Cricket is the most popular sport in India by far, and now Indian carmaker Mahindra has put some extra spin on the ball by unleashing its XUV300 in the ultra-competitive compact SUV market; and it is coming to South Africa.
Indian manufacturer Mahindra will this month unveil its own contender in the hugely competitive compact SUV market, the XUV300. Developed under the code-name S201 the newcomer shares its platform with the Tivoli from SsangYong – the South Korean brand now owned by Mahindra.
Mahindra makes no secret of the fact that the XUV300 is a Tivoli covered in a **dhoti** outfit, and why not; with over 260,000 Tivoli units sold in more than 50 countries since its launch in 2015, it is a globally successful product. It has received multiple safety and ergonomic awards including a Grade 1 safety award from the 2015 KNCAP (Korean New Car Assessment Program) automotive safety test.
Cheetah design
According to Mahindra the smaller XUV300 carries forward the characteristics of the XUV500 with a cheetah-inspired design, as illustrated by the headlights integrated with the fog lamps to form a cheetah-like tear-duct, while the pronounced wheel arches are inspired by the muscular haunches of the fastest land animal.
The grille design is Mahindra generic but the sculpted bonnet, shoulder, and body lines are very much Tivoli-style, while the dual LED daylight driving lights and LED tail lamps gives the XUV300 its own visual signature. It is the latest offering in the next generation of Mahindra vehicles, following the Marazzo MPV/crossover and the Ulturas G4, and the manufacturer states it is the widest in its class (in India) with the longest wheelbase in the compact five-seater SUV segment.
In India, the XUV300 are equipped with first-in-class hi-tech features such as seven airbags, including a knee airbag for the driver, dual-zone fully automatic climate control, and front parking sensors. Inside, it will be available with premium leatherette seats, a dual-tone dashboard, and an electric sunroof.
The XUV300 will be available in three variants – W4, W6, and W8 – and features such as ABS, disc brakes on all four wheels, a six-speed transmission, and LED taillights will be standard across the range. An option pack variant – W8 (O) – with extra kit is also available.
The newcomer comes with both petrol and diesel engine options. The three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine produces a lively 89 kW and 200 Nm of torque, while the four-cylinder 1.5-litre turbodiesel (as used in the TUV300, but with higher output) is rated for 92 kW and a useful 300 Nm of torque.
The XUV300 will be built at the manufacturing facility of the company at Nashik in Maharashtra and it will be launched in South Africa by mid-year. Pricing, while not yet revealed, is expected to be in the R200,000 to R300,000 bracket.
– Paul van Gass
