Why Mahindra XUV300 might beat EcoSport, Nexon; and fight Brezza to a stalemate

By now we all know the official name of Mahindra’s upcoming sub 4 meter compact SUV is indeed XUV3OO. The company revealed key insights into the product yesterday and though the official launch is still two months away, there seems to be a lot of interest around this new product. It will compete in a segment that witnesses stiff competition from the Vitara Brezza, EcoSport, Nexon and even its own sibling, the TUV300. But we think the XUV3OO has a fair chance here. Why? Read on…

It can turn heads

Very important for the segment. Admit it, we all want our SUVs to have a lot of street cred and be the perfect extension of our lifestyle. The XUV300 brings in a sea of fresh air into the compact SUV segment. The last all-new product here came fifteen months back. A fresh car always seems more appealing and importantly the XUV300 makes for a strong case thanks to its bold stance, aggressive front end with striking DLRs, large 17-inch alloy that look stunning and a muscular rear. We love the black treatment for all the pillars as well. Not only in the images, we feel the XUV300 might steal the show from all other compact SUVs in real life too. Its even got dual LED DRLs up front – good work there Mahindra

The cabin

The XUV300 has the longest wheelbase for any sub 4 m SUV sold across the globe and this shall translate into class leading space. The Nexon offers lot of space, this one might just beat the Tata offering. Its a wide SUV too which means exceptional shoulder space. The design is fresh and we love premium touches like the German-ish steering controls and similar design for power window switches and inner door handles. It gets a sunroof too for an airy feel, something that the Nexon and Brezza miss out on.
Mahindra is known to make practical cabins and this one continuous on the same path. Generous door pads with multiple compartmnets, multiple cubby holes, open shelf above the glovebox and a wide arm-rest earn brownie points from us.

Feature loaded

While Mahindra hasn’t revealed much on this aspect, we are sure the XUV300 will offer a smart keyless entry with push button start, sunroof, climate control and most importantly upto seven airbags. It will also get disc brake on all four wheels and Mahindra claims, the baby XUV will be the safest in the segment. This will work in its favour as an increasing number of Indians are giving priority to safety. The company has also stated that it will get first in class hi-tech features. This includes the dual zone climate control, something others do not offer.
The XUV300 also gets the most comprehensive driver info display. Without toggling between screens, the driver gets to see the outside temperature, time, trip distance, average speed, driving time, main odo reading, fuel level and engine temperature. Phew! And like the Tivoli, the XUV3OO will also get ‘smart steer’ which allows the driver to pick between three steering settings – a segment first feature. In terms of features then, the XUV300 walks away with the cake.

Performance on tap

The XUV300 is likely to come with a 1.2-litre turbo charged unit as well as the same diesel engine that powers the Marazzo. Power and torque output of the former has not been revealed while the latter might be carried over in the same state of tune which means 121 PS of power and 300 Nm of torque. In contrast, all three main rivals have lower outputs. And while a 6 speed manual ‘box will be standard at launch, the XUV300 will also get a 6 speed automatic at a later stage. The EcoSport only offers a petrol-auto while the Nexon and Breeza both offer diesel-auto combinations. That said, there is no denying the fact that the XUV300 will offer the best performance of the lot. 300Nm is simply irresistible – in terms of performance too then, this new Mahindra seems to be the best of the lot.

The XUV300 seems to pack in all the right ingredients then for a success story. It looks bold and aggressive, the cabin is well put together, the feature kit is impressive and the engines should deliver excellent performance. The only factor that remains is the pricing. This will be crucial if Mahindra wants a major share of the market. But on paper, the XUV300 sure looks all set to put up a great fight in front of rivals.