[Venkatesh]

Walkaround with Pratap Bose

https://youtu.be/tcehxlYnA_Q?si=azsRMUGMt1v2kU-4

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

Isn't is more expensive than competition?

Woah!!! These sub4m crossovers are so close to that 20L mark now. Looks like there's been a tectonic shift to pricings. Compact crossovers (Seltos/Creta) are touching/crossing 25L on road while sub-compact crossovers are breaching 18/19L mark (speaking only about top-end variants).

[Venkatesh]

Few more pictures from the media drive, reviews drops on 2nd May.



















































Source : carandbike, evoindia, AckoDrive

[samarthnarayan]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Woah!!! These sub4m crossovers are so close to that 20L mark now. Looks like there's been a tectonic shift to pricings. Compact crossovers(Seltos/Creta) are touching/crossing 25L on road while subCompact crossovers are breaching 18/19L mark(speaking only about top-end variants).

One word, overpriced!

This entire SUV segment was started by the Renault Duster and Ford Ecosport.

Back then, we had honest, VFM, solid build quality, fun to drive cars like the above two and the Skoda Yeti, and at the top was Honda CRV, which was another brilliant car.

Sadly, All four are gone now. And now the entire focus of this SUV segment has shifted to features, and the car manufacturers are simply milking it.

I actually miss those older cars, they were really brilliant to drive and not these overpriced cars we are getting now. Sad.

[RunGaDa]

Originally Posted by samarthnarayan

One word, overpriced!

This entire SUV segment was started by the Renault Duster and Ford Ecosport.

Back then, we had honest, VFM, solid build quality, fun to drive cars like the above two and the Skoda Yeti, and at the top was Honda CRV, which was another brilliant car.

Sadly, All four are gone now. And now the entire focus of this SUV segment has shifted to features, and the car manufacturers are simply milking it.

I actually miss those older cars, they were really brilliant to drive and not these plastic boxes we are getting now. Sad.

I agree, the solid sheet metal of Ecosport is no match for any car in or even above the range.
10-11 was max we used to spend on those and within 10 years it’s doubled.
I say no. Not buying for the heck of it.

[samarthnarayan]

Originally Posted by RunGaDa

I agree, the solid sheet metal of Ecosport is no match for any car in or even above the range.

I hear you.

And while it wont happen, but If Ford ever bothers to listen to its loyalists in India, then it should just bring the Ecosport back, and it will make Ford an instant hit on return.

as anyone who has owned an Ecosport, knows what I am talking about here.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by RunGaDa

I agree, the solid sheet metal of Ecosport is no match for any car in or even above the range.
10-11 was max we used to spend on those and within 10 years it’s doubled.
I say no. Not buying for the heck of it.

Try opening the door of a Nissan magnite - I take this example because it's a cost cutting exercise that entire car is and yet , there is nothing to fault the sheet metal , it's well built that way.

I know the price of Ecosport in 2013, it was quite an expensive vehicle and in comparison current prices are reasonable, infact quite a bargain given that the vehicle would drive itself on the highway.

[nhkvarma]

Originally Posted by Amrit@wheels

Ummm...... what?! Have you driven the XUV300 diesel? It is VERY punchy. The much bigger disappointment is the terrible AMT box. Agreed with rest but they'd have made it much more expensive.

yes, I drive a XUV 300 diesel. I never tried petrol turbo though. Same disappointment - I had to settle with a manual because its offered only with AMT option in automatic.

With those many features, including a full soft touch dashboard, even on door trims, ADAS 2, LEDs etc. - I dont think it could have been any cheaper. The Nexon is already with similar price tag. Fronx with half of these features itself is at around 16L on road.

[Amrit@wheels]

Originally Posted by 07CR

That's what I mentioned in my comment. I have my apprehensions in the way GNCAP has been testing the cars and have not trusted their ratings for quite a long time. Therefore, I feel a good set of active and passive safety features coupled with good driving manners define the best safety net for me, rather than 5 star ncap rating from GNCAP.

I do agree the XUV is probably the best in segment for the interior space, but again at the cost of boot space. I had put my comment with regards to my usage, considering we are 4 adults in family and need the boot to be more usable than what the XUV has.

I feel this is a better attempt than Nexon FL, but the Sonet remains the best in segment car as off now. XUV does come second in my list.

Don't take it wrongly but your personal distrust in the GNCAP does not disprove its credibility. XUV300/3XO is one of the safest cars on sale India. It has faced numerous dangerous accidents where the occupants were unharmed. It is built like a tank and no matter how many safety features Kia adds, XUV3XO is considerably safer than the Sonet/Seltos. Regarding the boot space, it is highly subjective. Some people want more space, some want a bigger boot. Current boot space is nowhere near the best in class but hardly a deal breaker anymore. Overall, 3XO is a better package.

[RunGaDa]

Originally Posted by samarthnarayan

I hear you.

And while it wont happen, but If Ford ever bothers to listen to its loyalists in India, then it should just bring the Ecosport back, and it will make Ford an instant hit on return.

as anyone who has owned an Ecosport, knows what I am talking about here.

May be a full sized SUV is the right way. Like Ford Escape. When Toyota is testing 4Runner, there are Cretas and Seltos around, Ford tried to push Ecosport too long. And almost made it double priced compared to 2013 launch price.
I truly believe there’s 5 lakh increase with no value added to the price in the SUVs around.
I got it for 10.5 on road manual top model, diesel and can’t beat that price now. Still drives like new.

[Hattrick]

Looks aside, Mahindra has lighten up the Compact SUV segment with aggressive pricing and exclusive features in the segment.

Hyundai will be closing looking at Venue, which is due for a facelift. Venue has been a strong value proposition car from the beginning, would be interesting to what they bring to the table.

[Amrit@wheels]

Originally Posted by RunGaDa

I agree, the solid sheet metal of Ecosport is no match for any car in or even above the range.
10-11 was max we used to spend on those and within 10 years it’s doubled.
I say no. Not buying for the heck of it.

While I absolutely love the Ecosport, let's not act like it was perfect. The XUV300 was even more strongly built, had more space, better refinement, and NVH levels, etc. But in sheer driving pleasure, Ecosport was unmatched. Pricing is a different topic.

[greyhound82]

Originally Posted by SoumenD

Woah!!! These sub4m crossovers are so close to that 20L mark now. Looks like there's been a tectonic shift to pricings. Compact crossovers(Seltos/Creta) are touching/crossing 25L on road while subCompact crossovers are breaching 18/19L mark(speaking only about top-end variants).

There comes our good old sedans, with 160 bhp at 17-18 lakhs. It seems price is directly proportional to ground clearance.
Be it City, Verna, Virtus or Salvia , they are all good value for money offerings

[samarthnarayan]

Originally Posted by RunGaDa

May be a full sized SUV is the right way. Like Ford Escape. When Toyota is testing 4Runner, there are Cretas and Seltos around, Ford tried to push Ecosport too long. And almost made it double priced compared to 2013 launch price.
I truly believe there’s 5 lakh increase with no value added to the price in the SUVs around.
I got it for 10.5 on road manual top model, diesel and can’t beat that price now. Still drives like new.

Since this is a Mahindra X3O launch thread I am going to try and make my point with a larger view, that covers the X3O pricing and VFM factor as well.

So here goes, I sincerely believe that the features on a car, are a bit like the facilities of a 5-star hotel when one is on a business trip.

Just hear me out on this .

Reason:
We don't use 90% of the facilities at the hotel on a business trip, but we pay for the option of having them, in case we ever need them. Also there is a large "image" and "prestige" associated with staying at a top hotel.

I believe in some strange ways, it is similar with a car, some people are willing to pay for having the feature option and for the prestige of ownership. And that is perfectly fine, as to each his own, but I prefer the VFM option for my purchases.

So coming to the X3O, the model variant that looked most VFM to me, was the M2X Petrol Automatic (10L ex)(say 11-12L on road) as an everyday urban commuting vehicle (something that this sub-compact SUV segment was meant for), but it doesn't have Rear view camera, Retractable ORVM, Start-Stop Button, Rear Wiper, Climate Control etc.

Now frankly, I consider all of the above features to be present in a 11-12L car today. These are needed for an urban commuter. And are actually present in 8-9L cars of Maruti, example Ignis.

In addition, I consider fancy features like sunroof, panoramic sunroof, ADAS, projector headlight, fancy tail-lights, 360 degree camera etc. all to be the 5-star hotel like features. So I am actually okay with passing on those for VFM.

To cover the Ford Ecosport angle, since I had a Titanium Plus Automatic variant, it had almost all the everyday features I needed, and if the same car was launched again, I'd buy it, with the desire of ventilated seats, rear AC vents, grab handle for elders, and front parking sensors be added to the feature list.

But The thing with the Ecosport was that it was not just about the price and the features, they were actually the icing and the cherry on the cake, the main thing was the driving pleasure and build quality. It actually brought a smile as an owner and I know I am not the only one.

Anyways, I think X3O has great potential, I would actually consider it once Mahindra folks reconfigure the features on the M2X variant to include the ones I mentioned above.

[volkman10]

The media drive pics, polarizing views!









Source: Mahindra

Here is how Mahindra's XUV 3XO stack up against rivals like the Maruti Fronx, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet and others on the price graph.