Mahindra has added a new trim to its XUV500 line-up, the W9 variant, it misses out on the W10’s AWD (All-Wheel Drive) and Connected Apps feature. Prices for the W9 start at ₹15.45 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the manual transmission version, and go up to ₹16.53 (ex-showroom, Delhi) lakh for the automatic variant. To put its price into perspective, the manual gearbox W9 costs about ₹1.2 lakh less than the W10 manual, while the W10 automatic is about ₹1.14 lakh more expensive than the W9 automatic.
When compared to the W8, the W9 features a sunroof and a reverse camera which the W8 misses out on. The W9 does get the 7-inch touchscreen unit featuring Android Auto. The SUV also gets a tyre pressure monitor, static bending headlamps, ABS with EBD, ESP with rollover mitigation, push-button start and keyless entry from the W8. However, the W9 misses out on the Connected Apps feature from the W10. In terms of the powertrain, the W9 gets the same 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine making 140hp and 330Nm. The W9 also gets the same gearbox options, but misses out on all-wheel-drive available in the W10.
Mahindra’s XUV500 directly takes on the Jeep Compass, Tata Hexa and the Hyundai Creta.