Mahindra XUV 3XO review, first drive - Takes on Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Tata Nexon

The SUV is the king of the ring now in India. More importantly, the compact SUV segment is hotter than ever before. Each and every manufacturer has a strong contender in the segment which offers plenty of features and options as well. Mahindra too had the Mahindra XUV300 which was a capable product. However, it was devoid of the fancies seen in the competition today. Now though the company has launched the Mahindra XUV 3XO and it promises a lot. But does it deliver?

Mahindra XUV 3XO: Design and details

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 that incorporate C-type LED DRLs which give it an aggressive look. The blacked-out grille section also looks cool and a closer look 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 this SUV 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 17in units on the top AX7L variant and they sure look good. The rear end gets a connected tail light panel which adds a lot of character to the SUV. The bumper too is big and well suited to fit an SUV.

Mahindra XUV 3XO: Interior design, space & boot

The interiors much like the exteriors have been given a redesign as well. The black and white treatment makes the large cabin feel even more spacious than before and that’s a good thing. The dash houses a new 10.2in infotainment system which comes with a Harman Kardon tuned audio system which sounds great. It is more so because the doors and other panels of the Mahindra 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 instrument panel though is all digital and offers a plethora of information along and also beams the feed from the blind spot cameras. There are plenty of stowage options as well and one can empty their pockets and enjoy a comfy drive. The front seats also offers plenty of seats and side support as well making it comfortable around corners.

As for the back, the Mahindra XUV 3XO offers plenty of space for three. The window sill though sits a bit high up and that feels a bit odd. On the upside, the rear armrest feature soft touch points which makes 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 tad difficult.

Mahindra XUV 3XO: Engine options & transmission

In terms of powertrain and gearbox options, the entry and mid-level variants come with a 1.2-litre, turbo-petrol motor that produces 109bhp, can be had with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter unit. Then there’s the 1.5-litre diesel option, which churns out 115bhp, and can be configured with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed AMT gearbox (an additional Rs 80,000 more than the manual counterpart). The most powerful option on the 3XO is the 129bhp, 1.2-litre, turbo-petrol motor, which is available with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Mahindra XUV 3XO: How it is to drive

The 3XO we had for the drive was the range-topping 1.2-litre turbo petrol with an automatic transmission. The engine emits a bit of vibes at start up but once in gear and on the move, the vibes are well controlled. The engine also offers good cruising abilities and at 2,000rpm or thereabouts the SUV feels smooth and cruises effortlessly. The gearbox too shifts smoothly up the order and one can have a calm drive. But if performance is what you desire, ship to ‘Zoom’ mode and the 3XO transforms fast. It gathers speed fast as the turbo spools up and from then on it literally zooms to 100kmph and keeps going fast. This is what we loved about the SUV. It offers a mix of performance and comfort all at a touch of a button.

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. It is a good mix of being well-weighed and light. So even negotiating tight city scapes is not much of a problem.

Mahindra XUV 3XO: Verdict

With the XUV 3XO, Mahindra has got a solid competitor in the compact SUV segment. It offers good looks, ample space and a lot of features as well. It is spacious too. Adding to its accolades is the performance bit. But the clincher here is the price which starts at Rs 7.49 lakh and goes all the way up to Rs 15.49 lakh.