Lived with my Mahindra XUV300 for 20,000 km: Various ownership updates

The engine is still peppy, the car is still a good handler for its dimensions and in its segment, its ride is still a little firm (just how I like it).

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20,000-Kilometre Update

This was meant to be an update at 15,000 km. However, quite some driving together with the burdens of my profession means that I am now at about 20,000 km. I did take a picture of it ticking over to 15,000, but didn’t get one at 20,000. So here is 15,000 and where it is presently.

Here’s what I have to report.

Annoying Things

• The front parking sensors stopped working. They had been a little troublesome for a while, working whimsically whenever they felt like it. At one point, they stopped working altogether. The MID told me as much. Here’s a photo of that.

• At the third free service in June 2024, I raised this concern through Wheels Wisdom. Wheels Wisdom informed me that the left sensor did have some issues, and may therefore stop working at some point, but did not warrant replacement immediately. Since the service, the parking sensors have been mostly working fine, although I have, on occasion, seen the same error message on the MID. I don’t actually know what was done in the course of the service.

• There was some rattling in the middle of the dash; it seemed like it was coming from right behind the AC controls/ the touchscreen. It began very mildly but then became much more pronounced. At the third service, I raised this concern. It was found that the AC controller knob cable was touching the dashboard – a simple fix. This was fixed. There were no rattles for about a week after the service. However, now, the rattles are back. They aren’t too loud or intrusive, although I would like it if they weren’t present. But, just to avoid the burden of service procedure all over again, I’m not going to raise the issue, and will simply live with it.
• There’s an interesting problem I faced: Apple Carplay would shut down on some occasions when I used the volume control on the steering wheel. It didn’t happen every time, which means I did not identify the precise set of conditions in which the error would occur. But I do know that it happened when I had a podcast or something on YouTube with the phone connected to the ICE. It seemed to happen more often when I attempted to increase the volume than when I attempted to reduce it. On one occasion, when something like that was playing and I received a call and then increased the volume so I could hear the other person better, I got a message on the top of the touchscreen saying that modes could not be changed when a call was in progress, or something of that sort. This problem wasn’t clearly diagnosed at the third service. However, since then, thanks to a software update, I haven’t had this problem occur.

• On occasion, cruise control simply wouldn’t work. There would be no response from any of the controls on the steering. Upon turning off and restarting the car, things would return to normal. At the third service, this problem couldn’t be reproduced and was not diagnosed. I haven’t driven on the highways enough since the service. The symptom therefore hasn’t been observed since.

• The boot lid has always required a little more than a soft shut to close properly. This has been the case since the car was brand new. I haven’t really raised this issue with anybody.

• From when the car was new, one of the keys’ lock buttons would work, but wouldn’t click. So you’d have to press the button a little harder than normal, and wouldn’t know if it had actually been pressed without noting the response of the car. Interestingly enough, at the third service, Wheels Wisdom’s email tells me that the key fob’s cell was replaced and the problem was solved. My suspicion is that the problem was merely mechanical with something not quite sitting in place as it was expected to. I wasn’t charged for this part, and there is nothing said about this on India Garage’s invoice.

Nice Things

• A feature I noticed much after I began my use of the car is the light in the space in front of the gear lever where a wireless charging pad might have been. It turns on only when the headlights are on (irrespective of whether the headlights are on automatically or manually). I find that to be an extremely thoughtful design and just generally a cute feature. My phone, connected to the ICE system is usually placed there, and when I, at the end of a drive past sunset, look there to pick it up, the light is very helpful. In the picture below, you can see the light along with my dashcam cable.

• I already pointed out in an earlier post on this thread that I had some tar spray on the car when driving along the West Coast near Mangaluru. I chose to ignore it then because it was only on the front panel above the right wheel, and a little on the driver’s door. This panel was replaced thanks to the unfortunate accident I have already mentioned earlier on this thread. To my bad luck, thereafter, in December 2023, the car was almost completely clothed in tiny little dots of tar. Drove to Shivamogga on holiday and, on an impulse, decided to get that dealt with at a Detailing Mafia outlet there. A wash and a ceramic coating with 6 months warranty cost me ₹8,000. Here is the car with the tar and then gleaming in the freshness of its spa treatment.

• Another well-thought-out feature of this car (remember, this is a feature they brought out in 2019) is how the power supply to the car’s equipment behaves. When you unlock the car and open the driver’s door, the power windows can be operated for a while even once you shut all doors. I suspect that is about 1 minute. Thereafter, even if the power to the windows has turned off, if you open the door, the clock begins again and the power supply resumes. This also extends to being able to use the power windows for some time after turning off the car. This power supply also reaches things like the USB ports on the dashboard, which is something I’m a little concerned about, although the loss of charge can’t be too much.

New Thing

• Early in 2024, I installed a 70mai A500S 2.5K Front and Rear Dashcam. Here is a random YouTube video about it. I think there is enough said about dashcams on team-bhp’s dashcam thread, and I don’t wish to add too much here. Thus far, I have been satisfied with the experience, and I think the clarity is more than sufficient to meet all possible emergency requirements. This cost me Rs. 13,000 inclusive of installation. I purchased this and had it installed at EVO Custom Car Audio near Cambridge Layout in Bengaluru. I have, earlier, had a Pioneer touchscreen ICE installed on our old S-Cross at the same establishment. I find them to be competent, reasonable and easy to deal with. Here is a Maps link to them.

Desirable Thing

• The one accessory I wish to add now is window visors. I am somebody who tends to feel cool/ cold under normal circumstances, so I don’t always need the AC. I would like to drive with the windows a little open, and am hoping the visors will address the issue of wind noise.

A Nice Thing

In fine, this car is a nice thing to have. I have not noticed any variation in performance whatsoever. It is still a peppy engine, it is still a good handler for its dimensions and in its segment, its ride is still a little firm (just how I like it), and all of that. What is impressive is that but for the AC control knob cable issue, there has been no rattling. The rear parcel tray at the back left of the car has rattled since the car was new when it has no weight on it. But that is too small a flaw and easily condonable.

I am happy.

I’ll leave you with a couple of pictures of the car from May 2024, at Chandgad, on my return from Goa to Bengaluru.

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