Mahindra XUV300 bookings now open: Launch less than a month away

Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra revealed that its upcoming compact SUV would be called the XUV300 when it arrived early next year. Now a new report by Autocar India claims that Mahindra dealerships in Pune and Gujarat are now accepting bookings unofficially for an amount of Rs 11,000. The publication claims that the booking amount for the XUV300 in Mumbai is Rs 10,000 and that all these amounts are refundable.

The XUV300 is Mahindra’s answer to the success of the Vitara Brezza. The Brezza single-handedly propelled Maruti to the top spot the nation’s largest SUV manufacturers dethroning Mahindra in the process. The XUV300 is slated for launch in February 2019.

The all-new XUV300 is based on the Tivoli SUV from Ssangyong, Mahindra’s South Korean subsidiary. However, the Tivoli has been heavily worked upon by Mahindra to create the XUV300, which lands in at under 4 metres in length to help it gain subsidies offered by the government. The XUV300’s length also means that it will end up directly competing with the Maruti Brezza. A longer wheelbase version of the XUV300, which will be called the XUV400 will arrive later and is expected to be a rebadged version of the Tivoli.

Under the bonnet of the all-new XUV300 from Mahindra will sit two engines – a petrol and a diesel. The diesel engine is the same 123 hp unit found in the Marazzo, which will make the XUV300 the most powerful SUV in its class when it launches in February 2019. The petrol engine is a brand new 1.2-litre turbocharged motor.

No details have been revealed about the performance figures of the XUV300’s new petrol powerplant. However, Mahindra has revealed that both engines will be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox at launch. An automatic option will be offered at a later stage in the new SUV’s product cycle.

Mahindra is going all out with the XUV300 as it plans to combat the Maruti Brezza and the upcoming SUV will come loaded with many first-in-class features including 7 airbags, a sunroof, dual zone climate control, leather seats and disc brakes on all four wheels when it arrives in two months time.

The all-new XUV300 has two more factors in its favours both of which relate to its larger SUV sibling it takes the XUV name from. The XUV500 is one of the most popular Mahindra SUVs in the market today and people will look at its smaller sibling the XUV300 with more respect and affection thanks to the reputation built by Mahindra with the help of the larger SUV. Also, the XUV300 takes its design cues from its elder siblings Cheetah-inspired design, which has made it a bonafide hit in the Indian car market. Hopefully, the trick will work once again for Mahindra.

Prices for the new Mahindra XUV300 are expected to start at Rs 7.5 lakhs when it arrives in February 2019 and the carmaker should start deliveries by the middle of the same month.