(The story has been updated with prices of the Mahindra XUV 300 in India)..Video Editor: Kunal MehraCamera Person: Cyrus John..Indian car maker Mahindra has a habit of getting its customers the best-in-segment features when it comes to offering a new car, the Mahindra XUV500 being a prime example. The latest SUV in town from Mahindra gets a starting price tag Rs 7.90 lakh for petrol and Rs 8.49 lakh for diesel variants...But, when it comes to the mid-range market, customers really don’t sway the Mahindra way. The company is looking to change that image and is banking heavily on its upcoming mid-range offering, the Mahindra XUV300..Considering this could be a make-or-break car for the company, I made my way to Goa to test drive this car and find out whether this ‘Chota Cheetah’ is really a challenger. And here are all the details you’ll need for the Mahindra XUV 300...Mahindra XUV 300 Prices:Petrol - W4 - Rs 7,90,000 W6 - Rs 8,75,000W8 - Rs 10,25,000DieselW4 - Rs 8,49,000 W6 - Rs 9,30,000 W8 - Rs 10,80,000.Design & Looks.Despite being a sub-4 metre car, the XUV300 has am imposing stance on the road. The narrow front grille, the projector headlamps with DRLs and the floating roof are signature Mahindra features here. But, with the extra oomph....The inside looks plush. A space fit even for a corporate king! Premium finish on the upholstery, dual-tone interiors, piano finish on the door and leather cladding on the steering are some great pluses about this compact SUV. Though the white colour makes the cabin look airy & spacious, it’s not the best colour if you are looking to keep dirt away..The back of this car is a breath of fresh air. The tail lamp has a very ‘un-Mahindra’ look to it, but still looks good. The white upholstery might make the cabin look spacious but it really isn’t. With the driver’s seat pushed back the rear passenger gets minimal leg room. It can accommodate three people at the back, but with some difficulty....The headroom too isn’t that much. I feel that’s there because of the padding due to the sunroof. It misses out on rear AC vents and the boot isn’t the largest. Yes, I think that pretty much sums up its flaws. Not a deal breaker, really...There’s no dearth of storage space on the XUV300. You have a glove compartment that can fit a laptop, arm rests that can accommodate items and space all over the car that ensures you can take care of the spare change from the toll. It also comes with key less entry, push-button start and a sunroof in the top variant....It comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. The information display is not the largest in segment, but doles out all the necessary information. There are steering-mounted controls which makes navigating the interface easier..The audio system could use that extra thump as I felt it lacked bass...Performance & Handling.Mahindra is offering the car in two variants, the 1.5 litre diesel and the 1.2-litre turbocharged-petrol engine.In terms of power delivery, the diesel powered car outputs 115 bhp of max power and 300 Nm of torque. The 1.2 litre petrol variant has a bit less power, pushing out 110 bhp of max power and 200 Nm of torque. The low-end torque of the car is excellent, which works miracles with the acceleration..It also comes with electronic steering in 3 modes which are Sport, Comfort and Normal. It gives a meaty feeling to the steering when in Sport Mode and in Comfort you can steer with even a finger.The car’s pace has been tamed well with safety features like EBD and an electronic stability program that ensures the car doesn’t roll over. The top-end variant comes with disc brakes on all four 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels.I was a bit disappointed with the ground clearance which is just 180mm. May not be ideal for serious off-road adventures..The XUV300 blows the roof off in terms value-for-money features. The top-end variant offers 7 airbags, automatic rain sensing wipers, heated rear-view mirrors, cruise control, rear parking assist camera – the list is quite long.If priced right, this car is a dream on four wheels..Initial Verdict.I’ll just put my foot down and say that Mahindra, you have made a good car. No doubt about it. There’s not a lot you can complain about the car, barring the cabin space which I feel could have been a bit airier and the missing rear AC vents.But, look at the features it offers – front parking sensors, sunroof, 7-airbags, traction control, cruise control etc. It’s loaded and that’s why competitors in this segment are in for some serious competition.
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