Mahindra is motoring ahead at great speed, and fuels renewed interest in the brand on the back of a slew of periodic vehicle launches. Following the launch of Marazzo MPV and Alturas G4, Mahindra XUV300 is scheduled for launch on February 15, 2018.
The compact SUV segment hasn’t stopped growing since it became a real classification in India, and Mahindra is the latest entrant. While Mahindra XUV300 borrows strategically from Ssangyong Tivoli, the company is being highly judicious with its newest launch. There’s no simpler formula than offering a feature rich small-ish SUV at a fiercely competitive price.
It would be only natural to expect a launch price range of Rs 7 – 11 lakhs for the vehicle that takes on segment leader Maruti Brezza, and a very optimistic Tata Nexon with its 5 star NCAP rating. Honda WRV and Ford Ecosport sit on lower sales rungs in the segment. Mahindra is hopeful of a 15-20 percent market share in a segment that already sells around 40k vehicles each month. This implies, sales target of 6-8k a month.
Mahindra’s love affair with SUVs fuels an expectation for the brand to get it correct every time, but that hasn’t been true with vehicles like TUV300 and KUV100. Of course they sell but for new cars to fall out of favour this quickly is calamitous. Combined sales last month didn’t touch 1.5k units.
Mahindra XUV300 could quite possibly be the brand’s first proper small SUV. And by the looks of it, its strong going on the feature front. Mahindra XUV300 will be available with 7 airbags, sunroof, and auto AC. For a sub-4-metre compact SUV, XUV300 has the longest wheelbase.
Engine options will be both diesel as well as petrol. Diesel will be a 1.5 liter unit delivering 123 PS and 300 Nm via 6 MT while petrol will be a 1.2 liter turbo unit delivering 120 PS. Both these engines are the among the most powerful engines on offer in the segment. They will be offered with petrol as well as manual option.
Disc brakes on all four diamond cut alloy wheels, steering modes, dual-zone climate control, system, projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED tail lamps, fog lamps, reverse camera and parking sensors, ABS, EBD, ESP, dual tone dashboard, touchscreen infotainment, height adjustable driver’s seat, and rear seat middle passenger head rest, roof rails, roof mounted spoiler, rear wash wiper.
