Top 3 Mahindra XUV300 trims head to head: here’s our winner.
Mahindra’s entry to the compact crossover segment, the XUV300, was revealed to the world in the beginning of 2019, and arrived in South Africa to all-round applause midway through that year. The initial range has now expanded from two trim levels to three, with a new entry-level derivative coming along late in 2019. Let’s compare the three available trims to see which one we’d recommend.
Value for money is only part of its appeal
Comprehensive specification sheets have been a feature of the Mahindra XUV300 range from the outset, with plenty of modern toys and potent engines at reasonable prices being an integral part of this crossover’s initial appeal. This is a Mahindra, after all, so a good value proposition is bound to part of the deal.
But, even though the XUV300 in W6 trim is well-priced in relation to the competition, there is room for an even better-value range expansion, to make the hit crossover even more affordable. Thus was the XUV300 W4 born, and when evaluating what’s on offer in this new entry-level variant, it’s bound to raise some eyebrows – especially at the price.
Related: Read our local first drive impressions of the Mahindra XUV300 here.
Mahindra XUV300 1.5TD W4 (R 234 999)
Slotting in below the previous entry-level W6, the new W4 trim level is as basic as an XUV300 can get. This is apparent as soon as you approach it, because the exterior omits a number of the W6’s styling add-ons: there are no roof rails, tailgate spoiler, skid plates or body side cladding, the upper doors are body-colour instead of blacked-out, and there’s a set of plain steel wheels inside those unadorned wheel arches. To be perfectly honest, the XUV300 W4 is clearly the poverty-spec derivative.
Things are considerably less bleak inside, though. Apart from a smaller touchscreen display and the absence of standard navigation, the W4 offers most of the comfort- and convenience features of the mid-grade W6 trim. Standard equipment includes electric windows all round, electric rear-view mirror adjustment, air-con and power steering, remote central locking, two airbags, LED tail lamps, disc brakes all round with ABS, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and an audio system with USB- and Bluetooth compatibility.
The best news resides under the bonnet, however, because Mahindra made the bold decision to offer the XUV300 W4 exclusively with the excellent 1.5-litre turbodiesel 4-cylinder that’s also found higher up the price list. This means that drivers have 86 kW and 300 Nm at their disposal, all sent to the front wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox. It might look barren at first glance, but there’s a class-leading powerplant to compensate for the stripped-down exterior.
And then there’s the price: at only R 239 999, the W4 trim is by far the least-expensive diesel-powered compact crossover on our market. In fact, it undercuts the runner-up Ford EcoSport 1.5TDCi Ambiente by almost R 55 000, and the least-expensive diesel Renault Duster by almost R 72 000. That’s a serious price advantage, and merits giving the XUV300 W4 a very close look indeed.
Mahindra XUV300 1.5TD W6 (R 279 999)
This is now the mid-level trim, and can be had with either the 1.5-litre turbodiesel or a 1.2-litre turbopetrol (which costs R 25 000 less). We’d choose the diesel, though, because it’s refined, punchy and economical all at once.
The W6’s main improvements compared to the W4 trim is the inclusion of standard navigation, a larger infotainment display, steering wheel remote controls for the audio system, and a bunch of exterior dress-up parts (the ones listed as missing on the W4). Steel wheels are still standard, however, albeit now prettied-up with plastic covers. These additions carry a R 45 000 price penalty over the W4, though, which will be significant for value-conscious buyers shopping in the sub-R 300 000 category.
Mahindra XUV300 1.5TD W8 (R 324 999)
As befits its range-topping status, the XUV300 W8 is loaded with all the bells and whistles, with a few more things sprinkled on top. Outside, there are chromed grille accents framed by projector headlamps, fog lamps, two-tone roof rails, a rear wiper (what a strange omission on the lower-spec cars!) and snazzy 17-inch alloy wheels. Both petrol- and diesel power are available in this trim as well, but we’d once again opt for the diesel.
It gets even better inside, where the rear seat scores a centre armrest, and all seats are upholstered in beige artificial leather (black leather is optional). The toy count also goes up considerably, to include cruise control, an uprated infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, an electric sunroof, a rear-view camera (with adaptive guide lines) and parking sensors all round, auto-on headlamps and wipers, and keyless entry with push-button start among the numerous added features.
Safety credential also receive a boost in the W8, through the addition of ESP (stability control) with roll-over mitigation, hill-hold assist, cornering lamps, and an upgrade to 7 airbags. These add-ons will further improve the XUV300’s crash safety – which is already class-leading, with a 5-star score in Global NCAP crash testing even in base trim (with only two airbags).
Verdict
It’s wonderful that the XUV300 W8 offers so many large-car features at its price level, but it competes in a price bracket which is inundated with similarly well-equipped rivals. Make no mistake, the W8 has an abundance of unique features, the best diesel engine in its class, the most rear-seat space, and excellent driving dynamics, but many of those great characteristics are also found lower down the model range. In W8 trim, the XUV300 is definitely worth consideration and a great value proposition, even if its elevated pricetag puts it amongst some equally worthy opponents.
The mid-level W6 used to be the most sensible XUV300 trim level, purely because of its significantly lower price, but that mantle has now been passed on to the new W4 derivative. Yes, the W4 looks very basic as it comes from the dealership floor, but spending about R 15 000 in accessories will make it look a lot more upmarket. A set of aftermarket alloy wheels and black-out door trim stickers will get rid of its most glaring aesthetic drawbacks, while still representing a saving of around R 30 000 compared to the W6.
Related: The top 5 accessories for your Mahindra XUV300.
The only real drawback in going for a W4 instead of a W6 1.5 TD lies in the absence of a service plan. All XUV300s come with a warranty for 5 years or 150 000 km, but a 5 year/90 000 km service plan is only included on the two higher trim levels. Is it worth paying extra for the service plan? That answer is up to the buyer’s own preferences, but given the prevailing market conditions, the cost saving of choosing a W4 might just sway indecisive buyers.
In base trim, the XUV300 W4 has most of the strong suits of its pricier siblings and the best engine in the range, along with a pricetag that nudges towards the budget-car level. Putting it bluntly, you won’t find anything else as spacious and potent of this size for less money, anywhere. So, seeing as the total value package is this strong, this means that the basic XUV300 W4 gets the nod here – with or without a set of retrofitted alloy wheels.
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