Introduction
Mahindra’s XUV500 can now be had with a petrol-powered motor mated to an automatic transmission. The car is well-liked in the country and majority buyers have opted for the diesel motor. This makes the petrol car not the usual choice. Even though Mahindra is selling the car in India, it is mainly developed and produced for export markets.
The SUV can only be had in one trim – G Automatic. It costs Rs 15.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which interestingly, is Rs 1 lakh lesser than a similarly specced diesel model. The petrol powered car comes with side and curtain airbags, leather interior and large alloy wheels.
On the design front, the only real difference comes in form of the badge at the back. The new car however, was recently updated and given a chrome grille and redesigned tail.
On the inside
The petrol model has an all-black interior but lacks leather trim on the dashboard that can be found on the top-spec diesel variant. The car has black interior trim and silver touches in area that help improve the styling. That said, the seats in the car are impressive and offer a lot of support. The row in the middle offers a lot of space and can easily fit three large individuals.
In terms of features, the car is well equipped. The car has dual airbags, ESP and other safety electronics. The car does, however, have a large touchscreen that has Android Auto. Missing though is a reversing camera.
How does it drive?
This XUV uses a 2.2 litre motor that makes 140hp and 320Nm of torque, and comes paired to a six-speed gearbox. The SUV can only be had as a front wheel drive, just like the diesel-powered SUV. When you get into this car, you will first notice just how refined it is. The car delivers power in a linear manner. When you push in the accelerator, you will begin to notice the car has a delayed response and isn’t too quick. While the motor is responsive in the earlier part of the rev range, it lacks punch higher up.
This XUV model has the ability to do 0-100kph in just 12.77 seconds. This gives it a similar time to the diesel powered car. However, this car has a lot more torque steer. Another big problem is the suffering fuel economy. The car rarely crossed double digits – not good when you consider the increasing price of petrol.
The Mahindra offers ride quality that is similar to what we have seen before. It is a bit bumpy at low speeds but gets better with speed. While it does have a bit of movement the car does feel decently composed. The car also can take corners at decent speeds.
Should I buy one?
With a price of Rs 15.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the SUV presents a good deal overall. However, we would not advise going for this variant. While it is very refined, the fuel economy is really low. We would suggest going for the diesel-powered automatic instead.
