XUV500: The SUV from M&M

M&M recently launched its SUV, the the XUV500 in three variants i.e W6 base variant, middle variant W8 and W8 4×4 variant. It has got mHawk140, Direct injection diesel engine5th generation Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) with 2179 cc, with max gross power 140 Bhp(103kW) @ 3750 rpm along with 330 Nm @1600-2800rpm torque, 6 speed synchromesh manual, 200 mm ground clearance and with P235/65 R17, Radial Tubeless tyres.

The XUV500 has got all safety features, six airbags, all-round disc brakes with ABS, traction control and electronic stability program. It also offers driving aids like hill-descent control . Other features of the XUV500 are tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control, touch-screen integrated music system with steering audio controls, GPS navigation, Bluetooth phone connectivity, power-folding rear-view mirrors, puddle lamps, cooled glove box and plenty more. What Mahindra has done is to take all the best features offered in competing vehicles and include it in the XUV500.

Pricing:

The XUV500 is priced so aggressively to beat the competition in the SUV segment (Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Tata Ariaand Skoda Yeti).The base model/variant of XUV500 was priced at Rs.10.8 Lakh (Ex-Delhi) and whereas the base model of Tata Aria is at Rs. 12.6 lakh.

May be the M&M intention is to offer “value for money” proposition with XUV500 that meet the expectations of SUV buyer who cannot afford 15 or 20 lakhs plus for an SUV. Leading SUV’s whether Ford Endeavour, or Toyota Fortuner, they priced almost double the price of XUV500. In terms of features, XUV500 offers more than what they offer. So I feel XUV500 got value for the money.