Mahindra XUV300 AMT will help the brand to expand the compact SUV’s range further and firmly take on Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Tata Nexon
Mahindra & Mahindra launched the long-awaited XUV300 in the Indian market with a starting price of Rs. 7.90 lakh (ex-showroom) on February 14. It is the latest attempt by Mahindra at the ever-growing sub-4m SUV space as previous vehicles including the TUV300 have largely been underwhelming in gathering sales numbers.
The XUV300 is loaded with features right from the base variant and thus it commands a noticeably higher entry-level price tag than some of its rivals like Tata Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. In just around a month and a half, Mahindra sold more than 9,200 units of the XUV300 as it continuously outsold Ford EcoSport and Honda WR-V.
To sustain the momentum, Mahindra will launch the AMT version of the XUV300 soon. Spy shots of the automatic XUV300 have already appeared on the internet as the largest passenger UV maker in the country looks set to expand the five-seater SUV’s range further. We expect the Marazzo MPV to receive AMT following the XUV300.
Currently, the XUV300 derives power from 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 110 PS and 200 Nm while the 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel unit develops 115 PS and 300 Nm and it can also be found in the Marazzo. Both are connected to a six-speed manual transmission as a six-speed AMT is awaited to arrive soon.
The AMT will likely be introduced in the XUV300 diesel version initially and it will help the monocoque SUV to firmly compete against Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Tata Nexon – both offer diesel-automatic combination. When Mahindra upgrades the powertrain to meet BSVI standards, the AMT could be replaced by AISIN-sourced torque converter automatic unit.
Expect the prices of the AMT versions to be slightly higher than their manual counterpart. It is yet unknown whether Mahindra will offer the AMT on the petrol engine or not. The X100 platform based XUV300 is sold with several first-in-segment features like dual-zone automatic climate control system, seven airbags, disc brakes on all four wheels, heated wing mirrors, front parking sensors, etc.