On Why the Mahindra XUV500 Crossover Just Cannot Be Beaten

Snapshot – The Mahindra XUV500 luxury crossover is the automaker’s flagship vehicle. And it has single handedly decimated the D-Segment luxury sedan segment. The diesel-only, manual-only crossover sells over 3,000 monthly units on an average. In comparison, the D-Segment range of cars taken together manage about 1,500 units each month. The D-Segment sedan class in India comprises of half a dozen car models that offer both petrol and diesel engine options, and manual and automatic options. So, what moves the XUV500 in India? Here are five solid reasons.

Value For Money

The XUV500 starts at 11.37 lakh rupees for the base W4 variant. For this kind of money, you get ABS+EBD and twin airbags as standard safety fare. The 2.2 liter turbo diesel motor makes 140 Bhp-330 Nm and is mated to a six speed manual gearbox. This engine is more powerful than the ones that power nearly half of the diesel powered D-Segment sedans. The vehicle uses a monocoque structure and a front wheel drive layout on most variants. This combination makes for decent on road performance, in terms of both ride quality and handling. On higher variants, the amount of kit that the Mahindra crossover offers is substantial. All in all, for the sheer bang for the buck the XUV500 offers, the crossover has no parallel among D-Segment sedans.

Seating for Seven

To be blunt, the XUV500 is best enjoyed with five adults aboard, its 7 seat capacity notwithstanding. But in situations wherein you need to accommodate a couple of kids on a longer trip or squeeze in adults for a shorter trip, the extra seats come in very handy. Coupled to the value for money price tag that the vehicle comes with, the seven seat capacity is a significant tipping point in favour of the Mahindra flagship. On the other hand, none of the D-Segment sedans sold in India are built to accommodate more than five adults.

Imposing Looks

Might equals right on Indian roads, a reason why SUVs simply rule when it comes to having the right of way. While bullying your way through is not what we recommend, many buyers who opt for SUVs do so knowing that an imposing vehicle has it a little easy in the rough and tumble of Indian roads. The XUV500 is a large crossover, and occupies plenty of space on the street and is parking garages. The vehicle’s imposing looks are a major draw among buyers, who favour the XUV500 over luxury sedans, which while being good lookers, simply don’t have the same kind of street presence.

High Seating Position and Ample Ground Clearance

The XUV500 features a high seating position, giving the driver a commanding view of the road ahead. This allows for better judgment in urban traffic and a better view all around. The high ground clearance also makes for a better drive on broken road surfaces, the likes of which abound in India. Most buyers buy SUVs mainly for these attributes – high seating position and ample ground clearance. And the XUV500 offers both these in spades.

Mahindra’s pan India reach in terms of after sales service

Mahindra earned its spurs in India with utility and farm equipment, giving the vehicle a reach across the length and breadth of India. What this also means is that the XUV500’s potential customer base increases dramatically. Moneyed individuals in the rural and semi-urban parts of India may not be able to easily access a General Motors or Skoda dealership. However, a Mahindra dealership is usually just a short drive away, and the XUV500 is the vehicle that is available at a lower price tag than the D-Segmenters.