Mahindra XUV300 blazes into compact SUV segment with an entry price of INR 7.90 lacs

Posted on February 14, 2019

Mumbai, 14 February 2019: The XUV300 is perhaps one of the most well packaged product from Mahindra ever. And it blazed into compact SUV territory with a fiery launch in Mumbai today, and an aggressive entry price of INR 7.90 lac for the W4 petrol and INR 8.49 lac for the W4 diesel variant. The move is likely to challenge both the established segment leaders and other new segment entrants.

The XUV300 is an important launch for Mahindra, and they haven’t left anything to chance. A lot of effort has gone into getting the overall combination pitch perfect. Based on the SsangYong Tivoli, the XUV300 has oodles of style, several first-in-segment features, good interior trims & comfort levels, is high on safety and really fun to drive. With the knock out pricing which tops at INR 10.25 lacs for the W8 petrol and INR 10.80 for the W8 diesel, it has all ends covered.

The XUV300 has 3 variants W4, W6 and W8, and one optional pack on the W8 variant which is priced at INR 11.99 lacs with several add-ons. It is available in 6 monotone colours & 2 dual tone colours.

The XUV300 follows the cheetah inspired design language and sports an aggressive front grille, a floating roof design with roof rails, chiselled body and side cladding. For its size it makes a good impression with its projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED tail lamps and 17″ diamond cut alloys. The W8 optional pack also comes with stylish dual-tone colours.

The performance is driven by two powertrains. The 1.5L turbo diesel with electronic variable geometry charger that has a peak performance of 115 bhp power & 300 Nm torque, and a 1.2L turbo petrol which does 110 bhp power & 200 Nm torque.

The 6-speed transmission efficiently utilises engine power and torque over a wide operating range with exciting results. There are 3 steering modes including a comfort and sport mode, that allow customisation to suit driving requirements.

In terms of safety the XUV300 makes no compromises. It offers first-in-segment 7 airbags including a knee airbag, dual-front, side and curtain airbags, disc brakes on all 4 wheels, front parking sensors, and a host of other features such as heated ORVMs, electronic stability program with Dynamic Steering Torque, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Roll-over Mitigation, Traction Control and Hill Start Assist. ABS & EBD are standard across all variants.

An array of tech features introduce a new benchmark for the segment. The XUV300 allows adjustment of air temperature to create separate, customised environments for the driver and front passenger, with 3 memory slots for preferred setting. There is a 7″ touchscreen infotainment system with GPS navigation, Apple Car Play & Android Auto, ECOSENSE Technology with social media connectivity, Micro Hybrid system, Push Button Start/Stop, Rear Parking Camera with dynamic assist & 3 park assist modes, Steering-Mounted Phone & Audio Controls, Blue Sense APP with smart watch connectivity, Cruise control, Auto-dimming IRVM, Multi-colour configurable instrument cluster and tyre position display.

The spacious cabin has best-in-segment width of 1,821 mm, longest-in-segment wheelbase of 2,600 mm and a flat floor that can comfortably seat three in the rear. The dashboard is dual-tone black & beige, the premium leatherette seats are well bolstered, and there is a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob. The height-adjustable driver seat, 60:40 split seat at the rear and several thoughtful storage spaces including a central console storage are the other interior highlights. To top it all, there is an electric sunroof with anti-pinch function, which to our mind, is the most aspirational feature of the XUV300.

The prices for all variants are as follows:
W4: Petrol INR 7.90 lacs / Diesel INR 8.49 lacs
W6 : Petrol INR 8.75 lacs/ Diesel INR 9.30 lacs
W8 : Petrol INR 10.25 lacs/ Diesel INR 10.80 lacs
Optional W8 pack (diesel): Additional INR 1.19 lacs

Overall, the XUV300 is a compelling package. It should shake up the somewhat over crowded compact SUV segment and perhaps change the pecking order a bit, in the coming months.