Mahindra XUV 3XO: It’s a highly competitive medium SUV space in India and Mahindra have come out swinging with the all-new XUV 3XO – it has a great right hook.
An aggressive progression of the XUV300, the 3XO isn’t a facelift — it’s a flat-out upgrade that looks to shake things up.
Spectacular with its contemporary design, tech-laden interiors, peppy engine options, there is little not to like in the way the XUV3OO has evolved in its road-going avatar.
But is it all mouth and no trousers, or has Mahindra nailed it at last? Let’s find out.
Design: A Major Glow-Up
First impressions count—and the XUV 3XO makes a fine one. There are no such slightly-dated lines on the XUV300.
In steps a sharper, more confident design, which takes its cues from Mahindra’s newer SUVs.
The C-shaped LED DRLs, prominent grille, mean bumper cuts, and a menacing full width rear LED bar make a pretty menacing road presence.
It looks expensive, athletic, and just plain aggressive. And unlike a few of its rivals that swing too soft or go overly aggressive, the 3XO strikes a sweet spot on the eye test.
Interior: High Class, but Not Hopeless impracticality certainly hasn’t stopped BMW from offering a sumptuous and tasteful interior.
Open the door and you’re greeted with a surprisingly upmarket cabin. The dashboard feels new, with the fresh feel of switchgear made of soft-touch materials, a significantly larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, and a fully digital driver’s display.
The dual-tone theme (in higher trims) also makes it look attractive, and the design is functional and driver-oriented.
There’s a lot to like here — dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof (a first for the segment) and even ventilated seats.
Looks like Mahindra has been paying attention, very close attention, to what Indian buyers today want and delivered it, in style.
There is also good room in the back seat, where rear knee room is generous and the bench nice and wide, though your taller passengers may wish for some more under-thigh support.
Performance: Fun When You Want, and Smooth When You Don’t
The XUV 3XO is available with three engine choices:
1.2L turbo-petrol (110 bhp)
1.2L TGDi Turbo-petrol (130 bhp)
1.5L diesel (117 bhp)
The engine that stands out is the 130 bhp turbo petrol, which is decently punchy around town and brisk on a bigger road.
Whether you’re racing through town or hitting the open road, there’s plenty of grunt under your right toe.
The transmission choices will be a 6-speed manual, 6-speed AMT, and a 6-speed torque converter (AT) on the variant.
The automatic swaps cogs slickly and with good timing, which goes a long way toward taking the stress out of city commutes.
Ride quality is among its best features — soft, planted, and stable even at highway speeds.
The ride is capable of soaking up potholes, and the steering has a good weight to it and creates confidence.
Features & Tech: Packed to the Gills
The features game It’s pretty obvious that the 3XO is playing a winning hand. Here’s what you get:
360-degree camera
ADAS (in higher trims)
Upgrade to the top-of-the line 7-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
Ambient lighting
Six airbags as standard
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay sans fil
It’s fair to say the 3XO is not skimping here. And with ADAS Level 2 tech, Mahindra has really up the ante in the compact SUV segment.
Mileage & Pricing
The claimed mileage is:
Petrol: 18.89–20.1 km/l
Diesel: 21.2–23.6 km/l
Those are respectable numbers, considering the level of performance on tap. For now, the prices are between ₹7.49-₹15.49 lakh (ex-showroom), which puts it as a strong value proposition versus the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue and even the Kia Sonet.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Athletic, yet with a premium exterior design
Packed with first of a segment features
Potent option for the turbo-petrol powerplant
Comfortable ride quality
Great value for money
Cons:
A little pricey for certain versions
Better rear seat under-thigh support
AMT isn’t going to butter up as much as torque converter
No AWD option for enthusiasts
Mahindra XUV 3XO: Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. Here’s what, surprised everybody with its just a mere face-lifted XUV300 will pale Seampath Mahindra and XUV300:NO! It melds style, features, performance and comfort in a way that’s difficult to ignore.
If you’re shopping around for a small SUV that feels like it should be in a higher segment, this one’s checking all the boxes.
The 3XO Ready If you’re that first home buyer, young couple or the like after more for less, the 3XO is sure to deliver.
