2017 Mahindra KUV100 NXT Review
Car Tested: 2017 Mahindra KUV100 NXT; Road Test No. 876
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5.09 – 8.71 lakhs
The Mahindra KUV100 NXT is highly improved over the older version
It was in early 2016 when Mahindra introduced the KUV100 to all of us. The KUV100 stood out as a unique offering because of its quirky styling and the 6-seater configuration. However, the vehicle did have some flaws and that is why this version has been launched in less than 2 years of the car’s arrival in the market. The Mahindra KUV100 NXT is a mid-life update to the vehicle where a lot of issues have been ironed out and the package has been made a wee bit sweeter with some interesting additions.
Motor Quest: The Mahindra KUV100 is offered in 5-seater and 6-seater configurations and it is the only car in this segment to have such a feature. The styling of the car has also been a talking point with some people loving the design while some totally loathing it.
With the revised exteriors, the KUV100 NXT looks ‘marginally’ better
Exteriors – The Mahindra KUV100 NXT gets cosmetic tweaks including a new grille and a redesigned front bumper with faux skid plate. The sunglass-inspired headlamps with LED DRLs, the toothed grille and the chiseled bonnet make the KUV100 look unique. Get to the side and you’ll instantly notice the new machine-cut dual-tone 15-inch alloy wheels and of course the thickened black cladding. The door handles continue to be placed on the C-pillar. The ORVMs get integrated turn indicators and also get an auto-folding feature. The clear-lens LED tail-lights, roof-mounted spoiler and the bumper with the faux skid plate accentuate the rear profile of the car. While I cannot really say that the KUV100 NXT looks beautiful, it is easy to state that it does look a tad bit better than the previous version.
The K8 variant gets all-black interiors
Interiors – Mahindra offers the KUV100 NXT with two interior themes. The K2, K4 and K6 variants get a grey-themed interior while the top K8 trim gets an all-black interior. There are subtle tweaks to the cabin as well. There is a new 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation only while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still missed. The climate control buttons have been minimised from three to one. The top trim gets piano black and silver inserts in the cabin. The feature list is quite long too and you get steering-mounted audio controls, front and rear armrests with cupholders, cooled glove box, mood lighting, puddle lamps, height adjustable driver’s seat and driving modes. However, a rear camera is still missing. The touchscreen that you see here is borrowed from the TUV300 and is smooth to use but sound quality from the speakers is pretty average.
Space at the rear is average but shoulder space is tight
The quality of materials in the cabin is surprisingly good for a Mahindra
The climate control button needs effort to operate, while the pull-type handbrake lever is placed below the dashboard. Where the KUV100 really excels is practicality. There are more than enough cupholders and storage spaces inside the cabin and even the seats are fairly comfortable. If you’re really thinking of shoving in 6 people in the car then you might be in for an unpleasant surprise because there is barely any knee room or shoulder space at the front for the middle passenger and things get really uncomfortable. The backrest of the middle seat makes for a very large and comfy armrest though. The AC cools the cabin very quickly but is also a bit noisy. The vehicle gets a 243-litre boot (expandable up to 473-litres when the rear seats are folded) and can hardly fit in a weekend’s luggage of 2-3 people.
The KUV100 NXT comes with the same 1.2-litre petrol & diesel engines
Performance – The engines offered on the Mahindra KUV100 NXT are the same as before. You get a 1.2-litre petrol engine producing 82 HP of power and 112 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine is also a 1.2-litre unit maxing out at 77 HP of power and 190 Nm of torque. The oil burner too gets a manual gearbox but Mahindra will start offering an AMT next year onwards. The car that we got for testing was the diesel variant. The engine is smooth and NVH levels have also definitely improved and the cabin feels pretty silent. The engine noise can be heard in the cabin only at high RPMs.
The petrol engine scores high on refinement and power delivery
The diesel engine on the KUV100 has been tuned perfectly for city driving and the gearbox complements it perfectly
The diesel motor also offers pretty good driveability and makes the KUV fairly easy to drive around. Power is adequate for normal city and highway runs and a regular driver won’t really complain. The KUV also gets a Power mode but it doesn’t make a very big difference to the way it drives. Fuel efficiency from the diesel engine is good and in the city you can expect 16-17 km/l while on the highways expect that figure to touch 19 km/l too. The clutch is very light and the 5-speed manual gearbox is matched nicely to the engine and it is also pretty slick.
The KUV100 should be driven in a sedate manner most of the times
Driving Dynamics – Now, the suspension of the Mahindra KUV100 NXT is well-suited to our roads and the ride quality at low speeds is comfortable enough but as the speeds increase, there is a lot of vertical movement for passengers and it gets pretty annoying. The steering feels heavy and doesn’t really inspire confidence at high speeds. Even on the handling front, the KUV100 hates being driven aggressively and is more suited to cruising. The brakes felt very spongy and the feeling is very scary when you stomp the brake pedal at high speeds because there is just no confidence. Mahindra has also improved the approach and departure angles of the car, meaning you can tackle bad roads easily. However, don’t expect the KUV100 to tackle hard-core off-roads.
Dual front airbags offered on all but the base variant
Safety and After Sales Service – Mahindra is offering ABS as standard across every variant of the KUV100 NXT and dual airbags starting from the K2+ variant. The hatchback also comes with a 2-year, unlimited kms standard warranty which can be optionally extended to 5 years. The automaker has a good after-sales network across the country while the service quality levels are satisfactory.
There is an equal balance of good and bad things in the KUV100 NXT
Verdict – The Mahindra KUV100 NXT feels like a very confused product in the segment it is positioned in. While it is definitely practical and easy to drive, which our folks will appreciate, the styling is quirky even now and the driving dynamics of the car are nothing to write about. Mahindra is positioning this as a compact SUV but we all know that it sure isn’t one. Competing with some of the top-selling cars in India, the KUV100 NXT faces some tough rivalry and the only reasons why you should consider one are the 6-seater configuration (albeit not too comfortable) and the easy-to-drive nature.
Mahindra is offering good looking alloys on the KUV100 now
What’s Cool
* Interiors have good quality materials
* Equipment list is good, on-par with rivals
* Feels very easy to drive around, nice gearbox too
What’s Not So Cool
* Quirky looks might not satisfy everyone’s tastes
* Steering, brakes, ride at high speeds could have been better
Alternatives: Maruti Ignis, Hyundai Grand i10
Would you pick the KUV100 over the Grand i10 or Ignis?
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Further Reading –
Mahindra KUV100 Review
Mahindra KUV100 vs Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10
Mahindra KUV100 vs Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 – Video