Mahindra XUV500 Car Review in India

The Mahindra XUV500 is Mahindra's first global SUV with ultra modern technological features, advanced safety, comfort and convenience amenities earlier found only in high-end SUVs. The XUV500 has been extensively tried and tested across India, South Africa, Europe and Australia.

Mahindra says the XUV500, its eighth vehicle, is inspired by the most agile animal, cheetah in action. Conceived and developed painstakingly over four years, this scintillating SUV is available in three variants - Mahindra XUV500 W6 2WD, Mahindra XUV500 W8 2WD and Mahindra XUV500 W8 4WD - in seven elegant colours Satin White, Tuscan Red, Opulent Purple, Amazon Green, Moondust Silver, Volcano Black and Dolphin Grey.

The Mahindra XUV500 derives power from a state-of-the-art 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine rated at 138bhp with 330Nm torque. The engine is mated with a 6-speed transmission with 2Wd and AWD systems. The 5th generation Variable Geometry Turbocharger takes the XUV500 from 0 to 60kmph in a mere 5.4 seconds. The XUV500 delivers a fuel economy of up to 13.5 kms per litre (ARAI-certified). The vehicle handles the city traffic well thanks to high torque at low engine revs and the Dual Mass Flywheel delivers rattle-free driving pleasure. With the advanced Micro Hybrid Technology, the owners can save both fuel and nature.

The all wheel drive (AWD) tackles the toughest of terrains effortless as the Interactive Torque Management (ITM) system automatically redistributes the torque between the front and rear wheels to maneuver the vehicle out of any discomfort. The transition from 2WD to AWD is seamless without driver's intervention. The suspension system of McPherson struts up in the front and the independent multi-link suspension in the rear offer ultimate comfort even on pothole filled roads.

Mahindra says the XUV is inspired by the cheetah in action. The front grille resembles the cheetah's jaw, the door handles are styled like its paws and body lines take a cue from a pouncing cheetah. The body is based on Mahindra's signature monocoque construction for better handling which ensures better handling, safety and security.

The exterior features stylish alloy wheels with disc brakes and tubeless tyres, power-foldable and adjustable ORVMs, twin exhausts and static-bending projection headlamps, and LED parking lights.

Inside, a first-in-class, six-inch LCD highly sophisticated touch screen infotainment system with DVD player, CD/MP3, FM, Bluesense technology, full i-pod connectivity and six speakers is made for audiophiles. The XUV500 has a fully loaded GPS navigation system and a full-fledged integrated Driver Information System displays all vital details of the vehicle like quantity of fuel, air pressure etc. It even controls the cabin temperature. The intellipark reverse park assist system's visual prompt on the LCD screen shows the distance between the rear bumper and the object behind the vehicle. The automatic air conditioning system maintains a pleasant atmosphere inside the car.

The elegantly crafted two-toned interiors are wrapped in the finest leather and a conveniently placed cool box fits everyone's preferences. The driver can control the infotainment system without taking hands off the steering through voice commands. Steering-mounted control gives access to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and the cruise control helps to maintain the speed of the XUV500 without using the accelerator. It offers stress-free driving on highways.

The Mahindra XUV500 is packed with modern safety features like Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which continuously monitors the movement and direction of the car and automatically applies brakes in case of loss of control. The Rollover Mitigation System identifies potentially dangerous driving conditions and helps the ESP to restore stability. There are six airbags (front, side and curtain). Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) brings down the braking distance considerably and enhances the safety of the driver and passengers. The Hydraulic Brake Assist system applies maximum braking force in the shortest possible time during emergency braking. The Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control help the driver to control the vehicle in hilly regions.