Breaking news: Mahindra unveils new compact SUV

Mahindra is going big on SUVs these days, but their newest release is one of the smaller contenders out there. Because the so-called “sub-4-meter” class is big business in India, this is exactly where they’re aiming their new arrival – and that places it bang in the middle of the Ford EcoSport/Suzuki Vitara bun fight.

This compact crossover is due in South Africa in the second quarter of 2019, and it will come well-prepared for battle, with up-to-date technology on a new platform, a potent diesel engine, and plenty of safety- and comfort features.

New platform brings more tech

Based upon the new “X100” unitary-construction, front-wheel drive-biased platform, the XUV300 has funky styling – similar to that of the bigger XUV500, but with slightly less exaggerated bulges over the wheel arches. Going on the images released with its unveiling, it could even be called good-looking, almost like a cross between a Vitara and an Audi Q2.

Safety features will encompass a full suite of airbags (up to 7, but that may depend on the trim level), stability control, and ABS. It will also be pretty well-equipped, with niceties such a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, and a touch-screen infotainment system all featuring on the spec sheet. We’ll see what is available on local offerings when they arrive, but it looks very promising at the moment.

Good motor skills

In its home market, the XUV300 will be available with a selection of petrol- and diesel power, with a promised electric variant in the pipeline as well. But, seeing as Mahindra’s diesels are already proving so popular in our market, it’s more likely that we’ll only see a diesel version in South Africa.

Expect a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with around 90 kW, but more importantly, 300 Nm on tap. This will give the XUV300 a decisive marketing advantage over most of its main competitors, by out-powering the most and easily out-torqueing them all. This is still early speculation, mind you, so things may still change on this front.

It’s due here very soon, and may be a value winner when it arrives

Although its home-market launch is only due in February 2019, the XUV300 is already being evaluated with an eye on a probable South African release only two months later.

It’s obviously much too early to say anything about local pricing, but inside information at Mahindra South Africa projects a launch price below the R300 000 mark (in today’s money) for the top-end variant. If they can pull this off, the XUV300 may just prove to become the surprise sales hit of 2019. We’ll keep you posted as updates become available.