Mahindra XUV300: Hits & Misses

After having driven the XUV300, we came up with a list of the things that wowed us and things we felt Mahindra could have worked upon. Have a look

Update: Mahindra has launched the XUV300 in India, with the prices beginning at Rs 7.90 lakh (ex-showroom India). Read more about it here.

Mahindra will launch the XUV300 in India on 14 February, 2019. Now that we’ve driven it, we can say that there are a lot of things about the XUV300 that we love. But there are a few bits that Mahindra has given a miss too. Here, we list down what we believe works in favour of the sub-4 metre SUV and what Mahindra could have added to make it an even more attractive package.

Things we like about the Mahindra XUV300

• Safety: The XUV300 is equipped with the best safety package in its class and that includes seven airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, ESP with hill hold assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors and a tyre pressure monitoring system too.

• Features: Mahindra has stuffed in features by the dozen in the new XUV300. It gets a few segment-first ones like dual zone climate control, steering modes (to adjust the weight of the steering) and front parking sensors. It also gets a sunroof, projector headlamps and 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels in the top variant.

• Powerful engines: The XUV300 will come with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that put out 110PS and 200Nm and a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel motor that produces 115PS and 300Nm. These figures indicate that the XUV300’s diesel engine is the most powerful and torquiest in its class. Even the petrol motor helps the XUV300 trump its rivals in terms of outright torque.

• Ride Quality: The ride quality of the XUV300 is impressive. The suspension irons out all kinds of bumps at low speeds and the subcompact SUV feels planted even when doing triple digit speeds.

Things that could have been better in the Mahindra XUV300

• Space: Despite having the longest wheelbase in its segment, the XUV300 feels a bit cramped in the rear. Although Mahindra has refrained from specifying the size of the boot, we know that it’s not big enough to accommodate your family’s luggage for a weekend trip. Also, the loading lip is set too high for our liking. The front passenger footwell is also cramped and while this has nothing to do with the wheelbase, it points to the fact that Mahindra could have paid more attention to the packaging of the XUV300.

• No automatic transmission: The XUV300 will not be available with an automatic gearbox at launch and those who do not prefer exercising their left foot too much will have to settle for some other vehicle in this segment. The diesel engine (we haven’t driven the petrol-powered XUV300 yet) suffers from turbo lag below 1500rpm and requires you to shift through the cogs to get a move on in city conditions.

• Centre console design: The XUV300 is based on the Ssangyong Tivoli and it also shares its dashboard design with it. The Tivoli has been on sale in various global markets since 2015 and its dashboard doesn’t look new-gen or exciting. Most modern dashboards have a floating or “propped-up” screen and minimal buttons, which is not the case with the XUV300. The orange backlit instrument console and plain Jane instrument cluster take away from the overall experience.

• Inconsistent quality: While the XUV300 promises a premium cabin, quality is inconsistent and the fit-and-finish at some places is questionable. Things like the panel gaps as well as the quality of the switches and the stalks are not uniform.