Mahindra XUV300 Handling & Safety

The suspension on the XUV300 has a fantastic setup. Ride quality is very impressive and it just swallows the undulations in the road. Body roll is well controlled and it actually feels very car like to drive. There are no drive modes but what you get is three steering modes: Comfort, Normal and Sport. The steering is super light in Comfort mode and gets weightier in Sport mode for spirited driving. High speed stability is good thanks to the larger 215/55 profile tyres. The size of this compact SUV also makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Braking power is very impressive thanks to disc brakes on all four wheels.

As safety features go, Mahindra has gone all out with dual airbags and ABS with EBD standard across all variants. The top end model gets 7 airbags, Hill Hold Assist, ISOFIX mounts, Electronic Stability Control, front and rear parking sensors and reverse camera with guidelines. We have no doubt that the Mahindra XUV300 will score a 5 Star rating in the Global NCAP tests.

Mahindra XUV300 Verdict

The Mahindra XUV300 is a very well engineered product and the effort is seen. The design and styling is to the point and not quirky as some of Mahindra’s earlier models. Interiors are spacious and importantly it comes loaded with features, some a segment first plus a whole bouquet of safety kit. The engine is powerful and the smooth gearbox with a light clutch make it a very nice car to drive. Ride quality is excellent too. The boot could have been bigger and the sound system could have been better plus the lack of rear AC vents in an otherwise feature loaded product was a bit of a downer but that’s about it. The XUV300 has all it takes to worry the Vitara Brezza and the Ecosport and to a certain extent the Creta as well. Pricing will be crucial and if Mahindra manages to hit it out of the park with that one, the XUV300 has all it takes to be the segment leader and the best selling model for the car maker for a long time to come.

Mahindra XUV300 photo gallery: