Indian automaker Mahindra is all set to launch the XUV300 Diesel Automatic in July. In this variant, the sub-4-meter compact SUV will get a 1.5-liter diesel engine mated to a 6-speed automated manual transmission from Magneti Marelli. This very company supplies AMTs to Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors in India that are found on SUVs such as Brezza and Nexon. Albeit late, Mahindra has decided to launch a diesel automatic variant of its car given massive success of arch rivals Maruti Brezza and Tata Nexon that offer AMT options. A new report claims that Mahindra dealers have started taking bookings for the new variant of the XUV300 Diesel, now the third best-selling SUV in its class.
Mahindra delayed launch of this variant to specifically avoid unpleasant experiences of Ricardo AMT unit on TUV300 and devote time to more tests. XUV300 will get a 6-speed AMT that is smooth shifting and well-integrated to the SUV unlike the TUV300. The Mahindra XUV300 AMT variant will be about Rs. 50,000 costlier than equivalent manual gearbox equipped variants. This means the XUV300 AMT will be the priciest diesel compact SUV in its segment.
The price tag though is not unjustified given the slew of features on the car and it still is a good value-for-money. Coming to mechanicals, nothing -- from engine output figures to handling -- changes from the manual version in the SUV. The engine is the 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbo diesel unit that is also found on the Mahindra Marazzo. However, on the XUV300, the power-torque figures are changed to 115 Bhp-300 Nm for smooth and better experience. This makes XUV300 most powerful compact SUV in its segment. The petrol version of the Mahindra XUV300 is also likely to get the 6-speed AMT option but its launch is still a few months away.
If we talk about features on this SUV, it is quite easily the safest SUV in its class: 7 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, disc brakes on all four wheels, seat belt reminder for all five passengers, ABS, EBD, traction control, hill hold, ESP, anti-roll over protection, reverse parking camera and sensors, front proximity sensors, and cruise control adorn this new car. XUV300 comes laden with segment-first features as electric sunroof, leather-clad seats, interior trim, automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, segment leading wheelbase for maximum leg room for rear passengers and rear AC vents.