We sample the latest Mahindras in Cape Town

Brawn on a Budget

Cars are expensive, but South Africans are an image conscious bunch, preferring Toyotas, Fords, Volkswagens and BMW’s above all else. Yet new car sales are on a slippery slope, and these days we are holding on to our cars instead of trading them in, or we just go the used car route from the get-go. So wouldn’t it be nice if there were cars that offered decent engines, safety and reliability but weren’t so expensive?

Mahindra Great Escape in Cape Town

Mahindra were in Cape Town this weekend, as part of their countrywide ‘Great Escape”, showcasing their latest models and proving that you don’t need to pay R 380 000 and upwards for a luxury SUV or a hardy and capable 4 x 4.

Mahindra’s latest offerings, namely the new XUV500, new Scorpio SUV, Thar and KUV100 are doing just that. Light years ahead (styling and build quality wise) of their ungainly Xylo, these new Mahindras really seem to have shaken their awkwardness to a large extent.

The new age XUV500

For the first on-road installment of the day, I drove the high-end (manual) XUV500 W8, which seats seven people. I’ve always liked the 2.2-litre turbodiesel mHawk engine, which I experienced in the Scorpio Pik-Up I drove last year, and I’m glad to say it’s still powering the XUV500 as well. It’s got more than enough grunt, and it’s light on diesel.

I wouldn’t exactly call it handsome, but it definitely won’t scare the children. Mahindra says it’s cheetah-inspired, but that description doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. But where the Xylo has questionable interior (and exterior) design and budget beige seat material, the XUV500 W8 is every bit the more accomplished and esteemed leather-clad sibling - you know, the more attractive one who’s making bucketloads of money working at some big-name company overseas - Mom’s favourite. Mahindra is really proud of their new XUV500, and they should be. So maybe it’s not a Volvo XC90, but in terms of convenience features it’s not that far behind, actually.

The W8-variant features standard specs like Satnav, seven full-leather seats, static bending headlamps, Intellipark, a coolable centre console, rear-view camera, follow-me-home headlamps, 6 airbags, stability control with Rollover Mitigation, Hill Hold, descent control, voice control and so forth. It goes for a pocket-pleasing R354 995. (The AWD-variant is priced at R374 995.)  Then there’s the mid-range W6 at R 319 995 and the entry-level W4 at R 272 995, if you need to tow the boat to the coast and you can’t be seen dead in the Xylo. If you consider that the entry-level Toyota Fortuner 2.4 GD-6 sells for R 445 100, the XUV500 starts to make a lot of sense. The new Scorpio SUV was also at the Great Escape, but I didn’t get the chance to drive it. The outgoing Scorpio SUV was an eyesore, but the front end of the new one is quite likeable, and looks rather imposing.

The Mahindra KUV100

The KUV100 was on the menu next. It may be small and compact, but is big on features. It has to be, if it’s going to take on the Toyota Etios Cross, Ford Figo and Renault Sandero. It’s not unattractive either, sporting a blunt little nose with Evoque-inspired, headlamps with DLR’s. It’s available with a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine (the mFalcon G80) or a spritely little 3-cylinder mFalcon D75 diesel powertrain. I only tested the diesel and it was sufficiently lively. I didn’t get to drive it at speeds of over 90 km/h, so I’d like to see for myself what happens when it’s pushed to 120km/h and beyond.
I was most impressed by the amount of legroom for the people on the rear bench. The dashboard layout is functional, with the gear lever conveniently situated on the centre panel. It’s different, but it works. Build quality is good, considering how little you’re paying. Safety features include ABS with EBD and corner braking control, dual airbags and rear fog lamps. If you look at the list of convenience features, it blows the competition out of the water. Go to www.mahindra.co.za and check it out. Pity that the seat material is light grey - black is so much more practical, especially in a family car. You can have it scotchguarded, though.

Thar 2.5 CRDe 4x4

Just before lunch I also had a short run in the diesel-powered Mahindra Thar 2.5 CRDe 4x4. The Thar is for people who dream about owning a Jeep, or even a Suzuki Jimny, but can’t afford either. Rugged and utilitarian, the Thar was adept at climbing some very steep and eroded trails at the back of Zevenwacht wine estate. It has all the proper, old-school off-road ingredients like the ladder frame chassis and rear diff lock and a wading depth of 500 mm, but very little frills. It’s the right car for avid mountain bikers or other lovers of extreme sports, who require serious off-road ability and space in the back for their equipment. And at only R209 995.... Imagine all the kit  you can buy for your bike / kiteboard if you’re not paying Jeep or Fortuner installments every month! But bear in mind that there are no airbags, just like the outgoing Land Rover Defender. There’s aircon and power steering, the black canvas canopy is removable and it seats 7 people (2 benches facing each other) if you so specify.

Mahindra have come a long way, and there have been vast improvements. Vast enough to be a real consideration for those Toyota and Ford lovers. Mahindra was acknowledged as the Most Improved Passenger Brand for 2016 by South Africa’s National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA)*, see below.

PRICING

XUV500 2.2 CRDe W4	R272 995
XUV500 2.2 CRDe W6	R 319 995
XUV500 2.2 CRDe W8	R 354 995
XUV500 2.2 CRDe W8 AWD	R374 995

          
(An automatic transmission XUV500 will be joining the SA line-up soon.)

Every XUV500 is sold with a five-year/150 000 km warranty, and a five-year/100 000 km service plan. Services are at 20 000  km intervals or every 12 months, whichever comes first.

The Mahindra KUV100 model range is available in seven colours. Recommended Retail Prices (including VAT) are as follows:

KUV100 1.2 K4+ Petrol	R 149,995 (61 kW /115 Nm)
KUV100 1.2 K6+ Petrol	R 169,995
KUV100 1.2 K6+ TDiesel	R 187,995 (57 kW/ 190 Nm)
KUV100 1.2 K8 Petrol	R 179,995
KUV100 1.2 K8 TDiesel	R 197,995

          
The KUV100 comes with a three-year / 100 000 km warranty on all models, and a three-year / 50 000 km service plan on the K6+ and K8 derivatives (optional for K4+).

Mahindra Thar 2.5 CRDe (79 kW / 247 Nm)      R 209 995
The Thar has a 2-year 50 000 km warranty, and an optional 3-year / 60 000 km service plan.

Mahindra Scorpio SUV 4x2   (88kW / 280 Nm)  R 283 995
Mahindra Scorpio SUV 4x4                                 R 299 995
The Scorpio SUV has a 3-year / 100 000 km warranty and an optional service plan of 3 years / 60 000 km
                 

*The 2016 survey encompassed a total of 39 independently researched brands, and the results were compiled from more than 1 500 responses received from NADA-accredited franchise dealers. The survey is based on the answers to 50 key questions based on every facet of the relationship between dealers and their OEMs and or Distributors. Mahindra was in the top 25 percent of responses to key aspects such stock availability, vehicle deliveries, warranty payments and CSI recognition. Compared to the 2015 survey, Mahindra moved up eight places with an overall score of 65,7 percent. They showed the most improvement of all brands as far as Dealer Communication and Customer Focus were concerned.

They also achieved a top five spot for Vehicle Distribution, and was among the top 10 brands in the Dealer Satisfaction category.