First drive of the Mahindra XUV 3XO | Locked and loaded

The Mahindra XUV 3XO gets a properly modern design well suited to the needs of the day. The front end comes with big light panels which incorporate C-type LED DRLs that give it an aggressive look. The blacked-out grille section also looks cool and a closer view reveals small elements on it which add to the character of the SUV. The front end also comes with cameras and sensors all around as it now gets features like Level 2 ADAS and even blind spot cameras. In profile, the silhouette of the erstwhile 300 remains. However, there is a generous dollop of cladding added. Wheels now are 17-inch units on the top AX7L variant and they sure look good. The rear end gets a connected tail light panel.

The new black and white treatment for the interior makes the large cabin feel even more spacious than before. The dash houses a new 10.2-inch infotainment setup which comes with a Harman Kardon-tuned audio system which sounds great. The doors and other panels of the XUV 3XO have been damped for better acoustics and NVH as well. The centre console though reminds us of the erstwhile XUV300 and it still retains small buttons which take time to get used to. The all-digital instrument panel offers a plethora of information and also beams the feed from the blind spot cameras. There are plenty of stowage options as well. The front seats offer good support, making it comfortable around corners. As for the back, the XUV 3XO offers ample space for three. The window sill though sits a bit high up and that feels a little odd. On the upside, the rear armrest features soft touch points which make it comfortable for the passengers. There are AC vents at the back as well as charging ports. The boot offers 364 litres of cargo space which is very respectable. The unit is deep and flat which is a plus. On the downside, the loading lip is a bit too high which makes loading of bigger luggage cumbersome.

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In terms of powertrain and gearbox options, the entry and mid-level variants come with a 1.2-litre, turbo-petrol motor that produces 110 bhp, can be had with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic. Then there’s the 1.5-litre diesel option, which churns out 115 bhp, and can be configured with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed AMT. The most powerful option on the 3XO is the 131 bhp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol motor, which is available with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The 3XO we had for the drive was the range-topping 1.2-litre turbo petrol with an automatic transmission. The engine emits some vibes at start up but once in gear and on the move, these are well controlled. The engine also offers good cruising abilities and at 2,000 rpm or thereabouts, the SUV feels smooth and moves along effortlessly. If more performance is what you desire, shift to ‘Zoom’ mode and the 3XO transforms fast. The ride quality is on the stiffer side and this helps the big SUV negotiate corners with confidence. Body roll too is well controlled and adding to it is the responsive steering which plays ball.

With a starting price of Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom), the XUV 3XO undercuts its rivals. The top-end trims do seem pricey; the range-topping AX7 L petrol auto that we drove costs Rs 15.49 lakh (ex-showroom) but that does bring with it a long list of features, some that are segment firsts. With the XUV 3XO, Mahindra has produced a solid competitor in the compact SUV segment, vastly better than the XUV300 it replaces. It offers good looks, ample space and a lot of features as well. Performance is quite strong too, especially in the case of the 131 bhp turbo petrol option. Two petrol and a diesel option, all available with both manual and automatic transmission choices, ensure there’s something to suit the needs of a wide spectrum of buyers.