Mahindra XUV500: REAL reasons why everyone’s still buying this SUV

The Mahindra XUV500 is one of the most popular large SUVs currently on sale in India. Mahindra sold 2,078 units of the XUV500 in India last month, which is more than twice as much as the SUV’s closest rival, the Tata Hexa. So why are people still buying the XUV despite it being seven years old? Let’s find out.

1. Refreshed design that still makes it look contemporary

The XUV500 was launched in 2011 but Mahindra has kept on refreshing the design of the SUV over the years. The second major facelift for the crossover arrived earlier this year and brought with it a host of design changes that ensured that the design of the Mahindra flagship remained relevant for potential customers.

The facelift saw the XUV500 sport a new grille that was larger than before and features studded chrome inserts. Other new design features include revised headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights, all-new triangular taillamps and a redesigned tailgate. All these changes modernised the look of the SUV and drew the attention of customers who continue to flock to it in droves every month.

2. GREAT road presence compared to sedans/compact SUVs

The Mahindra XUV500 is quite large in terms of size compared to the other sedans and compact SUVs and its road presence ensures that you’re noticed if you’re behind its wheel. The 200 mm of ground clearance and the high seating position combined with the muscular looks ensure that the vehicle dominates the road almost everywhere it goes.

3. Premium interiors + good space for passengers

The 2018 facelift to the XUV500 saw the SUV get tan-coloured leather seat upholstery which featured quilted stitching. The new tan upholstery compliments the black dashboard that sports soft-touch plastics and other blacked-out elements of the interior to give the XUV a dual-tone look on the inside. This combined with the brushed aluminium inserts on the steering wheel, centre console and gear knob give the interiors of the XUV500 a rather premium look and feel. Add in the fact that the vehicle can seat 7 people in comfort makes the SUV the choice for potential customers.

4. Multiple powertrain options

The 2018 facelift for the XUV500 was more than just skin deep as the SUV got an upgraded diesel engine and a brand new petrol powerplant. The 2.2-litre turbo diesel on the XUV500 got boosted by 15 Bhp and 30 Nm and now cranks out 151 Bhp and 360 Nm of torque. The all-new petrol engine also displaces 2.2-litres and produces 138 Bhp and 320 Nm of torque. While the petrol is only available with front-wheel and an automatic gearbox, the diesel engine is offered with both front and all-wheel-drive and also gets a 6-speed manual gearbox in addition to the torque converter automatic.

5. Feature-rich

The Mahindra XUV500 comes packed with a host of features including a new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Android Auto, GPS navigation, smartwatch connectivity and comes paired to an Arkamys audio system. Other features include an automatic sunroof with anti-pinch, automatic climate control, a driver information system that includes a tyre pressure monitoring setup, and reversing camera.

Safety features on the vehicle include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC with rollover mitigation, hill descent and hill hold control, all wheel disc brakes, and cruise control, among many others. With such a rich feature list, is it any wonder that customers prefer the Mahindra SUV?.

6. Super aggressive pricing

Prices for the Mahindra XUV500 start at Rs 12.55 lakhs and go all the way up till Rs 19.26 lakhs. This means that the vehicle is much cheaper than the Jeep Compass with both petrol models evenly matched but the Mahindra’s diesel variants offering more value for money. The aggressive pricing also means that many variants of the vehicle compete with higher-end Creta models, and with more features and space on offer, customers tend to go for the larger XUV500.