The S201 compact SUV from Mahindra is based on SsangYong Tivoli and it will be the second model in the company’s lineup to come with monocoque chassis
Mahindra is one of the first manufacturers to enter the compact SUV segment in India and they have three models in this segment when compared to segment leaders volume of these products are too low. So the company decided to shift its focus from these models to full-size SUV and MPV’s as they are growing at a good rate.
The S201 compact SUV from Mahindra is in the pipeline for some time now and they have decided to go ahead with this project as it might bring good volumes. The upcoming model has been spotted on road ‘n’ number of times and one of the readers of IAB has spotted the test mule once again with thick camouflage.
The compact SUV is going to be based on SsangYong Tivoli and it will be the second model in the company’s lineup to come with monocoque chassis as the other one is XUV 500. To get excise duty benefits, the engineers have reduced the length of compact SUV to be under 4 metres, but the interior space is expected to be par among with competitors.
The exterior design of S201 is completely different from Tivoli as it gets new grille, headlamps and bumper. The rear comes with LED tail lamps and an integrated spoiler. But the disappointed part is the interior as earlier spy shots revealed that design is similar to Tivoli and it feels dated when compared to the modern design of Nexon and Vitara Brezza.
Mahindra will pack the compact SUV with lots of features like touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will be introduced later, dual zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, reverse camera with parking sensors, sunroof and more.
The S201 comes with safety features like 7 airbags (dual airbags standard), ABS with EBD, speed alert system, speed sensing door lock, seatbelt reminder and more. The compact SUV will be powered by a new 1.5 L diesel engine from Marazzo with 123 PS and 300 Nm. The petrol engine and AMT gearbox might be introduced later.
Mahindra will officially launch S201 by the end of this financial year.