Mahindra & Mahindra has finally revealed complete details on the XUV300. We've driven the new Mahindra XUV300 and the subcompact SU...
Mahindra & Mahindra has finally revealed complete details on the XUV300. We've driven the new Mahindra XUV300 and the subcompact SUV certainly looks very promising indeed. The model gets a host of segment first goodies and the feature list is filled to the brim. The new model will be positioned above the TUV300 in the M&M stable and the model will take on some very popular rivals in the subcompact SUV segment including the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and the Ford EcoSport. All three models have proven themselves in a segment and have their respective strong suits as well. So how does Mahindra's new SUV fit in all of this? We compare on paper the new Mahindra XUV300 against the Vitara Brezza, Nexon and the EcoSport.
Powertrain
Power on the Mahindra XUV300 comes from both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol version is a 1.2-litre turbocharged motor tuned to produce x bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque, while diesel power comes from the newly developed 1.5-litre engine with 115 bhp and 300 Nm of peak torque. The latter made its debut with the Mahindra Marazzo last year. Both engines are paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. There's no automatic on offer at present. However, the XUV300 diesel churns out segment leading torque, and that should make it quick off the line in comparison to the other subcompact SUVs.
The Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport are also offered in both petrol and diesel options, while the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza only gets a diesel engine. The Nexon uses a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol mill tuned for 108 bhp and 170 Nm of peak torque, while the diesel is a turbocharged 1.5-litre oil burner churning out 108 bhp and 260 Nm of peak torque. The Nexon gets a 6-speed manual and AMT gearbox options with both engines.
The EcoSport uses the tried and tested 1.5-litre diesel that develops 120 bhp and 150 Nm of peak torque. The motor is available with a 5-speed manual only though. The petrol version though gets the dual-clutch automatic transmission paired with the 1.5-litre TiVCT petrol with 120 bhp and 150 Nm of torque on offer. There's also the 1.0-litre EcoBoost motor tuned for 123 bhp and 170 Nm of peak torque and gets a 6-speed manual gearbox. Lastly, the Vitara Brezza uses the tried and tested 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine under the hood with 89 bhp and 200 Nm of peak torque. The SUV does get a 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox options.
Features
The Mahindra XUV 300 offers segment-leading and it's a long list at that. This includes front and rear disc brakes, dual-zone automatic climate control system, projector headlamps, front and rear parking sensors, reverse parking camera, heated wing mirrors, idle stop/start system, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, touchscreen infotainment system with seven speakers, sunroof, engine modes and more.
In comparison, the Tata Nexon is equipped with projector headlamps with LED DRLs, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, multi-function steering wheel, seven speaker audio system, multi-drive modes and automatic climate control. Both the EcoSport and Vitara Brezza offer an identical list of features with the Ford SUV doing better on the number of features on offer including a sunroof, which a lot of the Indian buyers love to have.
Safety
The XUV300 is equipped with seven airbags system, ABS+EBD, tyre pressure monitoring system and more. The SUV is also said to meet the new Indian safety norms. The Tata Nexon, meanwhile, has proven itself in terms of safety, securing five stars in the Global NCAP crash tests. The SUV gets dual airbags with ABS and EBD as standard across all trims. The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza too gets dual airbags and ABS as standard across all models, while the Ford EcoSport offers up to six airbags the range-topping Titanium+ trim, while dual airbags are offered as standard. The automatic variant comes equipped with Brake Assist, ESC, TCS and Hill Start Assist. With SYNC3, the EcoSport also gets the Emergency Assistance feature that will call the authorities in case of a crash.
Prices
The Mahindra XUV300 is extremely competitive against some of the established offerings in the segment. Mahindra clearly had its homework in order and will be going out all guns blazing in a segment that has grown in volumes each year since 2013. It all boils down to the price on the XUV300 that could be the gamechanger. Prices are expected in the vicinity of Rs. 8 to 12 lakh (ex-showroom), which will put it not only against the Vitara Brezza, Nexon and the EcoSport, but also against compact SUVs like the Renault Duster and Hyundai Creta. Will the Mahindra XUV300 emerge as a new segment leader? The prices announcement on February 14 should have an answer to that.
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