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The Mahindra XUV 3XO, a standout in the sub-compact SUV segment, offers exciting drive, impressive performance, and feature-rich interiors. However, it lacks paddle shifters and has some ADAS system flaws, which may impact some buyers' decisions.
Key Highlights:
Mahindra XUV 3XO: Mahindra XUV 3XO has not been out of discussion in the automotive industry since its launch in India. The Mahindra XUV 3X0 is undoubtedly a great offering in the segment and it has redefined the value proposition in the sub-compact SUV segment. We have done detailed tests of Mahindra’s new XUV 3XO and noticed some important things that you should know before buying this SUV. As we observed, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a joyous car to drive, but every coin has two sides. Here, we will not talk not just about the pros, but also give equal weightage to the cons that we noticed in the car.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO offers a joyous drive which can be a major reason to buy this car. The sub-compact SUV comes based on Ssangyong Tiyoli’s platform which is a great platform for SUVs. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is finely tuned for cruising in the city. The SUV handles the speed so well that you will not feel that you are driving at a high speed. During our tests, the reason behind the stability of the sub-compact SUV which it utilises.
After driving this car, I can say that the Mahindra XUV 3XO is probably one of the best-performing cars in this category. Sprinting from 0 to 60 in just 4.4 seconds, It becomes the fastest SUV in its segment. The real power is felt when we sit in the driver's seat, hold the steering and push the accelerator.
The 6-speed Automatic unit supplements the smooth ride that XUV 3XO provides. During my experience, I have not noticed any jerk during shifting gears with this AT transmission unit.
The thing that speaks for the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the handling excellence that it offers. The sub-compact SUV now gets three riding modes- Zip, Zap, and Zoom. Each mode provides different power figures and Zoom is the most powerful mode which supplies the maximum level of power generated by the engine. The power supply is easily recognized while switching between different driving modes. In Zoom mode, the steering wheel starts responding more and power can be felt while driving the car.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO comes with black and white colour interiors which helps the SUV look more spacious. If you are the one who loves to have your meals inside the cabin sometimes, it may become difficult for you to maintain the interiors. Even when you don’t have food in the cabin, the touch surfaces get stained very easily with dust.
The XUV 3XO’s dashboard looks as traditional as other Mahindra cars, but it comes with a floating infotainment unit. Talking about the material quality, I would say that it is quite good, but not the best. You get the soft touch on all the touch surfaces, including the door pads. In a nutshell, the cabin is deliberately made to offer a great level of comfort to the drivers and passengers.
The Mahindra XUV 3XO comes fully loaded with features and some of them are rarely offered in the respective segment and price range. Coming with the level 2 ADAS suite, the XUV 3XO adds value to the segment and sets a new standard for its competitors. Some noticeable features of the XUV 3XO are
The SUV provides a great driving experience and excellently delivers power. The stability is also one of the best offered in the segment. Overall driving experience was nice, but the lack of paddle shifters was felt when we needed to suddenly overtake a vehicle on the road. I don’t know why Mahindra has done this, but it can be a deal breaker for some customers, and, notably, some of the straight rivals of the SUV such as Nexon and Brezza get paddle shifters. I would suggest Mahindra launch a new variant of the XUV 3XO with paddle shifters to prevent performance enthusiasts from opting for other cars just for this feature.
While driving the XUV 3XO, I noticed some issues with the functioning of the provided ADAS system. However, the automaker mentions that beta tests are going on for the loaded software and it will be updated before the customer deliveries start. The ADAS suite is derived from the XUV 700, but due to the smaller size of the XUV 3XO, they are adapting the same software for the SUV.
So what are your thoughts on the Mahindra XUV 3XO? In my view, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is one best value-for-money cars in the segment and it offers a balanced combination of features and power. If I need to rate the XUV 3XO on a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this SUV 8 out of 10 and if the company adopts and makes improvements based on our suggestions, things will definitely go exciting and excellent. However, the XUV 3XO is still one of the best offerings in the segment. If you are out in the market to buy a sub-4 metre SUV, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is for you.