Mahindra’s newest compact SUV, the XUV 3XO, a successor to the SsangYong Tivoli-based XUV300, is available with three engine options – two turbo-petrol units and a diesel one –with the choice of manual or automatic transmission. We put the 3XO’s diesel manual variant through our instrumented fuel-efficiency test to determine how it performs in the real world.
- Weighs a whopping 1,469kg
- Gets auto engine stop-start feature
- 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 117hp/300Nm
The 3XO’s 1.5-litre diesel’s power and torque output of 117hp and 300Nm remain identical to the XUV300’s; the SUV also carries over its predecessor’s 6-speed manual transmission. However, the 3XO’s engine has a complete Selective Catalytic Reduction system to meet the current emission standards. The 3XO even packs more new-age equipment, such as a panoramic sunroof, and as a result, its diesel version is 64kg heavier than the XUV300’s, weighing 1,469kg.
In our city cycle, with average speeds of around 18kph, the 3XO returned 13.5kpl for the manual version, 0.9kpl lower than what the XUV300 achieved in our test in 2019. To keep a check on fuel consumption while idling, it features an automatic engine stop-start system, which performs quite smoothly and reacts much more quickly than yesteryear’s auto engine stop-start systems on the older Mahindra diesel engines. In our highway cycle, with an average speed of 54kph, the 3XO achieved 17.4kpl, merely 0.5kpl less than the XUV300. Interestingly, the 3XO’s diesel engine spins lazily at 2,000rpm in sixth gear while cruising at 100kph, contributing to its efficiency.
Autocar India’s fuel-efficiency testing
Before our real-world fuel-efficiency tests, we fill our test cars’ tanks to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. We drive these in fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai while maintaining certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, the cars only have the diver, who runs the air con and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and wipers, when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling the tanks to full again.
