The much awaited Mahindra’s global SUV, the oddly-named
XUV500 has finally hit the Indian streets. Mahindra is betting big on this SUV,
leaving no stone unturned to make it a grand success. The XUV500 (read Five
Double Oh) is a premium product developed completely in-house by Mahindra for
the world market. When the Scorpio first made its debut nearly a decade ago, it
left everyone in shock and awe. With the XUV500, Mahindra has done it again.
The XUV500 is unlike any other Mahindra which has seen the
light of the day; the overall silhouette is quite dynamic and modern with crisp
lines flowing throughout the SUV. The front-end is completely dominated by the aggressive
grille and boldly styled headlamps. Move onto the side and you’ll find a stance
that looks spot-on, thanks to the rising beltline around the side plus the way
this Mahindra carries its weight. However, look closer and you’ll see a lot of
garish bits and fussy detailing all over the car; the large but fake air
intakes under the headlamps, the endless curves and bulges especially at the
rearend - to name a few.
On the inside
In here it’s a mixed bag of well laid-out details and
low-quality bits. The XUV500’s impressive design is carried over to the
interior as well. The dash layout is modern and like any good SUV, with three
rows of seats, there is plenty of space and comfort for a family of six, then
there’s the never-ending equipment list; in the high-end W8 version you get 6’’
touch screen-satellite navigation with Bluetooth connectivity, voice command
for the audio system, projector headlamps with daytime running LEDs, cruise
control plus audio controls on steering wheel and lots more. On the safety
front, you get six airbags with ABS, ESP, EBD and much more. Phew! That is
quite a list. However fit and finish and some plastics are a bit disappointing
and you do get the sense that quality has been compromised.
Under the hood lies a familiar 2.2-litre mHawk engine with a
VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo), similar to the one that powers the Scorpio. In
the XUV500 though, it churns out more juice - 140bhp at 3750rpm and 33.30kgm of
torque @ 1600rpm. This thoroughly modern SUV also happens to be the first
Indian SUV to be built around a car-like monocoque chassis allowing for a much
better handling dynamics and body control.
There is little doubt to the fact that a new league of SUV
dominator is set to take over the charge in the SUV space in coming months. And
with prices starting from Rs10.80lakh for the base W6 2WD version to
Rs12.88lakh for the high-end W8 4WD spec, it is pretty clear that the dominator
will sport a Mahindra badge at the back.
The XUV Five Double Oh really is the car to look for!
What's hot- Good looks, punchy engine, equipment list and price-tag.
What's not- Fussy detailing, Quality/fit and finish not quite up there with the best.