Mahindra XUV 3XO Expert Review

The XUV 3XO’s styling is polarising. Vertically-oriented headlights, C-shaped daytime lights and a sharply cut bumper lend the 3XO its distinctive face. In profile, the 3XO looks muscular but there’s no escaping how brutally the tail has been chopped to keep length within 4 metres. Tail end styling makes the XUV 3XO look large and substantial.

Inside, the XUV 3XO sports a modern dashboard with cabin quality being a highlight. The dual-screen setup—a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster are among the other items that do much for the look inside the cabin. 

The front seats offer a good view and decent comfort, although larger adults may find the seat sides tight. At the back, there’s class-leading shoulder room and enough room for three passengers. 

Luggage space is reasonable with 295 litres on offer. The low floor and high loading sill do make it hard to load and unload heavy items. 
 

The XUV 3XO comes with three engines: a 1.5-litre diesel, a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol, and a 1.2-litre direct injection turbo-petrol (T-GDi). All can be had with 6-speed manuals while the petrols are also offered with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The diesel is available with an AMT automatic. 

The diesel is smooth and has strong torque for highway driving. The T-GDi petrol is refined and powerful, with a smooth automatic gearbox. The base petrol is refined in its own right and does not disappoint on performance either. Manual gearboxes are decent, though the shifts aren’t the smoothest.
 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO's 1.5-litre diesel is its most fuel efficient engine option, returning an ARAI-certified mileage of 21.2kpl when had with the AMT gearbox and 20.06kpl with manual.

The petrol T-GDI offers an official 20.1kpl (manual) and 18.2kpl (auto), while the petrol MPFI has an official test economy of 18.89kpl (manual) and 17.96kpl (auto).
 

Ride quality is slightly firm but the XUV 3XO handles rough roads well. Ground clearance is good and the suspension deals with the rough stuff well. The steering varies with drive modes.  Grip is solid and braking is confident.

The XUV 3XO is packed with features, even in lower variants. Top versions get a 360-degree camera, Harman Kardon sound system, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, and a 65W USB charger. It also has a segment-first electric parking brake with auto-hold. The only big miss is ventilated front seats.

Safety is strong, with six airbags, ESC, three-point seatbelts for all, and ISOFIX mounts standard. Higher trims add a tyre pressure monitor and blind view monitor. ADAS features like adaptive cruise control and emergency braking work well but the controls are buried in the menus.
 

Priced from Rs 7.49 lakh, the XUV 3XO offers great value with more features than its rivals. Top-end models are on the pricey side but the performance on offer make them worth the stretch. With a roomy cabin, long list of features, strong engines, and keen pricing, the XUV 3XO is a well-rounded package that’s hard to ignore.