Mahindra XUV 300 launched at Rs 7.90 lakh

Mahindra XUV 300 launched, should the Vitara Brezza be worried?

The ever growing compact SUV segment in the country has a new entrant in the form of Mahindra XUV 300. Mahindra has launched the compact SUV at Rs 7.90 lakh for the entry level W4 variant, going all the way to Rs 10.80 lakh for the top-of-the-line W8 diesel variant. The optional pack for the W8 variant will cost you an additional Rs 1.19 lakh. The XUV 300 will challenge the likes of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Ford EcoSport and Tata Nexon.

The XUV300 will be available in both petrol and diesel engines. The 1.2- litre 3-cylinder petrol engine is borrowed from the KUV 100 and is fitted with a turbocharger, that results in a power output of 110bhp and 300Nm. The 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel unit that makes 115bhp and 300Nm is lifted off the Marazzo. The XUV 300 in diesel guise is the most powerful compact SUV out there. Both engines are currently mated to manual transmissions and the AMT will be introduced later. It is surprising that Mahindra have not made the AMT option available at the time of the launch. There is a huge demand for AMTs and Mahindra is already late for the compact SUV party where its rivals are ruling the roost.

Modern and refreshing styling on the Mahindra XUV 300

The XUV 300 has a few aces up its sleeve when it comes to styling, features and more importantly, the way it drives. Check out Sirish’s test drive review of the XUV 300 here. The XUV 300 is based on the Ssangyong Tivoli and shares its X100 platform, albeit the wheelbase is reduced to cater the sub 4-metre category. Styling is definitely better than the Tivoli and Mahindra scores on that front. It gets LED DRLs, projector headlamps and LED tail lamps.

In terms of safety, the XUV 300 also gets a first in class 7 airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver. It is also equipped with a sunroof, heated side mirrors, front parking sensors and disc brakes for all four wheels. All the above features are segment first. The car is also equipped with ESP and hill start assist. For creature comforts, there’s dual zone temperature control system and a 17.78cm touch screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, steering mounted control and smart watch connectivity. You also get three steering modes – comfort, normal and sport to change the steering feel when driving in different conditions. While the W4 and W6 trims get 205/65 section tyres with 16 – inch steel wheels, the top spec W8 and W8 (O) get the 215/55 with 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.

Coming to the pricing front, it’s rivals like the Vitara Brezza, Nexon and EcoSport start at Rs 7.67 lakh, Rs 6.36 lakh and Rs 7.82 lakh. The XUV 300 is the pricier of the lot and has only four trims compared to the Nexon is available is a staggering 22 trims and two engine options – one petrol and one diesel along with an option of AMTs.

Though the pricing of the XUV 300 does not undercut the Vitara Brezza, the former comes loaded with tech and features to make it a value for money vehicle and make a case for itself. Will it break the 10,000 units per month sales for the company in this segment? Let’s wait and watch.