Mahindra XUV5OO. Dealing with a mid-life crisis

The XUV5OO owed its swift rise up the popularity charts to new age sports utility design and relatively aspirtional feature package. Like the Scorpio did when it was launched, the XUV 5OO also managed to open the eyes of buyers to the possibility of a vehicle of this class from the Mahindra brand.

But, the XUV5OO has become a bit familiar on our roads and though the design hasn’t really become dated, it doesn’t stir up the same level excitement either. What’s more, there is a load of competition piling up, slowly but surely, in the compact SUV segment – vehicles in the ₹10 lakh to ₹14 lakh price segment.

The XUV5OO was going to be the brawnier, and yet as modern an alternative to the emerging class of compact SUVs. Will it take on the coming onslaught of vehicles in that price class?

The new XUV5OO is a fairly substantial mid-model upgrade, though with the exterior design remaining largely the same, it might seem like a simple facelift. The new XUV5OO’s front design now features changes to the headlamps, which M&M calls static bending projectors. The combination now features an S-shaped LED tube and active side projection lamps for illuminating corners while turning.

The bonnet grille has been redesigned and now features talon-like incomplete vertical slats. A curved black line connects the headlamps and the foglamps, a design element that supposedly relates back to the characteristic tear ducts of a Cheetah – the XUV5OO’s design inspiration.

A new set of 17-inch alloys wheels, hydraulic assist for the heavy bonnet panel and a thick, new chrome appliqué at the rear are some of the other changes to the exterior of the new model. There is more chrome to be had with the window lining now being a strip of the metal running all the way to the rear from the door mirror housing. The other parts of the XUV5OO remain largely unchanged in the new version, including the tall, stacked combination for the tail-lamps. There is some additional novelty in the puddle lamps integrated in the door mirrors. They project the XUV5OO brand logo on to the sidewalk even as you step out.

Before you step into the cabin of the new XUV5OO, the one other feature that catches the eye is the illuminated scuff plates. The cabin also seems well lit, not due to an increase in the greenhouse (glass area), but more due to the new dual tone colour theme for the interior elements. The perforated fake leather seats, the black and beige dashboard colour theme and the sunroof made the cabin seem brighter. The interior also now features blue LED and backlighting starting with the icy blue lounge lighting from the roof unit.

There is also push button start and keyless entry and the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable. The new XUV5OO’s cabin is overall a much better place to be in. Of course, the model that we test drove and you see in these pictures is the top-trim. Lower trim variants may not sport all these features, including the larger infotainment screen and its changes. Fit and finish quality has improved, but only just a bit. Buttons, stalks and controls feature better build, but their feel and response still lags behind the best in the price and size class.

The new XUV5OO doesn’t see any major changes in the powertrain department. The 2.2-litre mHawk diesel engine produces 140bhp of power at 3,750 rpm and peak torque is 330Nm at 1,600-2,800 rpm. On paper, there is enough power and torque on tap, but its 2.5-tonne weight and initial turbolag do tend to weigh it down. But Mahindra engineers seem to have worked on the gear ratios to keep the acceleration building up and being more linear. The transmission is a six-speed manual. The vehicle is a lot more driveable now, even in varying conditions and its efficiency is also said to have improved with rated mileage now at 16 kmpl. The suspension is said to have also been tweaked to increase stability at high speeds, without affecting comfort at slower speeds.

The new XUV5OO is a more loaded package and comes at the right time to tackle the competition from the compact class. There will be the inevitable move towards the new breed of SUVs, but if you are in the market for one of the big brothers, this is certainly worth considering just for its value for money proposition.

The XUV5OO’s prices start from just above ₹ 11 lakh and go up to

₹ 15 lakh, ex-showrrom, Delhi.