XUV 500: Value for Money

XUV 500: Value for Money

When it comes to SUVs, MUVs and classic carrier vehicles in India, the one name comes to our mind is Mahindra & Mahindra. M&M have been making good vehicles in India for many decades. The noticeable part is, M&M has always looked for the improvements whether it's designing, Cost-effectiveness, Service and overall brand image. XUV 500 is the perfect example of that. After its launch in India XUV500 has been undergoing many updates to catch-up with expectations of Indian car buyers. So here I'm writing my ownership experience of XUV 500 W9 Diesel model. 1. Buying experience: I bought this car in 2017 knowing that the updated version is about to launch in a couple of months time because I got a good discount and above that, I just do not like the looks of new XUV 500 (Disclaimer: Looks is the subjective matter). The showroom staff oh Punjab Automobile in Ahmedabad is so supportive and was always seemed eager to help me. The negotiation has gone in my favour and I bought the car in my budget. So full points to buying experience at Mahindra's dealership. 2. Looks: Again as I said its a subjective thing but I personally love the overall look & design of XUV 500 and this version completely resembles with the features of Cheetah e.g. Front Grill, headlamps, Fog lamps, DRL shape, Side pattern, etc. XUV certainly gives the very manly look and has got amazing road presence due to its design and detailing. Having said that, the vehicle looks even better after fixing the accessories like side steps, Side protection lines, and Chrome detailing in the front and back as well. However, the luggage carrier makes it a passenger shuttle vehicle and do not suit it. 3. Features: Let me tell you upfront that "one can't get such a feature packed SUV in this price point". There are many detailing done for designing the features in this car. It has got Sunroof, Disc brakes on all 4 wheels, ABS, EBD, Traction control, ESP, Hill descent control, Climate control auto AC, 2 Airbags, Door side panel AC vents in rear, AC vents & controller even for the 3rd row. This car gives tonnes of storage spaces everywhere e.g. 2 big sized compartments in front of co-driver seat, One small compartment in the center to keep those toll receipts, Central adjustable armrest with two compartments including one big size air cooled box to house at least 4 cans of soft drink, Rear seat central armrest with cup holders, side doors with bottle holders on all 4 doors plus lot of space to keep magazines, books and other stuff. Even the last row passengers get the bottle holders on their side. There are some very smart features like driver side window with one touch down, rain sensing wipers, micro-hybrid system, multiple reading lamps in front and back, one-touch close ORVMs, Both the rear seat row are fully foldable creating tonnes of space. Height adjustable driver seat, Steering wheel with rack and reach facility, Rear wiper, the in-built antenna in the front windshield, 2 Nos. 12 V charger sockets and many more. I'm sure that I'm missing many other features still.... 4. Infotainment system and interior Quality: Like other cars in this era XUV 500's infotainment system also offers many functions like USB connectivity, Aux slot, Bluetooth connectivity, voice command, Steering mounted controls, Android Auto, Navigation, AM/FM radio, Mobile sync, mp3 player, etc. The sound quality is not so great with the in-built speaker arrangements. The touch screen also goes unreadable in direct sunlight making it impossible to read. You get physical buttons as well for each function. The overall quality of the panel around the music system and the buttons are not so good and look ordinary. The switches don't feel tactile while operating and the plastic used everywhere in the cabin is also of average quality. However, there are some very unique features this car offers e.g. Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), Car Manual, With you Hamesha App, Blue sense technology for overall vehicle health checking and also to check your driving skills. 5. Riding experience & performance: It's a mixed bag here as well. The steering of XUV 500 is exceptionally light and feels like driving tiny hatchback. Considering the size and weight of the vehicle the steering wheel could have been slightly heavier. The feedback from the steering is also less and it is less interactive while driving. The steering rod touches your feet near the floor. The gearbox is messy and sounds weirdly in each gear shifting. The reach for the clutch is also slightly longer. The overall feeling inside the cabin is very encouraging though and give the best view around the vehicle. The glass portion is big and gives a feeling of openness. The sunroof is also placed wrongly as it is very difficult to pip out of it from any seat. The engine is very refined and revs nicely in city traffic as well as on the highways. The vehicle remains stable during higher speeds and remains under your control, the steering seems slightly shaking in your hands though. The seat quality is OK. The 2nd-row seat can accommodate 3 passengers easily and one can make space for the small kid as well over there. Getting to 3rd row is some muscle building job, and you need to pull the lever for the back side to tumble down the seat. The 3rd-row seat is good for small kids as there is hardly any leg room for the adult passenger of more than 5'3" height. The gear ratio could have been better as well, as you need to shift the gears on every small obstruction. The suspensions are on the slightly firmer side and you feel the shocks on bigger potholes. 6. Servicing & maintenance: Mahindra's service has always been hit & miss kind, however, it has been good so far for me during 2 services. The cost of parts and service is not so costly as they manufacture it in India itself but the number of recommended services is more as compared to foreign cars. 7. Pros & Cons: Pros: a) Affordability b) Highly refined diesel engine c) List of features d) No compromise on safety features e) road presence f) Space & utility g) value for money Cons: a) Low-quality plastic b) No boot space c) Noisy gearbox d) Low mileage e) Frequent servicing schedule