UPDATE: XUV300 vs EcoSport vs Vitara Brezza vs Nexon comparison
Mahindra’s much-awaited new compact SUV, the XUV300, has been launched at Rs 7.90 lakh for the base W4 petrol variant, going up to Rs 11.90 lakh for the top-spec W8 (O) diesel trim. At this price range, Mahindra aims to not only take on other compact SUVs like the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport, but also the slightly larger Hyundai Creta. Do the segment-first features in the XUV300 make it more desirable than its competition? Will Mahindra’s boast of having the torquiest engines on offer help sell more XUV300s? We pit the four compact SUVs from Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Ford, along with the Hyundai Creta, on paper, to find out.
Dimensions
Mahindra has made quite a few claims regarding the XUV300, particularly pertaining to the compact SUV’s dimensions. The numbers show that the XUV300 matches Mahindra’s claims of having the widest body and the longest wheelbase in its class. In fact, the Mahindra is even bigger than the Creta on these metrics, indicating cabin space may be class-leading. The Creta is from a segment above the compact SUVs and, as such, is the longest and tallest SUV of the lot. The Creta and XUV300 also share the top spot in terms of wheel sizes and tyres. On the other hand, the XUV300’s boot space and fuel tank are the smallest in this comparison, and it may not excel in tight spaces like the Tata Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, due to its turning diameter.
| XUV300 vs rivals: Dimensions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300 | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Length | 3995mm | 3994mm | 3995mm | 3998mm | 4270mm |
| Width | 1821mm | 1811mm | 1790mm | 1765mm | 1780mm |
| Height | 1617mm | 1607mm | 1640mm | 1647mm | 1665mm |
| Wheelbase | 2600mm | 2498mm | 2500mm | 2519mm | 2590mm |
| Tyre size | 215/55 R17 | 215/60 R16 | 215/60 R16 | 205/50 R17 | 215/60 R17 |
| Fuel tank | 42 litres | 44 litres | 48 litres | 52 litres | 55 litres |
| Boot capacity | 257 litres | 350 litres | 328 litres | 352 litres | 405 litres |
| Turning diameter | 10.6m | 10.2m | 10.4m | 10.6m | 10.6m |
Powertrain
As mentioned earlier, the XUV300’s turbo-petrol unit (a turbocharged version of the naturally aspirated 1.2-litre motor that does duty in the KUV100 NXT) and turbo-diesel engine (the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit found under the hood of the Marazzo MPV) have the highest torque figures in this comparison. In terms of power, the XUV300 petrol is on par with the Nexon, but ranks lower than the EcoSport and Creta. The diesel XUV300 is the most powerful compact SUV but the Creta 1.6 does have a higher horsepower figure.
At launch, the XUV300 will just get a 6-speed manual gearbox, with an AMT automatic expected to arrive later. This AMT unit will be replaced with a more sophisticated torque converter automatic at a later date. For now, it means that the Mahindra is the only model here without an automatic option on either engine.
Coming to the fuel efficiency figures, while the Vitara Brezza takes the top spot, its engine is the smallest and has the lowest output in this match up. Only the Creta 1.6’s 19.6kpl figure is lower than the XUV300 diesel’s 20kpl. However, the XUV300 petrol’s 17kpl is the same as the Nexon’s and EcoSport 1.5-litre’s figure.
| XUV300 petrol vs rival: Powertrain | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300 | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Type | 3-cyl, turbo-petrol | 3-cyl, turbo-petrol | NA | 4-cyl, naturally aspirated/ 3-cyl, turbo-petrol | 4-cyl, naturally aspirated |
| Displacement | 1197cc | 1198cc | NA | 1497cc/999cc | 1591cc |
| Power | 110hp at 5000rpm | 110hp at 5000rpm | NA | 123hp at 6500rpm/125hp at 6000rpm | 123hp at 6400rpm |
| Torque | 200Nm at 2000-3500rpm | 170Nm at 1750-4000rpm | NA | 150Nm at 4500rpm/170Nm at 1500-4500rpm | 151Nm at 4850rpm |
| Manual gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | NA | 5-speed/6-speed | 6-speed |
| Automatic gearbox | NA | 6-speed AMT | NA | 6-speed torque convertor | 6-speed torque convertor |
| ARAI efficiency | 17kpl | 17kpl | NA | 17kpl (1.5 MT) | 15.29kpl (MT) |
| XUV300 diesel vs rivals: Powertrain | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300 | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Type | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel |
| Displacement | 1497cc | 1497cc | 1248cc | 1498cc | 1396cc/1582cc |
| Power | 117hp at 3750rpm | 110hp at 3750rpm | 90hp at 4000rpm | 100hp at 3750rpm | 90hp at 4000rpm/128hp at 4000rpm |
| Torque | 300Nm at 1500-2500rpm | 260Nm at 1500-2750rpm | 200Nm at 1750rpm | 205Nm at 1750-3250rpm | 220Nm at 1500-2750rpm/260Nm at 1500-3000rpm |
| Manual gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed | 6-speed |
| Automatic gearbox | NA | 6-speed AMT | 5-speed AMT | NA | 6-speed torque convertor (1.6) |
| ARAI efficiency | 20kpl | 21.5kpl | 24.3kpl | 23kpl | 21.3kpl/19.6kpl |
Features and safety
The top-spec XUV300 W8 (O) gets some segment-first features, technology and safety kit, with equipment levels eclipsing that of the Nexon and Vitara Brezza by a good margin and even going beyond what is offered on the EcoSport and Creta. In top-spec form, the Creta does boast ventilated seats, but it is the XUV300 that will claim the title in the features department at this price point. Mahindra has equipped its compact SUV with technology like a mild-hybrid setup on the XUV300 diesel and steering modes that alter steering weight and feel. The Nexon, like most modern Tata cars, gets multiple drive modes on both engines, while the EcoSport has the largest touchscreen display, and segment-first HID headlamps.
The fact that the XUV300 gets the most safety kit and that the SsangYong Tivoli (with which the XUV300 shares it X100 platform) received a commendable four-star Euro NCAP rating bodes well for the Mahindra. The Nexon and Vitara Brezza have been awarded five stars and four stars, respectively, by Global NCAP.
| XUV300 vs rivals: Safety kit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300 | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Discs | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Airbags | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Stability control | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hill-start assist | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Front parking sensors | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Reverse camera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Isofix child seat mounts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| XUV300 vs rivals: Equipment | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300 | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Contrast roof | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Headlamps | Projector | Projector | Projector | HID | Projector |
| LED DRLs | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sunroof | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Engine modes | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Steering modes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Mild-hybrid | Diesel only | No | No | No | No |
| Driver’s seat height adjust | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Electric |
| Tyre pressure monitor | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Climate control | Dual-zone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cruise control | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Heated wing mirrors | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Touchscreen infotainment display | 7.0-inch | 6.5-inch | 7.0-inch | 8.0-inch | 7.0-inch |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Navigation | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ventilated seats | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Wireless charging | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Price
Seeing as the XUV300 range starts at Rs 7.90 lakh, it is priced at about Rs 1.5 lakh above the base petrol version of the Nexon and about Rs 8,000 more than the equivalent EcoSport trim. The top-spec XUV300 W8 (O) petrol costs about Rs 1.61 lakh more than the Nexon and just Rs 7,000 more than the EcoSport S petrol. Diesel versions of the XUV300 are also marginally more expensive than the EcoSport (about Rs 1,000-7,000) and cost significantly more than the Nexon (Rs 1.09-1.19 lakh) and Vitara Brezza (Rs 82,000- 1.35 lakh).
Considering the equipment on offer with each variant of the Mahindra compact SUV, the XUV300 seems to be a good alternative to the Ford EcoSport, and even give the more affordable Maruti and Tata a run for their money. However, a proper comparison with its rivals and an in-depth road test of the Mahindra XUV300 will provide a definitive result on whether the Indian carmaker has struck gold with its new model.
| XUV300 vs rivals: Price (ex-showroom, Delhi) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XUV300* | Nexon | Vitara Brezza | EcoSport | Creta | |
| Petrol | 7.90-11.44 lakh | 6.36-9.83 lakh | NA | 7.82-11.37 lakh | 9.60-14.15 lakh |
| Diesel | 8.49-11.99 lakh | 7.40-10.80 lakh | 7.67-10.64 lakh | 8.42-11.89 lakh | 10.00-15.64 lakh |
(*Prices for the Mahindra XUV300 are ex-showroom pan-India)
Also see:
2019 Mahindra XUV300 price, variants explained
2019 Mahindra XUV300 launched in India, priced from Rs 7.9 lakh
Mahindra XUV300 to get an AMT gearbox soon
2019 Mahindra XUV300 review, test drive