Mahindra has tasted success with its many SUVs like the Thar, XUV700 and the Scorpio N but the sub 4m SUV segment till now has been a mystery for the carmaker with the SsangYong Tivoli based XUV300 garnering limited success. Not so now though as the heavily updated version in form of the XUV 3XO has been a considerable success while we find out why.
Exterior
Why the XUV 3XO has been so successful now over the XUV300 is because of the much bolder exterior styling. It is much more attractive and muscular while Mahindra has kept it below 4 metres. It does not look anything like the old XUV300 with a new face including a large black panel while there are neat vertical shaped headlamps with a C shape pattern.
Move to the side and it gets large 17-inch alloy wheels and the ground clearance has also moved up to 201mm. The rear styling too is new with a connected light bar for the top-end versions. There are a lot of colour options and paint finish was very good as well. In terms of length, the XUV 3XO is one of the larger ones in its class at 3990mm plus a width of 1821mm.
Also check: Mahindra XUV 3XO Colors
Interior and features
Open the door and entry is easy while at first glance this does not feel like a XUV300 at all. The XUV 3XO feels much more expensive with soft touch dashboard inserts and finished in ivory colour too. The door pads to the leather wrapped steering is also high in quality. It does not look dated unlike the XUV300 and here, there is a new 10.25-inch touchscreen with the latest infotainment system plus a digital instrument cluster as well.
Look closer and even the centre console is all new. In terms of features, the new touchscreen is like the other bigger Mahindra cars while the features list now includes a 360-degree camera which might not have the most perfect display but it works. Plus, you get dual zone climate control, a powered handbrake, a panoramic sunroof, Level 2 ADAS, Harman Kardon etc. That said, powered seats or with ventilation is missing. Space is much better than other rivals with the rear seat especially in terms of width while a near flat floor also helps. We also like the fact that there are three individual headrests. Luggage space lags competition though but the door pockets are quite large too.
Driving performance
There are three engine options but the talking point is the new 1.2 litre three-cylinder turbo petrol which develops 130 bhp and 230Nm. There is a new 6-speed automatic too while a manual is standard. We tested the petrol automatic and unlike the old XUV300, the top-end versions with this automatic increase the driving experience. Despite only three cylinders, it is not noisy and is quite refined while the automatic gearbox has seamless shifts too.
The engine feels muscular and has enough power to keep you happy while also drive effortlessly on the highway. While there are no paddle shifters, the gearbox is mated well with the engine while getting the best out of this. There are drive modes too- Zip, Zap and Zoom which increase throttle response plus the steering weight. Zoom is too edgy and it is best kept with the other modes. Fuel efficiency would be 12-13 kmpl in the city. Where the XUV 3XO also impresses is the suspension and the excellent ground clearance. it does not feel small and handles bad roads with ease while feeling like a big 4m plus SUV. Even the 350mm water wading ability is impressive. The steering feels a bit on the lighter side though but is easy to drive for sure.
Verdict
Prices range from Rs 7.4 lakh to Rs 15.4 lakhs with loads of variants in between with a mix of features. Hence, there is a XUV 3XO for every budget while the top-end versions come with the eye-catching features. Compared to rivals, it is priced very well plus having the most space plus scoring well on other factors like performance, features, and comfort too. It does everything well and it is a big improvement from the dated XUV300 which means you now get a 4 metre plus SUV at less than 4 metre prices.
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