Mahindra along with Tata produce the rugged vehicle and their jeeps are regularly used by the army. They have an SUV on the road, the XUV 500 which is robust 4x4 drive vehicle that is both rugged and cost-effective. I recently bought this vehicle and here is my review of Mahindra XUV 500 SUV.
One of my friends asked me to write a short review of the Mahindra XUV 500 for the benefit of auto buffs. This is a top-drawer vehicle by an Indian manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra and is a Sports Utility Vehicle. This SUV comes in a number of variants but the best model is the W-10. This is an automatic diesel version with a 4x4 drive and also sports a sunroof. Cost? the vehicle will touch Rs 21 lakh, but it costs less than equivalent vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.
The vehicle packs a 2299 cc diesel engine which is Chinese made, but it is one of the better products from China. It develops 140 BHP, which is a shade less than required and I would be happy if Mahindra could also produce a souped-up version with 200 BHP.
But for Indian roads it's Ok and the automatic version gearbox is responsive. But the manual gearbox is a little less smooth than desired. Never the less the vehicle has a strong suspension and with A4 wheel drive option, can run through fields and the countryside in India with ease. I use this vehicle for a run on my farm and it fits the bill.
The XUV 500 has a sunroof which can be a delight for kids and an advanced climate control AC, that cools the car, so essential in India during the hot summer. The SUV can seat 7 plus the driver and that is a boon, but in case the rear seat is activated there is no room for luggage and that is a drawback. You will, in that case, need a carrier and me for one do not like carriers on the roof, as they spoil the aesthetic beauty of the car.
The car has a nice instrument cluster with a mini computer that shows average fuel consumed and KM's per liter. But the clock is positioned in a way that it has very poor visibility and is in a way useless. Maybe Mahindra engineers could position it somewhere else Driving the vehicle is a pleasure and no wonder so many are on the roads. The XUV 500 SUV is a byword for reliability and Mahindra gives a warranty of 5 years, which shows the confidence they have in their vehicle. Certainly, I will recommend it to a buyer who loves a bit of adventure and dash.
The Mahindra XUV 500 is a top vehicle in its class but with the advent of the Jeep from America its sales have dwindled and a face-lift was necessary.
The Mustang is an iconic car and traces its pedigree to the sixties of the last century. It still remains in demand as a muscle car with an engine that develops 396 BHP and takes you to 180 MPH in a jiffy.