The Mahindra XUV300 was introduced at a time when SUVs measuring under 4 metres in length were becoming increasingly prevalent in the Indian automotive landscape. At the time, Mahindra had a flourishing partnership with SsangYong, a Korean carmaker.In fact, the XUV300 is based on the SsangYong Tivoli. While the Tivoli was a little over 4 metres in length, Mahindra’s engineers re-engineered the SUV to fit within that category. The XUV300, since its debut on showroom floors, has promised a power-packed performance and a comfortable ride. But, is that enough for it to make its way into your garage?
Mahindra XUV300 Engine & Transmission | |||
Engine | 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, diesel | 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol |
Transmission | 6 speed MT, AMT | 6 speed MT, AMT | 6 speed MT |
Power | 110 PS | 117 PS | 130 PS |
Torque | 200 Nm | 300 Nm | 250 Nm |
Mileage | NA | NA | NA |
Mahindra XUV300 Dimensions | |||
Length | 3995 mm | ||
Width | 1821 mm | ||
Height | 1627 mm | ||
Wheelbase | 2600 mm | ||
Boot Space | 257 litres | ||
Mahindra XUV300 Safety | |||
Feature | Variant Available on | ||
Airbags | Two Standard, Six on top variant | ||
ABS with EBD | Standard | ||
Rear Parking Sensors | Standard | ||
All Wheel Disc Brakes | Standard | ||
Reverse Parking Camera | Only available on top two variants | ||
Electronic Stability Programme | Standard on top variant, Available in mid-variant but with AT only | ||
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Standard | ||
ISOFIX Mounts | Standard | ||
Hill Hold Assist | Standard on top variant, Available in mid-variant but with AT only | ||
Hill Descent Control | Not Available | ||
Why should you consider the Mahindra XUV300?
The XUV300 is a well-rounded SUV that comes from the house of Mahindra, and while it might share its underpinnings with the SsangYong Tivoli, Mahindra engineers have worked on the platform to make it fit for the Indian market. It is then an indigenous product from the leading carmakers in the country. The XUV300 also promises a punchy performance, comfortable ride quality, surefooted handling and most important of all, a safety rating that will put you at ease every time you get behind its wheel and take your family for a ride.
Performance
From the beginning, Mahindra offered the XUV300 with a turbo-petrol engine and a diesel engine, both of which (at the time) led the charts in terms of power and torque output in the sub-4 metre SUV segment. This meant that the XUV300 was a beast to drive on Indian roads, with the potential to outpace most cars in a straight line, making its highway performance one of the most desirable traits of the SUV. Mahindra then went on to introduce an even more powerful petrol engine with Direct Injection, elevating the XUV300 to a level beyond the reach of all other cars in the segment. Its performance, for the price, is simply astounding and in a straight line, leaves its competitors in the dust
Comfortable Ride Quality
Most cars that offer good performance often compromise on the comfort front, but the Mahindra XUV300 seems to be the complete opposite of that. While its engines might be punchy, its suspension is as soft as butter meaning that Indian roads are taken care of without the slightest of hissy fits. Be it small bumps on the road surface or potholes in the road, the XUV300 simply wafts over them with a certain air of elegance. In fact, it has one of the softest ride quality in its segment and that makes it really comfortable, especially when traversing over broken surfaces for an extended period of time.
Handling
It’s no secret that if you engineer a car to be comfortable, it’s not going to have the most dynamic handling abilities, and the XUV300 doesn’t promise that. Nevertheless, the XUV300, on the highways feels one of the most surefooted SUVs around and even at triple digit speeds, it feels quite solid to drive. Around the corners, it does roll when you turn in with excessive speeds but if you can be gentle with your inputs, the XUV300 will surprise you with the amount of grip levels on offer. The chassis tuning and the tyres offered on the XUV300 are the primary reason for this and give it a good balance between comfortable ride quality and solid handling abilities.
Safety
When it comes to safety, the XUV300 simply blew all other cars out of the water when it first arrived on the scene. It came with a 5-star safety rating for adult occupants and a 4-star safety rating for child occupants from Global NCAP. These are star ratings, which were simply unheard of at the time. It is only in recent years that carmakers have started emphasising the safety ratings of their cars, and even then, the XUV300 continues to rule at the top of its segment when it comes to offering a safe experience. Mahindra also offers a basic set of safety features as standard on all variants of the SUV, but the best ones are reserved for the top-spec W8 Opt variant of the XUV300.
Why should you not consider the Mahindra XUV300?
Boot Space
When Mahindra made the XUV300 out of the SsangYong Tivoli, they had to chop off a lot of its rear end to fit it inside the sub-4 metre segment of SUVs. That meant that despite having a huge wheelbase of 2600 mm, the XUV300 ended up having the smallest boot in its segment. This makes it quite impractical if you want to use it for an extended road trip with four adults in the car. You have to often drop the rear seats even to be able to make airport runs, and that means that the XUV300 can’t take in more than two or three passengers. This makes the XUV300 better suited for those people who often travel in a pair of two with the whole second half of the cabin either reserved for their pets or their luggage.
Back Seat Space
Another reason why the XUV300 is not a great road trip car is because of its cramped rear seat. The leg space is less than adequate for anyone even inching towards being a six-footer and the angle of the seat base makes one sit in quite a knees-up position. While this is manageable for short drives, it can be really taxing on the legs of tall people over longer journeys. The back seat of the XUV300 is then best reserved for young kids and in fact, the ISOFIX mounting points mean you can even mount the child seat of your toddlers.
Mahindra XUV300 Variants & Ex-Showroom Price | ||
Variant | Powertrain | Ex-showroom Price |
Petrol W2 | 1.2 (3 cylinder) MT | Rs 7.99 lakh |
Petrol W4 | 1.2 (3 cylinder) MT | Rs 8.65 lakh |
Diesel W4 | 1.5 MT | Rs 10.20 lakh |
Petrol W4 TGDi | 1.2 (4 cylinder) MT | Rs 9.29 lakh |
Petrol W6 | 1.2 (3 cylinder) MT | Rs 10 lakh |
Petrol W6 | 1.2 (3 cylinder) AMT | Rs 10.69 lakh |
Diesel W6 | 1.5 MT | Rs 10.99 lakh |
Diesel W6 | 1.5 AMT | Rs 12.29 lakh |
Petrol W6 TGDi | 1.2 (4 cylinder) MT | Rs 10.49 lakh |
Petrol W8 | 1.2 (3 cylinder) MT | Rs 11.49 lakh |
Diesel W8 | 1.5 MT | Rs 12.99 lakh |
Petrol W8 TGDi | 1.2 (4 cylinder) MT | Rs 11.99 lakh |
Petrol W8 Opt | 1.2 (3 cylinder) MT | Rs 12.59 lakh |
Petrol W8 Opt | 1.2 (3 cylinder) AMT | Rs 13.29 lakh |
Diesel W8 Opt | 1.5 MT | Rs 13.91 lakh |
Diesel W8 Opt | 1.5 AMT | Rs 14.59 lakh |
Petrol W8 Opt TGDi | 1.2 (4 cylinder) MT | Rs 12.99 lakh |
Best Mahindra XUV300 Variant to buy
The XUV300 is one car that is handsomely equipped in its top-spec W8 Opt avatar. The best safety features, as well as the most premium features are available in that variant.On top of that, Mahindra is offering the entire range of powertrain choices in the W8 Opt variant of the XUV300. It then makes sense that whatever powertrain you want to pick, you will be best suited by the top-spec W8 Opt variant of the XUV300.
Mahindra XUV300 Warranty and Service Cost
As standard, Mahindra offers a 3-year warranty on the XUV300 and that comes without any restrictions on the number of kilometres clocked on the odometer. This is truly exceptional as it allows customers to drive their cars knowing that any manufacturing defects, if they exist, will not become a problem later on in the life of a vehicle just because they went above the kilometre limit stipulated by the carmaker. Mahindra also offers a free 2-year Roadside Assistance with the XUV300. Lastly, customers who wish can opt for an extended warranty package, details of which can be found out at Mahindra dealerships.
Summary
The Mahindra XUV300 has been around for a long time in the Indian market and it continues to offer value to prospective buyers with its sprightly performance, comfortable ride and incredible safety rating. However, the XUV300 is best suited for those who drive alone or at best with one more passenger. Fully loaded road trips are not its forte. We highly recommend the XUV300 for everyday drives but if you’re someone who heads out of town with friends or family more often than heading to the office, you would be better off looking at its competition.
