the Tivoli. You can see that the face is more aggressive despite being neater. The slim grille gets the chrome slot treatment just like the XUV500. It wedges in neatly between the angular headlamps that flare out as they head towards the side. The sharp LED DRLS give this SUV quite a distinctive look.
From the side, the XUV300 reminds us of the Hyundai Creta, which is no bad thing. The A-Pillar, roofline and roof rails (not offered in the UK) contribute to that effect. But, if it stood a bit taller, the SUV look would have been cemented solid. When it comes to premiumness, the diamond-cut alloys play their part just right.
From the rear, the XUV looks quite rugged and premium, thanks to the wide hips and high-set tail lamps which use smooth LED elements. Just to be clear, the look here is completely different from the Tivoli, and better for it. However, inconsistent panel gaps here spoil the sense of richness.
Performance.
At launch, the XUV300 will be offered with two engines - a petrol and a diesel. The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine which, on paper, offers the same 110PS of power as the 1.2-litre Tata Nexon. However, in terms of torque, the petrol offers a class-leading 200Nm. However, on the pre-launch test drive only the 1.5-litre diesel was made available. This engine promises class-leading 115PS of power and 300Nm of torque. Both these engines are available with 6-speed manual transmissions only, for now. While the Tivoli is offered with all-wheel drive too, we do not expect this to come to India.
The 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine is derived from the Marazzo, but some changes to the tune give it a more energetic character. At start up, you can feel a bit of diesel rumble and light vibes in the cabin. While this isn’t something we would complain about, we have been spoilt by the larger Marazzo which just damps these out.
It is easy to make out that the XUV300 is peppier to drive. Overtaking other vehicles requires very little effort. No doubt, being lighter than the Marazzo has helped, but the torque spike at 1500rpm makes it feel quite exciting. Even in the city, you can drive around smoothly and easily as the clutch is light, although shifting the tall gear lever requires a bit of effort.
However, like on the Marazzo, the engine can feel lethargic if you drive around in a higher gear at low speeds. On inclines or if the engine revs drop below 1500rpm, it is easy to stall the XUV300. This will require some getting used to. In terms of fuel efficiency, no official figures are available as of now, but you can expect them to be higher than the 17.3kpl that Mahindra claims for the Marazzo.
You feel confident driving the XUV too, thanks to the steering. It has three modes - Normal, Comfort and Sport -, which change the weight of the steering. These do not change how quickly the vehicle actually turns, so we preferred the light but precise and direct feel of Comfort. The suspension also makes the XUV300 feel composed at high speeds, even over poor roads. The brakes provide a safe and secure feel while slowing down too. In the city, the way the suspension reduces the impact of the potholes is also satisfying.
Safety.
On the safety front, the XUV300 starts from the ground up by offering disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS with EBD, Cornering Brake Control, dual airbags and ISOFIX mounts as standard. The top-end variant gets seven airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver, and ESP based safety features like traction control, roll-over mitigation, brake fade compensation and hill-start assist too. Smaller details like an adjustable headrest for the middle occupant at the back and a proper three-point seatbelt present a very mature side of the XUV300. If you are focussed on the front seats, the height-adjustable seatbelts at the front deserve some brownie points.
+Things We Like
- #.Overtaking on highways easy, thanks to punchy diesel engine.
- #.Stable and fun to drive because of steering and good grip.
- #.Comfortable even over bad roads.
- #.Feels premium because of class-leading safety and convenience features
-Things We Don't Like
- #.Cramped footwell, no space for dead pedal for driver
- #.Not the most spacious or comfortable backseat in the class
- #.Premium experience let down by quality issues like poorly fitting panels, mushy switches and flimsy stalks.
- #.Small boot will be a hassle if it’s the only car in the family.
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