[TusharK]

Mahindra has reportedly pulled the plug on the KUV100 NXT after 5 years. That being said, the car is still listed on the official website.



The quirky crossover was introduced in 2017 and was available in four variants. Unlike any other car in its segment, the KUV100 NXT offered seating for 6 persons.

The dashboard-mounted gear lever allowed Mahindra to install a third seat in the front, which could be folded to form the centre console. It also offered features such as a 7-inch infotainment system, a height-adjustable driver seat, electric ORVMs and more.

The KUV100 NXT was powered by a 1.2-litre mFalcon petrol engine that produced 82 BHP and 115 Nm. It was paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Initially, Mahindra also offered with diesel engine option, which was discontinued in 2020.

Source: Cardekho

Link to Team-BHP News

[anjan_c2007]

So one ugly duckling from that era is likely to go into oblivion. Mahindra introduced a few (depending upon how one views these) erratic designs during this phase of time. The chopped off boot of the Logan to constitute what was called Verito, was also a design gaffe. Neither does the TUV 300 look very aesthetic for me. Maybe, many could differ with me here.

But despite its wanting design, the KUV 100 was tougher on our rickety roads as compared to others from its class. I have travelled on app based aggregator facilitated KUV 100's and had found the rides quite OK. The Mahindra DNA cannot be missed even in this baby Mahindra.

Only expect the car maker to introduce a decent looking KUV 100 replacement as there are none on the Mahindra portfolio in this class.

If their design studios including M&M owned Pininfarina go the Austin (Austin Motors, UK) way, the siblings can look like juniors and seniors with the same basic design. We had the late 1930's ( 1938-1948) Austin 8, 10, 12 and 16 with a similar basic design but with added dimensions viz. small to large. Austin's later models Devon and Somerset siblings with smaller to larger engines too shared the same basic design with similar small to large dimensions.

Hence when we have the decent looking XUV 700 and Scorpio N either of these designs can be replicated in a smaller size as a KUV 100 replacement.

[S A N Z]

I agree that the Mahindra KUV100 NXT had been facing sluggish sales for some time before its official discontinuation. However, the company only made the announcement of the discontinuation in March 2021.

I believe that Mahindra & Mahindra should focus on their superhit models such as the Scorpio, Thar, and XUV300, which have been well-received by consumers in India. These models have established themselves as reliable, powerful, and feature-rich vehicles that cater to different segments of the market.

As for the Bolero Neo, I think that Mahindra & Mahindra could certainly benefit from improving its features and performance to make it more competitive in the market. The company has already made some updates to the Bolero Neo, including a new grille and improved safety features, but there is certainly room for further enhancements.

However, it is worth noting that the Indian automotive market is highly competitive, with several major players vying for market share. Mahindra & Mahindra will need to continue innovating and improving their offerings to stay ahead of the competition and meet the evolving needs and preferences of Indian consumers.

[Shreyans_Jain]

I thought it got axed a while back. This was a car nobody had ever wanted. Good riddance to an absolute dud. Frees up resources at factory as well as at dealerships.

KUV100 ties with Quanto as the ugliest car ever made in India. Wonder what Mahindra designers were doing back then.

[JediKnight]

Many people may not be aware but the KUV 100 was actually an export success for Mahindra. It was actually doing quite well in parts of Africa and South America.

[ashutoshb]

We must give credit to Mahindra for starting a new segment, the micro SUV. Segment, which is ruled by the Tata Punch now.

Apart from the looks, it did appeal to me as a spacious, roomy car with high ground clearance.

If only the looks were better.

I always wondered, was it only the looks which made it a flop? Or was it something else too?

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

I always wondered, was it only the looks which made it a flop? Or was it something else too?

The odd ball looks were deterrent. If we keep that aside, the car still lacked a USP. Average engine performance with poor FE(petrol), not significantly cheaper than competition, the car barely came up in anyone's shopping shortlist. Even the cabbies never took a liking to it.

My ex-colleague bought a diesel one only because it was 1.5L cheaper than the Ecosport which he liked a lot and his family wanted a car with high seating. He did have a lot of buyer's remorse but tried to justify the savings he had and that his car was a 6-seater.


PS: in the previous apartment where I lived, there was a red KUV. It had a failed LHS headlight, RHS DRL and LHS rear tail light. It looked even odd at night

[Benoit]

They should have tried different design options, and called it a new gen. Better power trains could've also helped. The car had a lot potential. Just look at Punch sales, it's the biggest hit from Tata from last decade.