Mahindra XUV300

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

Mahindra & Mahindra introduced the subcompact crossover SUV, the XUV300, on February 14th, 2019 to the Indian car market. The SUV is built on the X100 platform of the European-spec Ssangyong Tivoli. However, it went through major modifications to become capable of fulfilling the demands of Indian customers as well as complying with Indian standards. In 2020, the XUV300 was crash-tested by the global watchdog GNCAP and scored a 5-star safety rating in adult occupant protection and a 4-star safety rating in child occupant protection. The car is one of the finest offerings in its home country and has carved its own prominent place in the market, so the sales figures are going well despite tough competition in the segment.

Mahindra XUV300 Design and Style

2023 Mahindra XUV300 gets a highly imposing front fascia that gives it a lot of road presence. The front is embellished with a chrome studded grille, automated projector headlights, and LED DRLs that connect the headlamps to the front fog lamps. The lower bumper is adorned with chrome slats and imitation carbon fibre inlays. The high-set bonnet boasts strong lines as well, emphasising the car's robust look.

Turning to the side profile, it is simple yet classy, and the W8 Options variant flaunts diamond-cut alloy wheels. The rear profile of the SUV is also quite impressive. The bumper includes a phoney skid plate in the centre and a black plastic finish on the sides, which will undoubtedly keep scratches at bay in the long term. The LED taillights are large and strong, lending it a distinct personality. The car is 3995mm in length, 1821mm in width, and 1627mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2600mm.

Mahindra XUV300 Engine and Gearbox

2023 Mahindra XUV300 comes with two powertrain options: diesel and petrol. The first one is a 1497cc, BS6-compliant, turbo diesel engine that can be had with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed auto-shift transmission. This engine has the capability of churning out 116 HP and 300 Nm of torque. While another one is a 1197cc, BS6-compliant, turbo petrol engine that generates 110 HP and 200 Nm of torque when coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Mahindra XUV300 Interior, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

Step inside and you will find a spacious cabin with leatherette upholstery. The black and beige dash with piano black and silver satin finish adds a luxury appeal to the cabin. However, the use of hard-touch plastic disappoints since it is not expected at the price point. The front and rear seats are comfy and provide appropriate support. The driver and front passenger have enough headroom and legroom, while the back and thigh support are quite outstanding, especially for the rear occupants.

The instrument panel features two analogue dials on either side and a big MID in the centre that displays vital information about all vehicle parameters. The driver can also change the brightness and colour of the instrument panel. It's worth noting that the MID also notifies the driver of the steering wheel position, which is a very useful function. Nevertheless, the boot capacity of 257 litres isn't that outstanding. The boot has a tray that can be lifted or lowered to adjust the height of the boot bed.

Mahindra XUV300 Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

Braking duties in the XUV300 are done by disc brakes at both the front and rear ends. While the suspension duties are assigned to MacPherson Strut with Anti-roll Bar at the front and Twist Beam Suspension with Coil Spring at the rear. The SUV rides on 17-inch (215/55-R17) alloy wheels for the W8 and W8 (optional pack) variants while W4 and W6 variants receive 16-inch steel wheels. These wheels are clothed in 205/65 size tyres.

Mahindra XUV300 Key Features

Speaking of the offered key features in the Mahindra XUV300, it consists of LED taillamps, LED DRLs, diamond-cut alloys, auto-dimming IRVM, first-in-segment tyre-position display, customisable instrument cluster, BlueSense App with smartwatch connection, ECO SENSE technology, first-in-segment smart steering system, leather-wrapped steering and gear knob, 6-way adjustable driver seat, adjustable boot floor, four speakers & two tweeters, chrome-finished inside door handles, height-adjustable front seat belts, supervision cluster with 8.89cm TFT screen, push-button start/ stop, USB charging ports, electrically-operated HVAC, 17.78cm touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, 1-touch lane change indicator and so on. In terms of safety, the car comes fitted with six airbags, an anti-theft alarm, all four disc brakes, ABS with EBD, a speed-sensing door lock, ISOFIX / child seat anchors, and Hill Start Assist, front parking sensors and ESP with roll-over mitigation to name a few.

Mahindra XUV300 Top Speed, Acceleration & Mileage

2023 XUV300 accelerates from 0-100 kmph within 13.88 seconds and can reach the top speed of 175 km/h. As far as mileage is concerned, the SUV has a combined fuel efficiency of 17-20 km/l, however, it might be differed depending on the terrain, maintenance and driving style.

Mahindra XUV300 Variants & Colour Options

2023 Mahindra XUV300 has a total of four variants called W4, W6, W8 and W8(O). While the offered colour scheme consists of shades like Red Rage, Aqua Marine, Dsat Silver, Napoli Black, Pearl White, Galaxy Grey, Aqua Marine White top and Red Rage White Top. Both dual-tone shades are available only in top-spec W8(O) trim.

Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

The current ex-showroom price for the W4 variant starts at Rs 8.41 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 14.07 lakh for the W8(O) variant of Mahindra XUV300. Now, to understand the difference between ex-showroom and on-road prices, the ex-showroom price of a car is the sticker price that does not include the cost of road tax, insurance, and registration. The on-road price, on the other hand, includes the previously mentioned costs as well as the cost of insurance, RC, one-time road tax, extended warranty, and all accessories purchased for the vehicle. It is worth noting that on-road prices in our country vary greatly from state to state.

Mahindra XUV300 Competitors

In the Indian car market in its segment, the Mahindra XUV300 directly competes with the Nissan Kicks, Renault Duster, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Honda WR-V, Tata Nexon, Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Toyota Urban Cruiser.

Verdict - Should You Buy Mahindra XUV300 or not?

It checks all the boxes in terms of functionality and has enough room within the cabin for five people. This is one of the few cars on the market that can meet practically everyone's needs. It's safe, easy to drive, enjoyable to drive, large, comfy, and so forth! Furthermore, the abundance of segment-first features speaks for itself. The Mahindra XUV300 should be your first pick in this price range.