Mahindra, after the release of the Mahindra XUV 700, has brought another vehicle to Nepal, Mahindra XUV 300. Continuing the XUV series, this car is a popular option in the price range in India and Nepal. Many reviewers claim it is the safest car in these two countries with a Global NCAP rating of five stars for adults and four stars for children. But is it so? How will it fare in the market?
Let’s see what the new and bold XUV 300 delivers before making a conclusion.
Specifications
| Variants | Turbo petrol | Turbo diesel | |
| Engine & transmission | Engine capacity (cm3) | 1197 cm3 | 1497 cm3 |
| Max power kW (PS) @ r /min | 81 kW(110.1PS) @ 5000 r/min | 85.8 kW(116.6 PS) @3750 r/min | |
| Max torque (Nm) @ r/ min | 200 Nm @ 2000-3500 r / min | 300 Nm @ 1500-2500 r/min | |
| Transmission | 6 Speed Manual | 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed AMT | |
| Brakes | Front brakes | Disc | |
| Rear brakes | Disc | ||
| Emission standard | BSVI | ||
| Suspension, types & Turning radius | Front suspension | MacPherson Strut with Anti-Roll Bar | |
| Rear suspension | Twist Beam Suspension with Coil Spring | ||
| Turning radius (m) | 5.3 | ||
| Tyre size | 215/55 R17 (Alloys) – For W8 & W8 (Optional Pack) 205/65 R 16 (Steel) – For W4 & W6 | ||
| Dimensions | Length (mm) | 3995 | |
| Width (mm) | 1821 | ||
| Height (mm) | 1627 | ||
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2600 | ||
| Fuel tank Boot size | 42 litres 257 litres | ||
| Colours | Red rage | Aquamire | Pear l White | Dark grey | D SAT grey | Blazing bronze | Napoli black | ||
| Price | W4: Rs 4,295,000 W6: Rs 4,995,000 W8: Rs 5,750,000 W8 (optional pack): Rs 6,000,000 | ||
Design
Exterior
Mahindra XUV 300 first unveiled in 2019 gets the same gene in the design perspective. The front has the new Mahindra logo, a chrome-finished grill, and a silver-coloured skid plate. The parking sensors are also in the front for proper parking.
It has LED DRLS in the front, which are companied by projector halogen lamps. The fog light and the headlights are connected with the DRl, which makes the car look more aggressive. The bonnet is a bit longer than other cars in the segment, which makes the boot space capacity less.
XUV 300’s side has curves and lining that help in aerodynamics. It has full body cladding offering good protection in the car. The ground clearance is also decent at 180mm, which is good for the uneven roads of Nepal.
On the back, there is a spoiler, which gives aerodynamics a boost that adds to its sporty look. The LED tail lamp connects with the boot, which is 257 litres. It includes a spare tyre and some grab hooks to put things in place while driving. The rear also has a skid plate to protect the body while driving in off-road terrain.
The car has a height of 1627mm and has roof rails, which can be used to put luggage and other items for long travel.
Interior
The interior of Mahindra XUV 300 is luxurious with all the necessary things available. It has a dual-tone theme giving that premium look. The front seats are comfortable with under thigh support and lower back support making it comfortable even while driving.
The steering wheel has a good grip and a leather-like finish. It has audio and calls controls on the left, and cruise control and voice command control on the right. It has three modes — comfort, normal and sport. The different modes adjust the steering wheel to enhance the driving experience. In urban areas, the comfort or normal mode ensures effortless manoeuvring, while on highways, the sports mode instils a sense of assurance for swift lane changes and higher speeds.
The instrument cluster, which is in front of the steering wheel, is loaded with features too. It shows tyre pressure, tyre temperature, driving time, speed, environment temperature, distance to empty, mileage, RPM, dual trip metre and average speed. The instrument cluster’s colour can also be changed according to the user’s preference for nighttime and daytime.
On XUV 300’s front passenger’s side, there is also a vanity mirror with a lamp and sunglass holder. The driver’s side also has a sunshade to block off the sunlight while driving. The IRVM has an auto-dimming feature, which dims the light of vehicles behind you to avoid accidents.
The front dash on XUV 300 includes a 7-inch infotainment system, which is available with physical buttons. It has both Android Auto and Apple Carplay. There are four speakers, which give proper audio to listen to songs while cruising on the highway. The infotainment system is loaded with features, which can help you control the car too.
Just below the infotainment system, you get the climate control buttons to adjust the temperature. The storage space is also good with twin cup holders, cushioned armrests and storage space under it. The glove box is also quite spacious with a lamp inside to see in the dark.
XUV 300’s rear seats are comfortable too with adjustable headrests. There is an armrest in the centre, which is quite handy when two people are in the rear seats. The rear windows have spacious door pockets, bottle holders and power windows controls. The knee and legroom are good with sufficient headroom.
Performance
Mahindra XUV 300 offers impressive performance with its choice of turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine variants. The turbo petrol variant is equipped with a 1.2-litre engine with a displacement of 1,197 cm3. It delivers a maximum power of 81 kW (110.1 PS) at 5000 rpm and a maximum torque of 200 Nm available between 2000-3500 rpm. The XUV 300 turbo diesel option comes with a six-speed manual transmission.
On the other hand, the turbo-diesel variant of XUV 300 boasts a 1.5-litre engine with a displacement of 1,497 cm3. It generates a higher maximum power of 85.8 kW (116.6 PS) at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 300 Nm between 1,500-2,500 rpm. The turbo diesel variant is available with a choice of a six-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).
Both variants of Mahindra XUV 300 feature disc brakes on the front and rear and are equipped with a MacPherson Strut front suspension with an anti-roll bar, providing stability and comfort during cornering. At the rear, it features a twist beam suspension with a coil spring with a turning radius of 5.3 metres.
Mahindra XUV 300 offers different tyre sizes based on the variants. The W8 and W8 (optional pack) variants are equipped with 215/55 R17 tyres mounted on alloy wheels and the W4 and W6 variants feature 205/65 R16 tyres with steel wheels.
Safety
Mahindra XUV 300 is the safest car in the segment with a Global NCAP five-star rating in adult occupant protection and a four-star rating for child occupant protection. The car is loaded with safety features. It has ESP to ensure control and stability during truck situations such as corners.
It is also equipped with ABS with electronic brake distribution and corner braking control for complete control. The fog lamps are also premium with proper lighting during rainy and foggy situations to improve visibility. It has ISOFIX child seat mounts and child safety locks on the rear doors ensuring absolute safety for kids.
XUV 300 has six airbags overall to ensure the topmost safety for all passengers. The company has not stepped back in terms of safety to improve proper and safe riding.
Colours and pricing
Mahindra XUV 300 is available in seven colours: red rage, aquamire, pearl white, dark grey, D SAT grey, blazing bronze and Napoli black. The wide range of colours also makes it a favourable option in the price range. The prices are as follows:
| Variant | Price |
| W4 | Rs 4,295,000 |
| W6 | Rs 4,995,000 |
| W8 | Rs 5,750,000 |
| W8(optional pack) | Rs 6,000,000 |
Verdict
Mahindra XUV 300 is sure to be competitive with other cars in the same price range such as Hyundai Creta, TATA Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet and Nissan Magnite. The car with the latest features has already attracted customers. So, with the overall review and market needs, it might do well.
