Mahindra has launched the highly awaited KUV100 at a starting price of Rs. 4.42 lakhs. The compact SUV will be available in 4 trims and 7 variants with ABS and EBD as standard.
After the success of the TUV300, Mahindra has launched an even smaller SUV the KUV100 priced from Rs. 4.42 lakhs (ex-showroom, Pune) today. Previously codenamed as the S101, the KUV100 was much awaited among Mahindra followers and will be the most affordable product from the automaker’s stable. It is a UV with hatchback like dimensions, targeted at young and first-time buyers. The KUV100 is also the first SUV from Mahindra to be powered by a petrol engine. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest offering.
Design – The Mahindra KUV100 is another tallboy vehicle from the Indian manufacturer. The SUV looks more like a crossover due to the hatchback like dimensions. The KUV stands for Kool Utility Vehicle that clearly justifies the overall circular design which is aimed at impressing the youth. The front fascia looks inspired from the elder sibling XUV500 with a huge front bumper housing the grille divided into two sections with the license plate it between and houses the stylish fog lamps. Above it is the hexagonal radiator grille which proudly holds the Mahindra logo while the wraparound headlamps come with daytime running lights on the top end variant. The high bonnet has character lines which compliment the SUVish looks.
The strong shoulder line adds to the muscular looks while the rear wheel arch further accentuates the appeal. The rear door handles are placed on the C-Pillar (ala Chevrolet Beat) and the roofline slopes towards the rear making the SUV look compact. The KUV100 gets black body cladding for a rugged look. The SUV is built on a Monocoque chassis just like the XUV500. The UV is available in six colours – Fiery Orange, Dazzling Silver, Designer Grey, Aquamarine, Pearl White and Midnight Black.
Interiors – Coming to the interiors of the KUV100, the unique thing about the new SUV is the 3+3 seat layout. The car is also available with a 3+2 conventional seating layout. Also, the 3+3 seating can be converted to 3+2 seating by folding down the middle seat at the front that also works as a front arm rest. The gear lever has been placed on the centre console to provide legroom to the person sitting in the middle. The new SUV gets dual-tone interiors with a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel. The centre console has rectangular AC vents on top of the audio system and the AC controls are placed beside the gear lever. The interiors get a piano black treatment with chrome finish around the AC vents and gear lever for a premium feel.
The new SUV has a capacity housing 5 occupants with a good amount of headroom due to the tall boy stance.
The Mahindra KUV100 comes loaded with electrically adjustable ORVMs, front door puddle lamps, 12-spoke alloy wheels, gearshift indicator, power steering and front armrest, foldable rear seats and power windows, height adjustable driver’s seat, infotainment system with 4 speakers, rear armrest, cooled glove box and two driving modes – Power and Eco. Features specific to the top-end variant include the Micro Hybrid technology and keyless entry.
There are puddle lamps on all 4 doors along with mood lighting for the interiors. Follow me home and lead me to vehicle headlight feature is also provided. The KUV100 gets 243 litres of boot space which is expandable to 473 litres by folding down the rear seat. Smart storage spaces include under-floor storage space in the second row, storage under co-driver seat, cupholders in first and second row arm rests, sunglass holder, 1-litre bottle holder on all doors, driver-side coin holder, etc.
Engines – The new Mahindra KUV100 is the first vehicle from the automaker to be powered by the newly developed mFalcon series of engines available in petrol and diesel derivatives including –
* 1.2-litre 3-cylinder G80 aluminium petrol produces 82 BHP at 5500 RPM and 114 Nm of torque between 3500-3600 RPM, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
* 1.2-litre 3-cylinder D75 CRDe diesel engine produces 77 BHP at 3750 RPM and 190 Nm of torque between 1750-2250 RPM, paired to a 5-speed gearbox.
Both engines send power only to the front wheels while an AMT unit can be expected later this year.
Safety – The new KUV100 does not lack on the safety front and gets ABS, EBD as standard across all variants. Dual front airbags are offered as an additional safety package available right from the base K2 trim. The safety package is denoted by the ‘+’ sign ahead of the variant name. So, the K4 variant with the safety package is denoted as ‘K4+’. There are ISOFIX child seat mounts provision at the rear and the KUV100 also meets the future safety norms of India that will be applied 2019 onwards.
Fuel Efficiency – Available in two engines, the Mahindra KUV100 returns an ARAI certified –
* 1.2 G80 Petrol – 18.15 km/l
* 1.2 D75 Diesel – 25.32 km/l
The Mahindra KUV100 will take on the likes of the new Tata Zica, Hyundai Grande i10, Maruti Suzuki Swift and the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Ignis. The KUV100 will perform aggressively due to the SUV-like stance which the Indian buyers have always loved. Booking for the new SUV started on December 19 with an advance of Rs. 10,000/-. The demand for the SUV will increase with the launch of the AMT variant.
The Mahindra KUV100 is being prepared to be exported within the next six months to all the right hand drive markets which have similar regulations as India. This includes Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and post April Mahindra will commence exports to South Africa as well. Rs. 1200 crores have been invested on the KUV100 including engine development and ramping up the capacity of the facility. Around 350 people have worked on the KUV100 project, which is the next big thing for Mahindra since it is a new segment for the UV maker.
Mahindra KUV100 Petrol Prices (ex-showroom, Pune) –
* KUV100 K2 – Rs. 4,42,000/-
* KUV100 K2+ – Rs. 4,64,000/-
* KUV100 K4 – Rs. 4,77,000/-
* KUV100 K4+ – Rs. 4,99,000/-
* KUV100 K6 – Rs. 5,36,000/-
* KUV100 K6+ – Rs. 5,58,000/-
* KUV100 K8 – Rs. 5,91,000/-
Mahindra KUV100 Diesel Prices (ex-showroom, Pune) –
* KUV100 K2 – Rs. 5,22,000/-
* KUV100 K2+ – Rs. 5,44,000/-
* KUV100 K4 – Rs. 5,57,000/-
* KUV100 K4+ – Rs. 5,79,000/-
* KUV100 K6 – Rs. 6,21,000/-
* KUV100 K6+ – Rs. 6,43,000/-
* KUV100 K8 – Rs. 6,76,000/-
Note – All prices are introductory.
