Mahindra XUV300 Gets a Cheaper Automatic Variant

Mahindra has just introduced a new variant on the AMT equipped XUV300 sub-4-meter compact SUV. The new AMT variant is offered in the W6 trim, making it a lot more affordable than before. Previously, the Mahindra XUV300 Diesel AMT was available only on the top-end W8 and W8(O) trims, making it quite pricey. Growing competition in the sub-4-meter compact SUV segment seems to have made Mahindra bring in the new W6 AMT Diesel trim, which is priced at Rs. 9,99 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi. The W8 and W8(O) variants are priced at Rs. 11.49 lakhs and Rs. 12.69 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, making them more than Rs. 1.5 lakhs costlier than the W6 AMT trim. The AMT unit is sourced from Magneti Marelli and automates the functioning of the 6-speed manual gearbox and also eliminated the manual clutch. The Mahindra XUV300 Diesel AMT is meant to be both convenient and cost effective, making it suitable for both city and highway runs.

Mahindra first introduced the automated manual transmission (AMT) in the TUV300. The AMT was sourced from Ricardo, and Mahindra faced quite a lot of criticism due to reliability issues. Mahindra has now dumped Ricardo as the AMT supplier, and has now opted for Magneti Marelli, which is said to be a much more reliable AMT supplier. Italian auto parts maker Magneti Marelli controls almost the entire AMT market in India, and is a top choice for a range of automakers including Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors.

By opting for AMT units built by Magneti Marelli for the XUV300, Mahindra is sending a strong signal regarding the reliability of this feature on the XUV300, which is arguably one of the best equipped compact SUVs in its segment. However, the automaker is yet to introduce AMT on the petrol engine of the XUV300.

The diesel-powered version of the SUV uses a 1.5 liter-4-cylinder turbocharged unit that makes 115 Bhp of peak power and 300 Nm of peak torque. These class leading outputs make the XUV300 a very quick car although the AMT does rob the compact SUV of some the performance edge that the manual gearbox offers. The petrol engine of the XUV300 is a 1.2 liter-3-cylinder turbocharged unit with 110 Bhp-200 Nm on tap, and a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. Both the petrol and diesel engines of the SUV power the front wheels. In the coming months, an AMT option is likely to be made available even with the diesel engine of the XUV300. It’ll make the SUV more attractive to urban buyers who do lower monthly distances, and prefer the sheer refinement of a petrol engine.