Another day, another SUV. Thanks to our insatiable thirst for high-riding station wagons, even firms like Mahindra are getting in (or staying) on the action. We test the top-spec XUV500.
You need to know: Mahindra is Indian, the XUV500 has seven seats, it’s being followed by new in-house compact SUV’s and is relatively affordable; spec for spec. The W4 base model starts at 300k, this W10 range topper costs about R420,000. For that price, you won’t get much from the competition except a chilling laugh as they show you their corporate-identity door.
More info: It’s not actually a W10 engine, all XUV500’s use a 2.2L turbo-diesel four pot with 103kW and 330Nm. Some are manual, others are auto, and all of them have six gears. This model is auto-only and while progress is smooth and slushy, the ‘box loves to hunt; especially uphill and in the chasm between second and third gear.
What else? While it drives fairly conventionally, there are some oddities. These include its voluptuous shape, the pincushion grill and weird door handles (with keyless access), funky instruments (which reflect off the windscreen at night), a selectable but jolly vibrant infotainment start-up sequence, blue dome lighting and bizarre cockpit materials.
It’s like Mahindra ignored everyone and did their own thing. I love that.
Watch out for: The front passenger seat sits just under the ceiling but isn’t height adjustable, most buttons and knobs are hard to decipher, it doesn’t have much of a trip computer (some functions in the infotainment system), its coolant gauge doesn’t make sense, the power windows have a mind of their own and there’s absolutely no cargo space once the far rear seats are in use.
Why you want one: Price, spec, space, versatility and consumption. This front-wheel-drive SUV with ABS, EBD, multiple airbags, auto wipers, cruise control, pleather seats and 235/65R17 tyres alleges to use just 7.4L/100km from its 70L tank. You also get a five-year/150,000km warranty and five-year/100,000km service plan.
FULL SPECLIST
- Engine: 2.2L i-4 turbo-diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed Automatic, RWD
- Max. Power: 103kW
- Max. Torque: 330Nm
- Avg cons.: Claimed 7.4L/100km
- 0-100km/h: 11.92 seconds (No claimed figure)
- Top Speed: No claimed figure
- List Price: R419,999
Performance:
Racelogic Perfomance Box results for a MY18 #Mahindra #KUV500 #CRDe W10:
0-10km/h: 0,50 seconds
0-20km/h: 1,11 seconds
0-30km/h: 1,83 seconds
0-40km/h: 2,94 seconds
0-50km/h: 3,97 seconds
0-60km/h: 5,32 seconds
0-70km/h: 6,65 seconds
0-80km/h: 8,11 seconds
0-90km/h: 9,91 seconds
0-100km/h: 11,92 seconds
0-110km/h: 14,13 seconds
0-120km/h: 16,95 seconds
0-130km/h: 20,25 seconds
0-140km/h: 24,22 seconds
0-150km/h: 29,30 seconds
0-100m: 7,77 seconds @ 77,79km/h
0-200m: 11,80 seconds @ 99,52km/h
0-300m: 15,17 seconds @ 114,25km/h
0-400m: 18,19 seconds @ 123,88km/h
100-0km/h: 3,29 seconds @ 42,31 metres (once-off)
Maximum deceleration G-force: 1.04G
0-10mph: 0,87 seconds
0-20mph: 2,02 seconds
0-30mph: 3,79 seconds
0-40mph: 5,92 seconds
0-50mph: 8,16 seconds
0-60mph: 11,20 seconds
0-70mph: 14,78 seconds
0-80mph: 19,83 seconds
0-90mph: 26,47 seconds
1/4 mile: 18,26 seconds @ 77,11 mph
Maximum acceleration G-force: 0.54G
Altitude: 60m
All data captured by Racelogic® Performance Box