Mahindra will launch a new, more affordable W4 base variant of the XUV500 at Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The W4 XUV500, which is expected to be launched in the days just before Diwali, is approximately Rs 1 lakh cheaper than the W6 variant. The carmaker will achieve this low starting price for the new W4 base variant by ditching some of the features the higher W6 and W8 variants get. That said, a key point is that Mahindra has not altered the looks of the XUV500, which has always been a big part of its appeal for customers. 

What’s more, Mahindra also recently carried out a host of subtle improvements to enhance the way the SUV feels and sort out the issues the original car had. This included re-engineering the braking system to counter the complaint about noisy brakes, improving the clutch operation and improving the build quality to make the car feel tauter and better screwed together. Like the W6, the W4 will be two-wheel-drive only.

What the new W4 SUV variant gets is a more basic infotainment system with four speakers and CD and MP3 compatibility, and no monochrome display screen as seen on the W6 variant. It misses out on kit like rain-sensing wipers, automatic cornering headlamps, front fog lamps, telescopic steering adjustment, automatic climate control, powered wing mirrors, cruise control and steering-mounted controls.

However, you still get features like projector headlamps, LED parking lamps, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, disc brakes all round, dual-tone interiors, tilt adjustable steering, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, and remote central locking. The XUV500 W4 variant’s price tag, along with the kit on offer, makes it a direct competitor to the Renault Duster and the recently launched Nissan Terrano. Mechanically, the new W4 SUV gets the same 2.2-litre 140bhp diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. 

Mahindra has been feeling the heat for a while now from competitors like the Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano. The Ford EcoSport too (despite being significantly cheaper), has been eating into the XUV500’s sales thanks to its value-for-money proposition. However, the improvements made to the XUV500, coupled with the W4 variant’s lower starting price, should help Mahindra revitalise the sales of the XUV500, which have been hovering around the 2,000-units-per-month mark for a while now.