The XUV500, designed and developed completely in-house, is a quantum
leap forward by Mahindra & Mahindra. It is M&M’s first serious
attempt at developing a global product that would be as much at home in
Melbourne as in Mumbai. The price Mahindra is asking for it is
definitely Mumbai though. At Rs 11.95 lakh for this top-end 2WD W8
variant, it is shattering value.
Design & Engineering
With the XUV500, M&M has put design at the forefront to make an
emphatic styling statement. There’s no doubt the XUV500 does turn heads;
it’s got a muscular stance, strong road presence and looks every bit a
proper SUV.
Dominating the front-end styling is a traditional Mahindra seven-slat
grille flanked by a pair of projector headlamps that widen their spread
at parking speeds and work as cornering lights on tighter corners.
Daytime-running LEDs are part of the standard kit too. We especially
like the rising window line and the blacked-out B-, C- and D-pillars
which give the XUV500 a very modern look.
However, we feel the Mahindra designers went overboard with the
detailing. The faux air vents just below the headlights are too fussy
and the oversized wheel arches are out of sync with the rest of the
design and also make the wheels look small. This is further accentuated
by the bulge in the beltline above the rear wheel arch. The rear
tail-light also feels a bit overdone with fussy detailing on the lens.
Underpinning the XUV500 is a monocoque chassis, a first for M&M,
that nicely balances stiffness and weight within a long wheelbase. The
4x4 XUV, which weighs 1865kg and is on par with the smaller Scorpio,
could have been lighter. But M&M didn’t want to compromise on
chassis stiffness, especially since the very generous 2700mm wheelbase
subjects it to greater torsional loads. Weight has also been kept in
check with the inclusion of elements like a plastic fuel tank and
plastic fenders, and the use of high-tensile steel for over 30 percent
of the body structure.
The XUV is equipped with MacPherson struts up front and a luxury
car-like multi-link rear suspension. It does not come with hardcore 4x4
kit like a low-range transfer case, but you do get hill-descent control
and hill hold on top-end variants, and a differential lock on the AWD
model for limited off-road use.
What is truly impressive is the manner in which M&M has packaged
all the mechanicals to achieve a flat floor, making good use of
passenger room. In terms of safety, the XUV gets dual airbags as
standard across the range with the top models additionally featuring
ESP, rollover mitigation and curtain airbags.
Interiors
Occupants will have no trouble entering the XUV. The doors open wide
and the not-so-high floor means you don’t have to trek your way up to
the seats. But once inside, you’ll notice the plastics come in three
different textures and the dash seems to be cramped with too many
individual elements.
The instrument cluster, with chrome-ringed dials and circular centres,
looks great, but is not that easy to read. Other nice bits include
smart, high-quality air-con vents that work well to direct air flow, the
chunky steering that’s quite nice to hold, and the air-con and audio
system dials on the centre console that have a high-quality feel.
However, the same can’t be said about the other buttons on the centre
console, which feel like Scrabble tiles, and the fake wood finish looks
tacky too. Fit and finish could be better – there were a lot of
inconsistent panel gaps and you get the feeling that everything isn’t as
well screwed together as it should be.
The front seats come with generous bolstering and adjustable lumbar
support and are incredibly supportive. However, the cushioning is on the
firm side. The steering column, which adjusts for rake and reach (in W8
trim), is still a tad too high, even at the lowest setting.
Middle-row seats have enough legroom for six-footers to stretch out,
even with the front seat pushed back. The seats themselves are very
generously cushioned and the flat floor makes this SUV one of the best
for travelling three abreast. Third-row passengers don’t have it as good
though; the leg- and kneeroom are severely limited and headroom is
quite tight too. With all seats in place, there’s practically no luggage
space. However, the last and middle rows do split and fold flat to
convert the XUV into a serious load-lugger and the relatively low floor
makes loading easy. In the cabin, there’s an abundance of storage space
for knick-knacks.
The biggest plus point of the XUV is its phenomenal list of features.
The W8 variants get a colour touch-screen that displays GPS data, radio
and AUX/USB settings and also doubles up as a DVD player. There is voice
activation too and the top variants also get a handy tyre-pressure
sensor. All models feature steering-mounted controls for the audio
system, rain-sensing wipers, light-sensing headlights, parking sensors
and even cruise control.
Performance & Economy
The XUV shares its 2.2-litre mHawk engine with the Scorpio, the key
differences being the motor’s transverse placement to drive the front
wheels via a transaxle. The six-speed manual gearbox is mated to a
dual-mass flywheel that minimises transmission rattle at low speeds.
Power jumps
from 120bhp to 140bhp, thanks to a new ‘S-vane’ BorgWarner variable
geometry turbocharger and a higher-pressure fuelling system. These
changes have also bumped up max torque to 32.63kgm available between
1600-2800rpm.
There is a hint of lag under 1500rpm at which point the turbo kicks in.
Thereafter, there’s a strong and pretty linear surge all the way to the
5000rpm redline. Driveability is very impressive too, and overtaking
slower cars is pretty effortless. It sprints to 100kph in a brisk 12.34
seconds, 20-80kph in third gear is dispatched in 12.36sec and 40-100kph
in fourth in 13.26sec.
The mHawk engine is one of the strengths of the XUV and the punch it
delivers both in the city and on the highway is a good reason to buy it.
The short first and second gears make it quick off the line, while
sixth gear allows you to cruise lazily all day long. The transmission
’box feels notchy, especially when selecting second gear, and gears are
difficult to engage without an extra push. The clutch is quite heavy too
and the release action pretty jerky, which makes driving smoothly in
the city hard work.
The XUV500 scores well with fuel consumption figures returning 10.2kpl
in the city and 14.3kpl on the highway. The relatively low kerb weight,
tall gearing and some clever engine tuning have made the XUV the most
fuel-efficient vehicle in its class. This only adds to its affordable
and down-to-earth appeal.
Ride, handling & braking
M&M vehicles may not be the Gold Standard when talking ride
quality, but the XUV is a serious step forward for the company.
Low-speed ride is pretty good, but sharper bumps can rattle the XUV,
which crashes through potholes. However, for the better part, the XUV’s
ride is largely pliant.
Surface imperfections can catch the XUV out and it does get ruffled by
the odd stretch of broken tarmac taken at speed. There’s a fair amount
of suspension movement on uneven surfaces and the ride is never flat or
consistent. Also, sharp edges and potholes can be felt and the
suspension doesn’t isolate passengers as well as it should.
Handling is a marked improvement over the Scorpio but it is still a
work in progress for M&M. No doubt, the XUV is quite nimble and
light on its feet, especially in town, and on the highway it tackles
sweeping bends quite comfortably with the steering offering decent
feedback.
The big problem is the way the front-wheel-drive XUV500 behaves under
hard acceleration. There’s a fair amount of torque steer when you floor
the right pedal and on a loose surface, the steering kickback can be
pretty vicious. Powering out of tight corners, the weight transfer to
the rear wheels make the XUV’s steering go a bit woozy. Also, the
235/65-R17 tyres squeal without too much provocation and could do with
more grip.
The XUV features disc brakes all around while ABS and EBD are standard
across the range. What is slightly disconcerting, though, is the
slightly wooden feel of the brake pedal in the first few millimetres of
travel. But depress the brake pedal further down and you will realise
the strong brakes are more than up to the task.
VERDICT
Benchmark the XUV500 against the Scorpio and you will realise just how
big a leap M&M has taken. The design and styling are central to this
SUV’s appeal, and though it may not suit all tastes, it’s undoubtedly
distinctive and is sure to turn heads. With the XUV, M&M has gone
all out to pamper the customer like never before. The XUV500 has a
fantastically spacious middle row and more equipment than you know what
to do with.
Performance is class-leading too and that just adds to the feeling of
power SUV owners crave for. The XUV500 is not perfect though and nor is
it quite world-class. M&M still hasn’t fully sorted out the dynamics
of its first front-wheel-drive car and interior quality is quite patchy
too. Hopefully, these issues will be sorted out with the 4x4 version
which will come in a few months. However, these concerns don’t seem to
bother customers who have lapped up the XUV500 like no other SUV before
it. M&M’s order book is bursting and it’s not hard to see why. With
prices not significantly higher than comparable Scorpio models, the
XUV500 is incredible value for money, which makes it a package that’s
hard to resist.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
What it costs
| Ex-showroom (Delhi) |
Rs 11.95lakh |
| Warranty |
24 months / 50,000km |
Engine
| Fuel |
Diesel |
| Installation |
Front, transverse |
| Type |
4-cyls in-line, 2179cc, turbo-diesel |
| Bore/stroke |
85.0/96.0mm |
| Compression ratio |
16.5:1 |
| Valve gear |
4 valves per cyl, DOHC |
| Power |
4 valves per cyl, DOHC |
| Torque |
32.63kgm at 1600-2800rpm |
| Power to weight |
78.43bhp per tonne |
| Torque to weight |
18.28kgm per tonne |
Transmission
| Type |
Type Front-wheel drive |
| Gearbox |
Gearbox 6-speed manual |
Dimensions
| Length |
4585mm |
| Width |
1890mm |
| Height |
1785mm |
| Wheel base |
2700mm |
| Ground clearance |
200mm |
Chassis & Body
| Construction |
Five-door, monocoque |
| Weight |
1785kg |
| Wheels |
7J x 17-inch |
| Tyres |
235/65-R17, Bridgestone Dueler H/T |
| Spare |
Full size |
Suspension
| Front |
Independent, MacPherson strut, coil springs |
| Rear |
Independent, multi-link, coil springs steering |
Steering
| Type |
Rack and pinion |
| Type of power assist |
Hydraulic |
| Turning circle |
11.2m |
Brakes
| Front |
Ventilated discs |
| Rear |
Solid discs |
| Anti-lock |
Yes |
Economy
| City |
10.2kpl |
| Highway |
14.3kpl |
| Tank size |
70litres |
Range at a glance - Engines
| Diesel |
2.2 Diesel 4x2 140bhp, Rs 10.80-11.95 lakh, 2.2 Diesel 4x4 140bhp, Rs 12.88 lakh |
\The
new NXR model is apt for small city rides and will be a four-seater
model. The company has already launched its two seater model in cities
like Delhi and Bangalore. "We intend to take it to other cities in
India. Also, we are all geared up to roll out our four-seater Reva NXR
by next year," said Pawan Goenka, president (automotive & farm
equipment sector), M&M Ltd.
Mahindra
& Mahindra Ltd. today strengthened its position in the Electric
Vehicles domain with the acquisition of a majority stake in REVA
Electric Car Co Ltd. Bangalore. REVA Electric Car Co Ltd. will be
renamed Mahindra REVA Electric Vehicle Co Ltd. Under the new agreement
which was signed today by both the companies, M&M will own 55.2%
equity in Mahindra REVA by a combination of equity purchase from the
promoters and a fresh equity infusion of over Rs 45 crores (approx US
$10 million) into the company. The buyout makes the Mahindra group a
strong global player in the electric vehicle space.
REVA
is currently marketing its products in 24 countries across the world
with an overall vehicle population of over 3500, arguably the largest EV
fleet globally. REVA recently premiered its next generation electric
car models, the NXR and NXG which received an enthusiastic response.
Mahindra REVA will now have access to Mahindra’s vehicle development
technology and distribution network, significantly enhancing its ability
to launch a state-of-the-art electric vehicle for global markets.
Speaking
on the acquisition, Mr Anand Mahindra, VC&MD, Mahindra &
Mahindra said, “With issues such as climate change and carbon footprint
taking centre stage globally, eco-friendly transportation becomes the
need of the hour. Mahindra already has an established sustainable
mobility solutions programme and our association with REVA will only
help us further expand our green footprint both in India and overseas”.
Mr
Chetan Maini, Chief of Technology & Strategy, of the newly formed
Mahindra REVA mentioned, “The EV market is poised to grow significantly
and we concluded that in order to seize the opportunity we needed the
resources and experience of a major automotive manufacturer. In Mahindra
we have found a company that not only shares our vision of principled
and sustainable growth but one that also has a reputation for good
corporate governance. As a result of Mahindra’s investment, Mahindra
REVA will be able to scale, innovate and accelerate and so to deliver
better products to more customers in more places”.
"We
use the design and engineering services of all our affiliates,
including the Italy-based Engines Engineering, in all our product
development work to give technologically superior products to our
consumers," Anoop Mathur, Mahindra’s two-wheeler business president
said.
The
new Logan Play will be available at 35 Mahindra Renault dealerships
across India in phase 1 of the launch, followed by presence in all 146
Dealerships.
These
include the 'Car of the Year 2007' by HT Cars & Bikes, a supplement
of the Hindustan Times, the Business Standard Motoring Jury Award 2008
and the NDTV Car India & Bike India 'Midsize Car of the Year' Award.
The J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 India Initial Quality Study ranked the
Logan as the 'Best Entry Midsize Car in Initial Quality', which is the
ultimate measure in quality.
