Re: Mahindra XUV500 facelift coming, to get power hike. EDIT: Now launched @ Rs 12.32 lakhs Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmat I still stand by hate but the standards are still woefully short. |
I would do a more fair comparison of the XUV with it's nearest competitor which is Hexa, Storme and probably Innova. I won't include any other 5 seater priced similarly (Compass / Creta / etc.) simply because by reducing the length of the car, extra pair of seats, creature comforts for last row, etc. manufacturers have a lot more to play with the budget to indulge in ironing out the creases. For comparisons with Storme the XUV is ahead by a fair margin. With respect to Hexa and Innova it wins some and loses some. In my opinion wins more than loosing. Quote:
Originally Posted by ajmat Bingo!
All the contact points of the XUV sucked -
Steering - no reach - could not get comfortable
Seats - meant for thin midgets
Gearshift - The throw is so vast that the gearshift needs to be luminous at night in order to spot where it has gone
Brakes - improved but long travel
clutch - long travel
I was told the XUV auto would change my mind on some aspects |
Steering - Coming back to what I stated above, I would say, it's even worse in a Hexa as the steering is not reach adjustable on any variant and the steering default position in itself is not quite towards the driver. Laid back driving position will really need your arms stretched every time you make a turn or force you to sit upright for few moments. Couple that with significantly heavier steering vs the XUV and soon you will have you fair share of workout on the driver seat.
Innova's is the best vs the two both in terms of weight and reach. It's still on the heavier side but still precise. The one on Hexa is heavy and not precise either. XUV's is precise but lacks the weight needed for the car of it's size.
Seats - I would agree the quilting is not the best feel but the seats are firm enough for long drives and accommodating enough. My dad is almost 95 kgs and yet can find the fit of the seats good enough. The best in that respect is those of Endeavor but then its a segment above. Also though I'm not tall, I won't be categorized as a midget either and I'm also not a thin frame. I recently drove my 1st gen XUV from Bangalore to Mumbai and back with just one 3 hrs major pitstop at Belgaum on the route. With over 12 hours of drive in a day all 4 occupants in the car including me felt fresh as we got in. The new XUV seats are firmer but have an extra layering of foam (to accommodate quilting most probably) so the feel is slightly different vs the older generations. However I can say they will keep you happy for long drives. If you have already taken an extended drive, may be try again once more or if you haven't it's worth a shot.
Gearshift & Clutch - I would agree. I can see the exaggeration when you say you would need a luminous gear knob, but I understand the underlying point. In my opinion every large SUV / MPV / Crossover in this segment with large engines faces this issue. They all have long clutch travel and long throws. The cable based shifter in XUV makes the shifts a bit smoother for higher gears but they are very notchy for lower gears especially 1st & 2nd. It's a perennial problem they can't seem to solve for XUV. The Hexa is no different either. Shifts are notchy and rubbery both. Clutch travel is lesser in Hexa though. Innova has the most progressive clutch but still suffers from long travel and it significantly harder than both XUV & Hexa. That's my primary reason for looking for a replacement vehicle. XUV manual is no fun to drive in maddening Bangalore traffic. Though I drove the manual for a short distance, my primary test drive was for the AT variant only. Hexa also I was considering XTA variant only. I think AT is now mandatory for these burly crossovers / SUVs for city traffic.
Hence if you ask me the XUV is punching fine in its weight category. Anyone looking for a vehicle up to 23L OTR should find only a few comprises in the XUV. But neither the Hexa nor the XUV punch above their weights yet. When I see a Kodiaq I see it doing that. I see an Endeavor doing that but not these desi SUVs. Not yet. But then there are still enough takers for these even with their minor flaws due to their VFM quotient.
Last edited by SDP : 25th April 2018 at 01:00.
Reason: Minor typos and grammar
|