New age game changer: Mahindra XUV300

| FEBRUARY 10, 2019, 03:24 AM IST

Ritesh Madhok


The compact and mini SUV segment is one of the fastest growing currently in India, and Mahindra is all set to get its latest entrant here taking the XUV lineage ahead with the XUV 3OO.  Exteriors

The XUV 3OO appears extremely sporty and trendy at the very first look. The face gets the signature Mahindra grill with chrome studs placed horizontally with the Mahindra brand logo placed in the center. The headlights come with projector beam,while the highlight of the face is the unique DRL (day time running lights) that extend themselves till the lower section of the bumper edges. The bonnet comes with character lines flowing back towards the windshield giving it a neat, robust SUV look. The electric wing mirrors come with a unique heating feature. The rear profile of the XUV 3OO is highlighted with the near oval tail lights in all LED glow that extend themselves into the boot lid. The rear spoiler in roof color extends itself outward, giving a tough look to the rear profile. The rear bumper comes with stop lamps placed on the corners along with the faux skid plate.

Interiors

Hop into the XUV 3OO and you are welcomed with a bright cabin in a nice off-white theme. The dash comes in a dual tone shade with the top in black and the lower section in a white shade. The steering comes with leather wrapping along with multi-function command buttons with silver inserts on it. The instrument cluster is a twin pod design with the outer rings glowing. You can customize this glow colour, choosing red, yellow, blue, white and sky blue colors. The center dash houses the 7 inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, Radio, GPS navigation. This screen also displays unique tyre pressure and tyre temperature monitor. You can also connect your smart watch to the XUV 3OO using their app. The XUV 3OO comes with the segment’s 1st dual zone climate control unit,where you can have different temperature settings for the front left and right zones. The seats look classy in off-white leather upholstery. The front seats are very well sculpted and offer excellent support. The rear seat comes with 40:60 split configuration,also getting 3 adjustable head rests and a folding center arm rest. The XUV 3OO comes with 257lt boot space with a wide loading area.


Engine, transmission & drive

The Mahindra XUV 3OO comes with two engine options to choose from. The Petrol version comes powered with the 1.2 litre turbocharged unit which makes 110bhp @ 5000rpm and 200Nm of torque between 2000rpm - 3000rpm.

The Diesel version of the XUV 3OO that we drove gets its power from the 1.5 litre CDRI engine with 115bhp @ 3750rpm and 300Nm between 1500rpm – 2500rpm.This is the same engine that also powers the larger Mahindra Marazzo MPV. Both the engines come mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. 

First things first, push start the engine and you would be more than surprised with how silent the cabin feels with the engine running. Upfront on the instrument cluster you see the direction the front tyres are in via the tyre direction monitor system, this is an extremely helpful feature especially for them who cant judge the tyre direction when they are just about to move out from parking. Shift to the 1st gear and the XUV 3OO glides away in style. Another unique feature on the XUV 3OO is the 3-mode steering system that can be preset to Comfort, Normal or Sport mode at a push of a button. 

Safety

The XUV 3OO comes with 7 airbags (2 front, 2 curtain, 2 side, 1 driver knee), ABS with EBD, corner braking control, all 4 disc brakes, ESP, Hill Hold assist, ISOFIX child seat restraints, seatbelt reminder for front and back, front and rear parking sensors, seatbelt height adjust. 


Verdict

The Mahindra XUV 3OO is a complete revelation in itself, in terms of equipment levels, safety features, engine and transmission, and comfort. Mahindra has got the package just perfect with a long list of segment first features, mostly safety ones, making this the safest SUV once launched. With a well sorted drive and handling quality, Mahindra does have a winner with the XUV 3OO in its segment.  

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