Mahindra KUV100 review, road test

Less than a year after the launch of its TUV300, Mahindra has launched another sub-four-metre SUV. We find out what’s different.

Published on Mar 09, 2016 02:06:00 PM

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Overdone styling with excess of creases reflects lack of design maturity.

Headlamps with stretched plastic extensions inspired by sunglasses.

To further fine-tune the suspension to suit Indian driving conditions, Mahindra has partnered with US-based Cayman Dynamics – the same company that helped develop the TUV300’s suspension. And the results, at least as small cars go, are largely successful. The KUV’s suspension absorbs small and medium-sized bumps admirably well, and thanks to the 170mm of clearance, the small Mahindra isn’t caught out on the largest of speed breakers either. But before you ask, the KUV is no good off-road. Even large urban potholes gobble the KUV’s small 14-inch tyres, so you have to be careful on them. Also, the suspension doesn’t work as quietly as some of the competition’s, and you can hear a fair bit of the action underneath, and at times, even the dampers on rebound.

At higher speeds, it’s easy to tell the KUV is a softly sprung car. There’s a constant up and down motion, especially from the rear suspension and this is most felt when the rear seats are unoccupied. Drive fast and you’ll also notice lots of wind noise near the A-pillars. The KUV’s soft setup and high centre of gravity also mean it’s not that well tied down around the bends. There is plenty of body roll and even the brakes could do with more bite. The slow ratio steering is not the most feelsome either, but it feels well weighted and though a bit dead around the centre position, it gives more than enough confidence in typical driving conditions.

All said, the KUV still comes across as the best-driving Mahindra in a long, long time. The dynamics seem a lot more sorted than the original XUV500’s and though the KUV100 doesn’t have the dynamic prowess of a Swift, it’s not far away from average hatchback standards.