KUV 100 mFALCON G80 K4 Plus 5str Review
Overview:
Mahindra & Mahindra has carved a niche for itself in the Indian Automobile market. The SUV market leader has now added another magnetic product to its portfolio christened as KUV100. Bolero, Scorpio and XUV500 each one is built in unique way with perfect ingredients to suit Indian conditions, and are iconic in their own way. KUV100, powered by mFALCON family engine, is very distinct from the rest, created a new class, sub compact SUV in the market. Its design, blended with SUV looks and hatchback accessories, is what helps it stand out from the crowd.
Pros:
1. Perfectly priced to suit the needs of Indian Middle class family.
Cons:
1. Absence of touchscreen infotainment system.
2. Tyre size is a turn off considering the size of the vehicle.
Stand Out Features:
1. Large cabin space to provide extended head room & comfort.
2. Enhanced safety standards with dual air bags & ABS.
Overview:
Mahindra has become an undisputed king of SUV market in India. With aggressive design and spacious interiors, their machines deliver an ever lasting impression. Targeted to reach the young, this machine, KUV100, is available in both petrol and diesel variants. G80 K4 Plus 5STR is a petrol variant in the KUV family. Monocoque design in construction makes the vehicle to be light in weight and safeguard passengers in case of collisions. Safety measures are further enhanced with dual airbags and ABS provision. Interiors with high quality finish and aggressive design for exterior makes this machine remarkable.
Exterior:
Inspired from the XUV500, the exteriors are sculpted to have combative looks. Front fascia is highlighted by the chiseled bonnet with muscular shoulders. Mahindra's badge at the center of radiator grille is striking. Rectangular head light & DRL cluster surrounding front grille-with mFALCON signature, extending up to front door edges, are perfectly placed. Hulking bumper with honeycomb air intake structure is impressive. Hexagonal fog lamps at the corners of front bumper add to the enriched looks. Side profile with B-pillar construction is fort-lifted with character lines, wheel arch claddings and wheel caps. Highly placed rear door handle for ergonomical factors, requires a special mention. ORVMs with clenched-fist design are inspiring. Rear side housing solid bumper, trapezoidal fog lamps and rectangular tail lamps, spoiler, Mahindra badge and muscular cuts is pretty decent and exciting. You cannot ignore top view which is decorated with solid character lines. Exterior work for this trim definitely matches to Mahindra's DNA.
Interior:
Its not just exteriors, but interiors as well make this trim unique. Piano black and beige color combination for interiors is eye soothing. With extended leg room, head room and storage space, this trim offers space to accommodate 5 passengers with ease. Cockpit is revolutionary with stylish dashboard and dual pod instrument cluster. Gear shift knob is fixed on to dashboard, resulting in more room for the passengers. Along with it comes, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) controls, and infotainment system with driver info. Rectangular AC vents are affixed on top of dashboard while handbrake is underneath. Three spoke electric power steering with tilt ability function is hooked up to dashboard. Dual pod instrument cluster holds analog speedometer, tachometer and other vehicle info. Comfort of the passengers is further enhanced with foldable rear seats, front & rear head rests, power windows, rear under body storage, front 12V power outlet, door pockets and bottle holders in doors and roof lamps. 243 liter boot space which is expandable up to 473 liters is quite decent.
Performance:
Mahindra has instilled this beast with their own mFALCON family engine for extended performance. This machine is powered by a 1.2 liter mFALCON G80, MPFI (Multi Point Fuel Injection) with dual variable valve timing petrol engine. Having 1198cc displacement capacity, this mill can develop 82 bhp at 5500 rpm and 115 Nm torque at 3500-3600 rpm, helping it stay ahead of competition. Linked with a 5 speed manual gear box, motor works on front wheel drive train mechanism and comes in compliance with the BS IV emission norms. This machine returns a steep mileage of 18.1 kmpl which is quite low when compared to its immediate competition.
Ride & Handling:
Enhanced ride and comfort is obtained through suspension system employed, it comes with Independent McPherson Strut with dual path mounts, coil spring type on front axle and Semi-independent twist beam with coil spring type on rear axle. Added by hydraulic gas charged shock absorbers on both front & rear axles to dissolve road impacts. Tilt-able, electric power steering with collapsible column helps in smooth handling. Sub 4-meter machine with 3675m length requires 5.05M turning radius which is decent. Regular disc and drum brake systems are employed on front & rear wheels respectively. The monocoque style construction with superior road dynamics makes the vehicle light and also aids in superior comfort.
Safety:
Mahindra has always laid extra emphasis on making its vehicle safe and thus enhancing every aspect to provide safety to its occupants. This machine comes with dual air bags and ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution), available as standard. Monocoque construction with crumple zones will boost the safety. Assisted by Engine immobilizer to avoid theft. Safety is furtherer augmented with help of collapsible steering column, manual central locking , anti slip clips for driver side floor mat, internal rear view mirror with day/ night function and other aspects. Child safety locks on rear doors, door ajar warning to alert in case any door is left open and seat belt warnings for driver seat are appreciable. Though it has got required safety functions, compared to the top-end trims safety levels are trimmed.
Verdict:
It has got the basic requirements to satisfy an average buyer. This machine is comparatively ahead of competitors when it comes to safety aspect but lags in comfort and mileage factors. With the low price tag attached, the available features are reasonably justified. If you are one of those willing to shell out extra bucks in need of more comfort and safety, then it best to go for top end variants and give this a pass.
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