Mahindra XUV300 Diesel Automatic bookings open: Maruti Brezza & Tata Nexon AMTs key rival

Mahindra will launch the XUV300 Diesel Automatic next month. The sub-4 meter compact SUV’s 1.5 liter diesel engine is paired with a 6 speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) sourced from Magneti Marelli, the same company that supplies AMTs to Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors for use in SUVs such as the Vitara Brezza and Nexon respectively. The Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon are the diesel SUVs that offer an AMT option currently. ACI reports that Mahindra dealers have begun taking bookings for the new variant of the XUV300 Diesel, which is now the third best selling SUV in its class.

Initial impressions of the Mahindra XUV300’s 6 speed AMT suggests that the unit is smooth shifting and well integrated to the SUV, much unlike the Ricardo AMT unit on the TUV300, which has proven to be very problematic, so much so that Mahindra has discontinued the TUV300 AMT. The Mahindra XUV300 AMT is expected to be about Rs. 50,000 pricier than equivalent manual gearbox equipped variants. What this means is, the XUV300 AMT will be the priciest diesel compact SUV in its segment.

It does offer a slew of features for that price tag though, and is good value-for-money. While we’ll come to that in just a bit, the mechanicals of the XUV300 Diesel will be carried over from the manual version and except for the addition of the AMT unit, nothing really changes in the SUV. The engine is the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbo diesel unit that’s also found on the Mahindra Marazzo, but is offered on the XUV300 in 115 Bhp-300 Nm state of tune. This makes the XUV300 the most powerful compact SUV in its segment. The petrol version of the Mahindra XUV300 is also likely to get the 6 speed AMT option but that’ll happen in a few months’ time. For now, the SUV will only get a diesel AMT option.

Coming to the features available on the SUV, it is easily the safest SUV in its class. 7 airbags including a driver’s knee airbag, tyre pressure monitoring system, disc brakes on all four wheels, seat belt reminder for all five passengers, ABS, EBD, traction control, hill hold, ESP, anti-roll over protection, reverse parking camera and sensors, front proximity sensors and cruise control are the various safety features offered on the SUV. Creature comforts on the XUV300 include an electric sunroof, leather-clad seats and interior trim, automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, segment leading wheelbase for maximum leg room for rear passengers and rear AC vents.