Mahindra XUV300

The XUV300 is the firm’s most committed attempt at the sub-four-metre sUv

- Tuhin Guha

It’s fitting that we took the new Mahindra XUV300 to Cabo de Rama in South Goa. The clear blue sea crashing against the rocky cliff face here seemed like a perfect analogy for how SUVs, especially small ones like this Mahindra, are breaking the established order of what a family car looks like.

What is it really?

The 2019 Mahindra XUV300 is the firm’s first pointed crack at the sub four-metre SUV. Sure there have been the Quanto, NuvoSport and TUV300 before but they were bulky, utilitarian quick fixes to catch the market buzz. The XUV300 charts a whole different approach. It shares much with the SsangYong Tivoli available globally and sits on the same X100 platform. The monocoque setup uses high-strength steel and is claimed to be stiffer than the earlier cars.

It looks quite smart…

Yes, it does. Like we saw with the Marazzo, Mahindras are no longer a mash of bulges, creases and curves. The XUV300 has a mature design for the most part. The most striking feature up front is the LED light signature. These DRLs rise up to the headlamps which too have a nice upward sweep and merge cleanly with the slim grille. The chrome studs here are a direct connection to its bigger cousin. The larger air dam below and the contours on the bonnet add a dose of the requisite SUV aggression.

The flat floating roof stops the car from looking top-heavy. Move below and two creases break the profile’s monotony. The wheels themselves on this top-spec W8 Option car are smartly designed and fill up the wheel arches well.

But the crease at the rear bulges and grows into the bootlid, making the rear three-quarter look awkward. The truncated rear, a necessity to duck the car under four metres, and the high boot opening intensifies this feeling. The rear tail lamps also could have been a size smaller but the design itself is smart, with their flowing LED elements.