Mahindra TUV300 Plus Review
Car Tested: Mahindra TUV300 Plus; Road Test No. 987
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 11.27 – 13.12 lakhs
The TUV300 Plus gets more space and power but nothing else has changed
When Mahindra launched the TUV300 first in 2015, no one expected that the automaker will launch a bigger version of the same car few years down the line. The TUV300 is known to be a VFM people’s carrier but the car has some flaws like its bumpy ride, poor handling and not-so-punchy engine. The Mumbai-based automaker has now launched the TUV300 Plus which is not just a longer version of the car, but also comes with a better engine. Is the TUV300 Plus really a hugely improvised version of the older car? Time to find out.
With the elongated tail, the TUV looks a bit more proportionate
Exteriors – The TUV300 Plus stands longer than the regular TUV300 at 4440 mm and the rear quarter now looks more proportionate than the older car. However, not much has changed on the styling front and it continues to carry the same design which looks quirky. The 15-inch wheels have been replaced by 16-inchers while there are minor changes at the front, especially for the fog lamp housing. Apart from these, there are no other changes made to the exteriors of the TUV300 Plus.
The dashboard still comes with the same layout
Interiors – On the inside too, not much has changed. The dashboard continues with the same layout with a black and beige colour theme. Quality of materials used is also very similar to the older car which means there’s no improvement and fit & finish levels are also not up to the mark with a lot of cheap plastics used at many places. The touchscreen is the same as the smaller TUV while the speakers produce decent sound quality. The TUV still lacks on features like a reverse parking camera, electrically folding ORVMs and rear AC vents.
The third row isn’t exactly what you’d call comfortable
The front seats offer decent support and comfort but sadly the rear seats still lack kneeroom because the TUV300 Plus has the same wheelbase as the regular car. The third row still has side facing seats which is unfortunate because we expected the vehicle to come with front facing seats. The third row seats are intended to fit in 4 people but honestly making 4 people sit there is quite a task because knee room is seriously limited and shoulder space also gets a bit tight. Getting into the third row also isn’t very easy because the step is set too high. What is also disappointing is that the third row doesn’t get seat belts. There are no AC vents in either of the rear rows but the quarter glass in the third row can be opened. Boot space with the third row folded up is 696-litres.
The 2.2-litre mHawk is way better than the 1.5-litre 3-cyl unit
Performance – The older Mahindra TUV300 felt quite underpowered with its puny 3-cylinder 1.5-litre diesel engine, especially on the highways and hills. Thus, the mHawk 2.2-litre unit that comes on the TUV300 Plus is a huge relief even though it is offered in its lower 120 PS and 280 Nm state of tune. Mated to this oil-burner is Mahindra’s 6-speed manual transmission while there’s no AT option yet. This engine has a lot of clatter but otherwise isn’t too crude while it has a tendency to get even noisier at high RPMs. It is also quite reliable and is known to be a durable engine. Vibrations in the car are on the higher side, more so when you start or stop the engine. Even the gear lever vibrates a lot.
Driveability is good but don’t expect the TUV to go too fast
The mHawk engine starts feeling strained once you cross 120 km/hr
Putting down 120 horses, the TUV300 Plus doesn’t feel underpowered. In fact, it has pretty good driveability with strong mid-range performance. Lower down the rev band, some turbo lag is felt till up to 1800 RPM. It redlines very quickly after 4000 RPM and frankly most of the punch lies in the middle of the RPM range. On the fuel efficiency front, this MUV gives out 13-15 km/l which includes some hard driving and if you go easy on the throttle you can expect the figure to rise by a couple of kms.
The ESS system gets quite annoying but you can switch it off
There’s also an ECO mode on offer which dulls down the performance in interest of efficiency. The TUV300 Plus also comes with the ESS (micro-hybrid mode) which shuts down the engine when you halt at a signal and then quickly fires it up when you press the clutch. Gear shifts aren’t too hard but sometimes I faced difficulty while trying to slot in reverse. The clutch isn’t very heavy but it isn’t light either and has a long travel. But compared to the older TUV, this engine is an excellent step-up and provides this car a much needed power boost which really increases its driveability quotient.
The ride is bouncy and there’s a lot of vertical movement of passengers
Driving Dynamics – Driving dynamics and Mahindra TUV300 don’t go hand in hand and that is quite evident by the way this MUV feels. The steering is very heavy, lacks in feedback and instills poor confidence in the driver at high speeds on the highway. Body roll is just too much so sudden lane changes aren’t really confidence inspiring. There doesn’t seem to be any improvement in ride quality and it still feels very bouncy at low speeds while at high speeds it gets better. However, the suspension feels robust and it has the ability to take a lot of abuse. That, along with the ladder frame chassis makes the TUV300 Plus a very tough car. Braking performance is just about average and the pedal has a spongey feeling to it.
The Honda BR-V is a better people mover than the TUV300 Plus
Verdict – The Mahindra TUV300 Plus is priced very attractively and can easily seat 7-8 people depending on the size of the passengers. It also comes with a very good engine. However, it has some flaws like its poor fit & finish and the ride quality which can’t be called plush. It makes sense if you don’t mind compromising on these qualities for the want of a rugged MUV but if you prefer better driving dynamics, more feel-good factor and an overall urban car, you should consider the Honda BR-V which is priced just a bit more than the TUV300 Plus.
Leg space in the second row is a bit limited
What’s Cool
* mHawk engine is known for its durability
* Can fit in as many as 9 people
* Pricing is competitive
* The car is quite abuse-friendly
What’s Not So Cool
* Heavy steering wheel makes the driving experience tiring
* Third row has side facing seats with no seatbelts
* Ride is still quite bouncy
Alternatives: Maruti Ertiga, Honda BR-V, Renault Lodgy
Will the TUV300 Plus bring in significant sales?
Testers’ Note:
Further Reading –
Road Trip To Bhutan In A Mahindra TUV300
Mahindra TUV300 Plus Pros & Cons – English
Mahindra TUV300 Plus Pros & Cons – Hindi
Mahindra TUV300 mHawk100 Review
Mahindra TUV300 Review
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