Mahindra XUV500 2018 review
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 5/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 6/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 6/10
- What is it like to drive? 6/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- Verdict
- Will the low price of this Mahindra and the improved performance of your SUV win? Tell us in the comments below.
Just in case attacking the crowded Australian SUV market with a virtually unheard Indian brand isn't a tall enough hurdle to jump over, Mahindra has made it even harder - think Bollywood version. Mission Impossible — launching his XUV500 SUV here with a diesel (which no one needed) and a manual transmission (which few could even remember how to use).
Luckily, in late 2016 they fixed one of those issues by finally adding an automatic transmission to the lineup. And finally, something else has been fixed.
So, this is an XUV500 SUV with a gasoline engine. And, at least on paper, this is the most meaningful Mahindra to date.
First, it's an incredibly cheap way to buy a new seven-seat SUV. Secondly, it is quite well equipped, even from the basic level. There is a long warranty, the same long-term roadside assistance, and limited-price service.
So, should the major players in the SUV market need to look back?
Spoiler: no.
| Mahindra XUV500 2018: (front wheel drive) | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | - |
| engine's type | 2.2 L turbo |
| fuel type | Diesel |
| Fuel efficiency | 6.7l / 100km |
| Landing | 7 Places |
| Price from | $17,500 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 9/10
Make no mistake, this Mahindra is killing the competition on price. The entry-level W6 version will set you back $25,990, while the W8 advanced version will set you back $29,990. You can even get a W8 AWD for $32,990XNUMX. The best part? These are all exit prices.
Opt for the W6 and you can expect 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seats, air vents (powered by a second compressor) in the second and third rows, cornering headlights with DRLs, front and rear fog lights, cruise control. , rear parking sensors and a 6.0-inch multimedia screen connected to a six-speaker stereo system.
Spring for the W8 and you add leather seats, a reversing camera, a tire pressure monitoring system and a big 7.0-inch screen with standard sat-nav.
The XUV500 W8 adds a large 7.0-inch screen with satellite navigation.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 5/10
There's no denying the fact that the XUV500 isn't the sleekest or prettiest SUV of its kind. But it's not ugly either. What's more, he seems to be doing his best with a design philosophy that was born a generation or two ago.
Its best angle by far is when looking straight ahead, where the black grille, double bulges on the hood and the complex (read: slightly odd) headlight clusters all add a bit of road presence to Mahindra's lone SUV.
The best angle for the XUV500 is from straight ahead, when the piano-black grille, double bulges on the hood and elaborate headlight clusters add a bit of road presence.
Side view, however, is less satisfying, as the combination of oddly placed and very sharp body creases (including one above the rear wheel arch that adds a Harbor Bridge-style crescent to the straight window line) and severe rear overhang give the XUV500 an inevitable awkwardness.
Inside, you'll find an extensive collection of durable (albeit beautiful) plastics, and the atmosphere is somewhat saved by a neat and vertical central control unit, which houses a multimedia screen and air conditioning controls.
Ready for a real hashtag conversation? There are more attractive and pleasant to the touch seven-seater SUVs. But not many of them start at $25,990 per ride. And I think that is Mahindra's point of view.
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
Really damn practical, whether you want to carry people or cargo. But wearing both at the same time is difficult.
But let's start with people. The XUV500's third row has a huge amount of room, room with enough head and legroom to put many of its competitors to shame.
Thanks to the second-row seat backs that fold down before the entire seat lifts and slides forward, climbing into sixth and seventh is also a breeze.
We rarely say this about seven-seat cars, but at 175 cm tall, I would feel comfortable enough there for a long trip. The third row also has two vents, as well as a bottle compartment and a side compartment for thin items.
All XUV500 models are equipped with a 70 liter fuel tank.
There's plenty of room in the middle row, too, and you'll find three ISOFIX anchor points, one for each of the three seats. There's also a door pocket in each tailgate and storage nets on the back of the two front seats. A retractable partition that separates the rear seat is home to two cupholders, matching two for drivers in the front seats.
The only downside to all this happiness with people is that with the third row of seats there is absolutely no room for luggage. Mahindra doesn't name a liter of luggage space with seven seats (mainly because it would be embarrassing to write "one liter"), but trust us, you'll be lucky if you cram a padded backpack with all the seats into the trunk. a place.
Things improve a lot, however, when you lower the third row of seats, which opens up 702 liters of storage, and that number rises to 1512 liters with the second and third rows folded down.
With the third row of seats folded down, the trunk volume is 702 liters, and with the second row folded down - 1512 liters.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 6/10
A diesel engine is currently available, but the clock is ticking - Mahindra expects it to be phased out within six months. But the big news here is the new 2.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 103 kW/320 Nm. It is mated exclusively to an Aisin-designed six-speed automatic transmission and sends power to the front wheels or all four wheels.
The 2.2-litre turbocharged unit develops 103 kW/320 Nm of power.
Mahindra doesn't provide official performance data, but the engine's power is hardly a delight, is it?
How much fuel does it consume? 6/10
Local figures are yet to be confirmed, but after admittedly vigorous local testing, on-board computers showed 13+ liters per 100 km. All XUV500 models are equipped with a 70 liter fuel tank.
What is it like to drive? 6/10
About as old school as rocking a pair of button-down sweatpants with a Run-DMC cassette plugged into your Walkman.
On a straight and smooth road, the petrol XUV500 can be enjoyed. The engine, while rough under hard acceleration, doesn't sound too raucous when you're not demanding a lot from it, nor is the cabin overly loud at suburban speeds. It's a comfortable seating area for driver and passengers, and the gearbox performed without issue during our short test drive.
On a straight and smooth road, the petrol XUV500 can be enjoyed.
But that's where the good news ends. There is an unwavering agricultural feel to the way this Mahindra SUV goes about its business, and nowhere is that more evident than through the steering wheel, which has only a vague and difficult relationship with the front tires, making it seriously difficult to approach winding roads. with anything approaching certainty.
The steering is slow and cumbersome - light when you first start to turn the wheel, with a ton of weight suddenly appearing in the middle of the cornering process - and it tends to resist if the front wheels find bumps or bumps in the road. , too much.
The body also falls apart when challenged, and the tires quickly lose traction in tighter corners. All of this would give it a certain retro charm if it wasn't so new, and I have to admit that on some winding roads I cackled maniacally.
But it's just not a car I could live with.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / 100,000 km
guarantee
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 6/10
Expect dual front, front side and side airbags (although the latter don't extend to the third row of seats), as well as rear parking sensors and ESP. The W8 adds a reversing camera with dynamic rails. The XUV500 received a four-star (out of five) ANCAP rating when tested in 2012.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
All XUV500s are covered by a five-year or 100,000 km warranty (although the last two years only cover the powertrain), as well as five years of free roadside assistance.
The XUV500 is also covered by Mahindra's limited-price service program for the first three years of ownership and will need to be serviced every six months or 10,000 km.
Verdict
This low-cost petrol-powered XUV500 W6 may be Mahindra's most convincing attempt to conquer the overburdened Australian SUV market, but we're still not entirely convinced.
However, it's certainly cheap, the owner's credentials add up, and it's a very convenient way to transport seven people.
Will the low price of this Mahindra and the improved performance of your SUV win? Tell us in the comments below.
