Mahindra XUV 3XO Road-Test Review – Reincarnated XUV300 with lots more, Segment Shaker?
Mahindra introduced their first Sub Compact SUV in 2019 with the XUV 3OO, it was way ahead of its time then but did not sell as well as the Indian manufacturer would have liked. Now in 2024 Mahindra re-launches the XUV 3OO with a new name as the XUV 3XO and updates it with a long list of changes and additions inside out. We head to the hometown of Mahindra into a warm Nashik to drive the latest Baby XUV in town, read on to know all on the Mahindra XUV 3XO right here.
Food for Thought
Mahindra launched the XUV 3OO in 2019, it was based on the European spec SsangYong Tivoli and used the X100 platform. Mahindra then had a big stake in the Korean brand SsangYong Motors. The XUV 3OO was codenamed as the S201. The Electric version of the XUV 3OO is called as the XUV 4OO Electric and has recently got an update. The XUV 3OO looked like the mini version of the XUV 5OO similarly the XUV 3XO looks like the mini version of the XUV 7OO.
Exteriors
Mahindra has given the XUV 3XO an uncanny resemblance to the flagship XUV 7OO which includes the six chrome strips on a glossy black base along with the Mahindra Twin peak logo in the middle, the nicely chiseled out bumper with infused headlamps with integrated ‘C’ shaped DRL, round fog lamps and a big faux skid plate in silver all making up for its face. The bonnet gets four smooth flowing character lines that give it a very formidable look. They have used diamond design insert that’s seen around the head lamp and fog lamps and also on the skid plate infused under the wide blacked out air-dam.
The side profile gets a few flowing character lines that style the profile along with fiber inserts on the fenders that run across the length of the car also as the cladding on the running board and lower section of the doors. The top gets blacked out insert giving that dual tone look, doors get body colored grab type handles with the driver’s side getting a request button. Wing mirrors get black masking along with LED turn indicators and side view camera. Roof rails are featured along with the same diamond texture insert that we saw in the front profile. The biggest highlight on the side profile is the class best R17 tyres on neatly designed dual-tone alloys. The roof gets the segment largest 840mm glass roof that Mahindra calls as the Sky Roof along with a stick type antenna, we would have preferred the shark-fin type antenna though.
Coming to the rear profile which like the front one is totally redone, here the key styling elements are the thick LED connecting tail lamps that have a certain ‘C’ design to it and the diamond texture theme on the housing too, a large boot spoiler with winglets, character lines defining the boot lid and a large flat bumper with blacked out area and the diamond texture theme along with a large stop reflectors, faux metal strip insert fused to the large silver rear skid plate. The boot lid also gets the XUV 3XO badge on it in brushed metal finish along with the Mahindra logo finishing off maters. The rear glass gets defogger, wash wipe on it.
Interiors
The Mahindra XUV 3OO was way ahead of its time even in 2019 when it launched, now the XUV 3XO takes the lineage ahead. The cabin area is bright and feels extra roomy mainly due to the super light color ivory interior theme that helps the cause and as a result makes the space look a lot larger too. Dashboard feels premium with its top finished in soft material with hand stitch line on it just like the ones on premium cars, the diamond textured style element makes its appearance on the crashpad and also around the middle AC vents.
The lower section of the dash is finished in ivory. Center dash houses a 10.25 inch touch-screen AVN system running on the latest generation AdrenoX OS that’s proprietary to Mahindra cars. This unit gets all the connectivity features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The floating type display has a bezel around it that makes it look thicker than actually it is. The instrument cluster is a LCD Color screen that reads out all the vital tell tales digitally. AC vents get subtle chrome inserts while the climate control is a dual zone unit with rotary type control knobs. You get the drive mode button placed on the center dash along with the wireless charging dock and USB C with USB power outlets. The steering is a large three spoke design with premium feels leather wrapping and perforation. MFD buttons are neatly placed on it with height adjust available to it.
Seats get faux leather upholstery with a perforated theme design but miss out on the cooling/ventilation feature. Drivers seat gets height adjust which is more than welcome. The center console houses the automatic shifter finished with metal inserts and soft feel leather, glossy black housing with metal inserts and the electromechanical hand brake with auto hold feature along with storage space besides it. Center armrest gets good padding on it along with storage under it. The glove box on the 3XO is one of the largest we seen that can stock in a full sized iPad, laptop easily. Drive pedals come with metal finish while the door pads get hand stitching along with glossy black inserts making things exciting. Loads of storage area read as bottle holders in the door pads extend the storage USP. Front seats offer excellent support and padding while the seating position is also very commanding offering a superb view of the road ahead along with the complete view of the bonnet.
Rear seats get three adjustable head rests, folding arm rest too. Seating here offers good amount of knee room, head room and also shoulder room. Rear passengers get two AC vents for them along with mobile charging ports. As mentioned the 3XO gets a huge panoramic segment first sun roof that lets in loads of light but you also get a roof curtain that closes and opens electrically. The XUV 3XO gets a boot space of 295 liters with deep loading area which is good enough for your weekend drives, you can further extend the space folding down the 40:60 split seats if and when needed.
Engine – Transmission – Drive
Powering the Mahindra XUV 3XO are the same engine options a 1.2L 110bhp & 200Nm 3-cylinder petrol unit, 1.5L diesel with 115bhp & 300Nm and the one we drove the chart topping 1.2L 3-cylinder Turbo petrol unit with 130bhp and 230Nm torque. Transmission options include 6-speed torque convertor auto, 6-speed manual and a 6-speed AMT (Diesel only).
First thing you notice on the 1.2L TGDi Petrol is its refinement and sheer ability to pick up speeds very quickly. It no where shows any dull 3 cylinder character but does its duties very handsomely. The steering feels very well weighted offering some good feedback all the time. The suspension feels very well sorted too and off late Mahindra has done their homework very nicely offering best in class ride quality easily on the 3XO. The in-cabin comfort is very good and the driver has a very commanding view of the road ahead at all times. The drive is planted at high speeds and you will be often reminded of the big brother the XUV7OO in terms of this department, again best in class and very mature.
You get the three drive modes – Zip, Zap, Zoom which are Eco, Normal and sports. Yes these modes work well as you notice the difference in power delivery in each.
Good drive quality, excellent in cabin comfort and super drive dynamics are the key highlights of the XUV 3XO all of which is also partly due to the upsized tyre size. Braking feed back is on the sharper side while you get ABS with EBD too for the rescue. Ground clearance stands at 201mm which is more than good safeguarding you from scraping the underbelly anywhere.
Safety
In terms of safety the Mahindra XUV 3XO gets segment 1st ADAS Level 2 along with ABS, EBD, 360 degree camera, blind view monitor, parking sensors all around and lots more.
Verdict
Mahindra has mastered its game over the recent years and all its latest models have been a runaway success from the Thar to the XUV7OO & the Scorpio N and now with the 3XO they want to reinvent the sub-compact segment getting a major share here. Best in class features, dynamics, safety are the key hallmark of the 3XO not forgetting the cut throat pricing that undercuts a long list of models right from the Tata Punch to the Renault Kiger/Nissan Magnite till the Kia Sonet/Hyundai Venue as well as offering features that are a segment higher like the ones seen on the Hyundai Creta & Kia Seltos. Mahindra XUV 3XO is a sure segment shaker – Competition Beware.
Words – Ritesh Madhok
Photos & Video – Bhushan Joshi
