Overview
INDIAN automobile producer Mahindra has launched its keenly anticipated XUV 3XO compact SUV into the Australian market this week providing aggressive pricing towards phase rivals from China, South Korea and Japan.
Priced from $23,490 driveaway in entry-grade AX5L format and from $26,490 driveaway for the flagship AX7L till August 31 – and $500 extra from September 1 – the Mahindra XUV 3XO vies towards phase rivals together with the Hyundai Venue (from $24,750 plus on-road prices), remaining Mitsubishi ASX inventory (from $26,740 + ORC), GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS (each from $26,990 d/a) and Chery Tiggo 4 (from $23,990 d/a).
Tools highlights for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L embrace twin 10.25-inch instrumentation and infotainment screens, fabric upholstery, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, six-speaker sound, 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone local weather management, keyless entry and ignition, dusk-sensing headlights, a sunroof, self-dimming rear-view mirror, wi-fi cellphone charging pad, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree digital camera system.
The highest-spec XUV 3XO AX7L provides 17-inch alloy wheels, a seven-speaker harman/kardon audio bundle, cooled glovebox, panoramic Skyroof, soft-touch leatherette upholstery, LED entrance fog lights, entrance parking sensors, and a 65-watt USB-C quick charger.
Along with a physique constructed of 45 per cent ultra-high-strength metal, the XUV 3XO provides customary security options together with six airbags, adaptive cruise management with Cease & Go, autonomous emergency braking, excessive beam help, lane departure warning and lane retaining help, site visitors signal recognition, tyre stress monitoring, and each ISOFIX and top-tether child-seat anchorages.
Primarily based upon the previous-generation SsangYong (KGM) Tivoli – and the Indian market XUV 300 – the Mahindra XUV 3XO is alleged to be 80 per cent all-new and options its personal sheetmetal and powertrain.
The latter is a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol producing 82kW at 5000rpm and 200Nm between 1500-3500rpm. Drive is to the entrance wheels by way of an Aisin six-speed torque converter computerized transmission.
Working on 95 RON premium unleaded, the mixture is alleged to ship a combined-cycle gasoline consumption determine of 6.5 litres per 100km with CO2 emissions of 137 grams per kilometre. Gasoline tank capability is listed at 42 litres.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO rides on a Macpherson strut entrance / torsion beam rear suspension association providing floor clearance of 201mm. Braking is by way of four-wheel discs. No towing capability is offered.
With over 70 dealerships nationally, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is backed by a seven-year/150,000km guarantee with included roadside help and a six-year/85,000km capped-price servicing program the importer says equates to simply two cents per kilometre over the seven-year interval.
The preliminary service interval is ready at 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first) and prices $279. Subsequent schedule servicing intervals are 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) with whole pricing over the six-year interval totalling $1994 – or 17 per cent lower than the common value of auto servicing within the phase.
Driving Impressions
There’s a lot to love in regards to the Mahindra XUV 3XO, notably in the event you worth wise packaging, logical ADAS calibration, and a trip/dealing with stability that doesn’t depart your fillings on the facet of the highway.
These days, we’ve discovered too many compact SUVs crash and bang over Australia’s poorly maintained roads, notably in nation areas the place floor discrepancies are sometimes matched by altering nook radii and undulating topography. Driving a automobile that takes such circumstances in its stride is uncommon – driving one which’s satisfying on the similar time, even rarer.
Actually, we will’t keep in mind the final time we referred to a automobile on this phase being ‘satisfying’ to drive… which says rather a lot in regards to the path by which car design is headed. Many producers are so obsessive about ticking packing containers and transferring upmarket that they neglect that a few of us get pleasure from our time on the ‘wheel.
We examined the XUV 3XO is abysmal circumstances on launch. Heavy rain left not solely massive quantities of standing water on the highway, however in some cases, water flowing from one facet to the opposite.
Via all of it, the XUV 3XO by no means misplaced its grip, cornering precisely and offering wonderful ranges of physique management, all of the whereas delivering terrific bump absorption.
The ADAS applied sciences additionally confirmed their price right here, intervening as needed and with few indicators or nervousness or error.
The cabin is appreciably quiet, providing first rate lodging ranges in 4 of the 5 seating positions. The seating is comfy, and provides first rate help, although we discovered the ergonomics a bit of arduous to heat to.
That mentioned, outward visibility is superb, the high-end digital camera know-how virtually feeling like an afterthought in a mannequin with such a commanding view.
Taking a better have a look at the cabin, we have been dissatisfied to search out the dashboard and switchgear is much less polished that the remainder of the car.
The décor feels dated right here, the infotainment display screen missing the readability of some fashions at this value level, the blind spot digital camera picture likewise fairly boring. Maybe it’s right here that corners are minimize in delivering such sturdy tools ranges for the asking value…
However just like the trip and dealing with mixture, there feels to be no corners minimize in providing good efficiency. Whereas the XUV 3XO gained’t win any prizes on the site visitors gentle Olympics, it’s wholesome mid-range torque gives ample tempo for metropolis and nation driving alike, the unit cooperating properly with the six-speed auto to ship respectable outcomes.
It’s a characterful engine, too; and whereas not as raucous or as some three-cylinder models that come to thoughts, has a captivating warble below throttle that appears to swimsuit the car’s assertive stance. A disgrace then gasoline financial system is a ho-hum 6.5 litres per 100km.
Whereas a few of the journalists on launched spoke of irregularities in steering response, the car we sampled felt properly assisted and fairly direct. When it comes to outright suggestions, it would need for extra, however as a city-sized SUV we really feel the steering is correct on the cash, notably when it comes time to park.
Importantly, the XUV 3XO does lack a few security objects we have now come to count on as customary. There’s no centre airbag, for instance, and the absence of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert may even see it lose just a few ANCAP stars.
Perceive, although, the car has carried out very properly in crash testing carried out elsewhere, scoring a five-star end result towards Bharat NCAP standards, with 29.36 from a potential 32 factors within the Grownup Occupant security class and 43.00 from a potential 49 factors within the Little one Occupant security class.
Having just lately pushed the Chery Tiggo 4, it’s robust to resolve which car we like extra… Positive, the Chinese language newcomer provides a greater stage of match and end and ticks extra tools packing containers than its same-priced Indian counterpart, nevertheless it’s additionally a fairly nervous car when pressured to depend on its ADAS instincts.
It’s additionally clear the Mahindra is quieter and extra satisfying to drive, which in our books nonetheless means an incredible deal – as we’re certain it does for different consumers, too.
Whereas this isn’t a direct comparability, in fact, it’s some extent that raises a big query on what issues most when it comes time to purchase.
Given the similar value and oh-so-close tools lists, the strong-selling Chery would possibly simply be able to face some sturdy competitors within the type of the Mahindra XUV 3XO… let’s see if Australian consumers really feel the identical method.
