The Mahindra XUV500 is a very popular SUV in India because it looks good, offers great space, comes with loads of features along with a robust 2.2-litre diesel engine with an automatic gearbox as well as AWD. But Mahindra has placed a 2.2-litre petrol engine under the hood, lets see how different it is from the diesel one.
Exteriors – The changes are barely noticeable. The XUV500 is available only in a G AT trim, thus misses out some cosmetic upgrades which are offered on W9 and W11 trims. The alloys on the G AT trim are of 16-inch when compared to the 18-inch alloys on the W11 trim. The chrome trim on the window beading is replaced with rubber beadings. Apart from these, there are no changes to the exterior of the XUV500 petrol.
Interiors – The cabin continues to be of the same layout but misses out on many features. The missing features include a sunroof, leather seats, leather-wrapped dashboard and reverse camera. Instead, this car gets fabric seats, conversation mirror and reverse parking sensors. Space, comfort and practicality remain the same as the diesel version.
Performance – Both the XUV500 petrol and diesel share the same engine block. The 2.2-litre petrol unit is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox which churns out 140 HP and 320 Nm of torque. The engine is very refined and gearbox shifts smoothly. The low-end isn’t very punchy but the mid-range offers a good amount of power. The XUV500 petrol redlines at just 4500 RPM and the fuel efficiency is merely 7 km/l.
Driving Dynamics – The XUV500 petrol drives very much the same. There is a great amount of body roll and the steering feedback isn’t that great. The suspension overcomes very easily on bad roads but ride quality is bouncy. The brakes offer good stopping power but the brake pedal on this car feels too spongy.
Verdict – The Mahindra XUV500 petrol offers better refinement but at the cost of fuel efficiency. The petrol XUV500 misses out on a lot of features. The diesel variant of XUV500 makes sense with more variants on offer along with better features and an overall good package.
