The top 3 Mahindra XUV500 trims head to head: here’s our winner
The engineers in India are busy putting the finishing touches on the next-generation Mahindra XUV500 as we speak, but the current model still offers great value for money even in its senior years. We compared this 7-seater SUV’s top 3 trim levels, to decide which one we’d recommend.
Power for all XUV500s is provided by the well-regarded mHawk 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, delivering 103 kW and 330 Nm to the front wheels through 6-speed gearboxes in either manual- or automatic flavour (no AWD option is available in the current range). Thanks to timeous facelifts and technology updates, today’s Mahindra XUV500 features much of the technology we’ve come to expect in today’s cars.
In its most-basic form (labelled W4), it provides the bare essentials in terms of equipment and gadgets, along with a few nice surprise items. Base trim specification includes power steering, air conditioning, 2 airbags, remote central locking, electric windows all round, electric mirror adjustment, and xenon headlights. This is the only trim level without a standard-fit radio of some description, however.
However, while there may still be some W4-spec XUV500s in stock at dealerships, Mahindra’s latest price list doesn’t include this variant anymore. The current range has been restructured to start with the automatic W6, followed by the W8 with either a manual- or an automatic gearbox, and the automatic-only W10 as the flagship variant.
Related: Shop for new and used Mahindra XUV500 cars for sale here.
Mahindra XUV500 W6 (Automatic: R 389 999)
In addition to the baseline equipment outlined earlier, W6 trim get alloy wheels, a 6-inch monochrome infotainment system with USB/Bluetooth/MP3/Aux capabilities and 6 speakers, steering wheel-mounted remote controls, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist and hill-descent control, automatic operation for the headlights and wipers, automatic climate control, and cruise control.
That’s a pretty comprehensive equipment list for the money, but there is one downside: W6 trim only features 2 airbags. To its credit, the rest of the W6’s spec sheet does feature ABS and stability control, and the body structure should be stable enough in a collision, given the W8 variant’s 4-star ANCAP crash safety rating (albeit with six airbags instead of the W6’s two).
Mahindra XUV500 W8 (Manual: R 406 999, Automatic: R 438 999)
This used to be the top-trim XUV500, until the range received a new flagship in 2018 bearing the W10 moniker. As befits its former range-topping status, the W8 represents quite a significant step-up from the W6 on the equipment front, and was quite cutting-edge when it first arrived.
Leather upholstery joins the spec sheet, as does a 7-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, a refrigerated centre console, charging ports for the front two seating rows, a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines, and the aforementioned jump in airbag count. Especially in manual trim, the XUV500 W8 offers exceptional value for money, and represents one of the least-expensive ways to get the combination of 7 seats, 6 airbags, and stability control.
Mahindra XUV500 W10 (Automatic: R 453 999)
Only R 15 000 separates the W8 automatic from the W10, but the jump in feature count suggests that the flagship should really be more expensive than it is. Highlights include keyless entry with pushbutton engine start, an electric sunroof, and electric driver’s seat adjustment. Combine this extensive features list with the XUV500’s recognised safety credentials, torquey engine and plentiful cabin space, and that comparatively affordable pricetag looks even more enticing.
So which one is the best?
The manual W8 has to be the optimal combination of features, safety kit, and value: it has almost everything you could desire, yet it costs only R 17 000 more than the base W6. However, if your aim is to get into an XUV500 as cheaply as possible, the W6 makes a strong case for itself – especially if an automatic gearbox is a must-have item.
But, if you want to feel a bit pampered without spending a wheelbarrow full of cash, the W10 should grab your attention. All these features and an automatic gearbox for so much less than half-a-million? That’s a definite winner!
* Prices include all taxes and were accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.
