2018 Mahindra XUV500 Test Drive Review

2018 Mahindra XUV500 Review

Car Tested: 2018 Mahindra XUV500; Road Test No. 934; Test Location: Chakan

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 14.80 – 21.44 lakhs

The latest facelift gets substantial changes to the XUV500, specially the aesthetics

Mahindra keeps updating their product portfolio quite frequently but the latest update to the Cheetah is a big step ahead, which makes it look more premium inside out. However, the changes are not only limited to the looks but also mechanicals and feature list. We take the revised XUV500 for a spin at Mahindra’s own test track to see how big the improvement is over its predecessor.

Motor Quest: Launched in 2011, the Mahindra XUV500 has been a big volume spinner for the Indian automaker. The key highlights of the success of this monocoque SUV are styling, space, ton of features and presence on the road. This is the second facelift of the model since its launch.

Exteriors – Considering this is a facelift most of us would be expecting prominent changes to the front fascia but Mahindra has gone the extra mile and even updated the rear profile of the car. The front-end gets a revised chrome embellished grille flanked by projector headlights on either side. The headlamp unit sees minor tweaks and the S-shaped LED DRL has made way for a contemporary almost horizontal strip. The bumper with the fog lamps housing remains similar to the pre-facelifted XUV500 but there is a chrome strip that separates the upper grille from the lower air intake.

The 2018 XUV500 looks imposing; is a more desirable package now

Get to the sides and you will notice that except for the alloy wheels and roof rails nothing much has changed. The top end W11 trim gets a swanky-looking 18-inch diamond-cut alloys while the W9 gets 17-inchers (not diamond-cut ones). At the rear, the most prominent changes are the wedge-shaped tail-lights (with different graphics inside) and the revised tailgate. Reflectors have moved away from the tail-lights and are placed in between the tail lights and the bumper. There is a roof spoiler too, which Mahindra claims, adds to the aerodynamics of the car. Mahindra has introduced two new colours – Mystic Copper and Crimson Red. Overall, the facelift for the XUV500 will keep it afloat in the Indian SUV market until 2020, which is when the next-gen XUV500 will be launched.

Interiors – The cabin of the facelifted XUV500 gets subtle tweaks too. While the dashboard layout and the steering wheel are identical to the previous model, the centre console now gets a piano black finish (instead of the matte finish) and there are silver finishes around the centre console, gear lever, handbrake lever and on the steering wheel which uplift the ambience. The 4-spoke multi-function steering wheel and the instrument cluster are similar to the previous car but Mahindra has added faux leather trim (on the dashboard and door trims) and tan-coloured leather seats on the top spec trim of the 2018 XUV500. However, the lower variants get fabric upholstery. In terms of features, you get automatic climate control, rear AC vents (pillar-mounted), cruise control, electric sunroof, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, ARKAMYS 6-speaker Sound system, automatic wipers and headlights, puddle lamps, push-button start, Android Auto (No Apple CarPlay), rear parking camera with dynamic assist and sensors. The Mahindra Blue Sense app can now be operated with Apple and Android smartwatches.

The XUV500’s leather trim on the dashboard and the tan-coloured leather seats makes the cabin an awesome place

Space inside the cabin continues to remain the same. Both the front seats are big, wide and comfortable enough for accommodating two at the front seats and three at the second-row seat. The third-row seat is clearly best suited for kids as legroom is a constraint. Boot space is also negligible when all the seats are up but fold down the third-row seats and you get access to 703-litres and if you want to move in a bicycle or an average sized refrigerator, fold down the second-row seat and then you get a massive 1512-litres of boot space.

Performance – The Cheetah is now more powerful as the 2.2-litre diesel engine now produces more power and torque of 155 BHP and 360 Nm. Mahindra has given it an EVGT (electronic variable geometry turbo) which means that the turbo doesn’t takes time to spool with pressure, now it’s electrically assisted so it kicks in much faster. This results in instant acceleration and the XUV500 now feels more progressive in the low-end followed by a strong surge of thrust in the mid-range. The new setup makes the car feel much more responsive with fantastic acceleration for such a large SUV. We got a 0-100 km/hr timing of 11.51 seconds on our VBOX, which is pretty impressive! The 6-speed manual transmission is notchy though and the top-end of the rev band feels flat and quite noisy.

Driving Dynamics – There are no changes in the suspension setup and the car feels the same in terms of dynamics. The steering is light which makes it easy to manoeuvre in tight spots however there is no feel and feedback when you push it hard around the corners. Being a monocoque, you can feel the nimble response to steering inputs but the body roll at high speeds is pronounced. The ride quality is decent most of the time but when you hit a bad patch of road, the rear tends to bounce, which is a trait of almost all Mahindra UVs. In terms of braking performance, there is good bite and confidence inspiring response from the all-disc brakes.

Safety and After Sales Service – The 2018 Mahindra XUV500 comes loaded with a host of safety features and the SUV has also scored a 4-star rating in the Australian NCAP. Every variant comes with dual front airbags and ABS as standard while the W9 and W11 variants also get side and curtain airbags. Other safety features include all-wheel disc brakes, Tyre-Tronics, Emergency Call, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Rollover Mitigation and Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control. In terms of after-sales service, the homegrown automaker has a wide reach across the country and past service experiences by customers have been decent.

Verdict – The refreshed Mahindra XUV500 makes a lot of sense and is a proper facelift, making it look and feel fresh. It looks a bit weird in images but when you see it in person, the new styling looks quite appealing. Even the tan faux leather seats and leatherette treatment on the dashboard gives a very premium appeal to the cabin. Overall, we were quite impressed with the additions.

What’s Cool

* Tweaks to the exterior styling makes it look fresh
* The interior feels much more premium with the leatherette treatment
* The XUV500 is now more tech loaded getting new equipment
* The increase in power and torque along with EVGT makes it feel much quicker

What’s Not So Cool

* The 6-speed manual transmission feels notchy to operate
* The ride gets bouncy at the rear

Alternatives: Tata Hexa, Toyota Innova Crysta, Jeep Compass

2018 Mahindra XUV500 Specifications

* Engine: 2179cc, 4-Cyl, turbocharged (Diesel) | 2179cc, 4-Cyl, turbocharged (Petrol)
* Power: 155 HP @ 3750 RPM | 140 HP @ 4500 RPM
* Torque: 360 Nm @ 1750-2800 RPM | 320 Nm @ 2000-3000 RPM
* Transmission: 6-Speed MT / 6-Speed AT | 6-Speed AT
* 0-100 km/hr: 11.51 seconds (VBOX)
* Fuel Consumption: 10-12 km/l (MT), 8-10 km/l (AT) | 8-10 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel | Petrol
* Suspension: MacPherson type with anti-roll bar (Front), Multilink type with anti-roll bar (Rear)
* Tyres: 235/65/17 (all variants except W11 Optional), 235/60/18 (W11 Optional)
* Brakes: Discs (Front & Rear), ABS
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold and Descent Control and ESP with Rollover Mitigation

2018 Mahindra XUV500 Dimensions

* Overall length x width x height: 4585 mm X 1890 mm X 1785 mm
* Wheelbase: 2700 mm
* Ground Clearance: 160 mm
* Kerb Weight: 1785 kgs
* Boot Space: 703-litres (with third row folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 70-litres

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