Mahindra XUV500 W3 (cheaper) variant revealed fully on video: Tata Harrier effect?

The Mahindra XUV500 has long been the best selling vehicle in its segment. However, the newly launched Tata Harrier has disrupted its reign and become the best selling SUV in the segment. The price difference (ex-showroom) between the base variant of the XUV500 and the Tata Harrier is just around Rs 20,000, with the Harrier being cheaper than the XUV500. For the same, Mahindra has now launched an all-new W3 variant of the XUV500 that will be the base variant of the SUV. The new XUV500 W3 variant is priced at Rs. 12.28 lakh (ex-showroom Coimbatore). It undercuts the pricing of the base XE variant of the Tata Harrier by quite a margin. The Harrier XE is priced at Rs. 12.69 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Check out the video below by AutoTrend TV which shows the W3 variant of the XUV500 in a walkaround review.

As seen in the video, the base W3 variant of the XUV500 here gets a plain looking front fascia without any hint of chrome. The grille is minus any chrome and gets grey plastic inserts instead. It also does not get foglamps or DRLs as found on the higher end variants, though the headlights are projector units. The bumpers too are single tone and not double tone as on the other variants. Aesthetically, the W3 variant is quite similar to the W5 variants apart from a few changes. The ORVMs get inbuilt indicators but the side pillars are not blacked out but body coloured. At the rear, the W3 variant misses out on wash wipe feature which is offered on the W5 variant. It rides on 17-inch steel wheels sans any wheel caps, which are present on the W5 variant.

Coming to the interiors, Mahindra has given an all-black colour theme to the interiors, which is quite expected given the price range. As with the exteriors, the interiors on the W3 variant are also quite the same as on the W5 variant apart from a few features. The centre console on the W3 is bare bones and it just gets AC control (no auto climate control here). Unlike the W5 variant which gets a simple double-din audio system, the W3 variant gets black plastic cladding all over. The surface is all hard plastic and one can’t really complain about it as its the base variant. The instrument cluster and steering wheel are similar to the W5 variant.

All the windows on the W3 variant XUV500 are powered while the ORVM too are powered, though they are not electrically foldable. Engine start-stop button is also present which is quite a convenient feature. Central locking and remote flip key haven’t been given a slip which is a good thing too. Moreover, the W3 variant gets height adjustable seats along with armrests for both front and rear seats.