Mahindra has announced that their erstwhile flagship car in the market XUV500 will be updated to support Apple CarPlay in the coming days. However, the update will only be limited to higher spec models of the XUV500 line-up and the lower variants will continue to support Android Auto on their touchscreen infotainment system. Mahindra XUV500 has been facing a lot of heat in the segment due to the arrival of Tata Harrier in the market and the coming times hold even more challenge for the SUV as the Chinese-owned British brand MG will soon launch the feature loaded Hector SUV in the same segment.
The Indian UV maker had already launched a new entry level model of the XUV500 some time back so that it could compete with the entry level model of the Tata Harrier and the recent update is yet another step to keep the SUV competitive in the segment. The said update of Apple CarPlay support will start arriving for the SUV from the last day on the current month i.e. 31 May, 2019. With the update, Mahindra XUV500’s top end variant will now get support for both Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. Although, the customers of lower variants of the SUV will surely be disappointed due to the brand’s move to bring the update only to the top W11(O) variant of the SUV, especially since the lower variants like W7 and W9 already come with Android Auto support.
As of now, Mahindra XUV500 is offered in a total of 12 variants in India, with only a single petrol variant on offer. As far as the mechanicals of the XUV500 are concerned, the SUV come with a 2.2L diesel engine rated to develop 154 Bhp and 360 Nm. The transmission duties on the diesel engine models are handled by a 6 speed manual as well as a torque converter automatic gearbox. The diesel engine model also comes with the option of an all wheel drive variant. As far as the petrol model is concerned, the petrol XUV500 comes with a 2.2L turbo engine rated to deliver 140 Bhp and 320 Nm. An automatic gearbox is offered on the model as standard but there is no all-wheel drive variant on offer here.
What is to be noted here is that due to the upcoming onslaught of rivals in the segment, Mahindra is also working on a model replacement of the XUV500 in the market. The updated model is expected to come with major improvements and will likely be based on SsangYong platform. The updated model will also come with the new BS-VI complaint engine that the brand is currently working on.