Mahindra XUV 500 --First impressions I went to the Mahindra showroom at Chowpatty- Mumbai a few days back. The XUV 500 was really worth a look ( I thought so anyway) but I have to say from what I did see I turned away a bit disappointed.
Basically I just went through the interior quality cause there was a huge line for Test drives.....and Really wasn't that interested in one cause we know the engine and how refined it is in the scorpio and knowing Mahindra engineers it can only get better.
The same sadly cannot be said for the interior quality.
Interior:
Where do I start...the graining of the plastics is much better but the actual quality is quite franly shocking for the price this car commands ..and I am given to understand that the current price is only an introductory and they will raise the price which will bring it to Aria territory.
Areas of suspect for rattling in the very near future:
1. The Glove box ( the way it shuts and it's plastic quality is very reminiscent of the GRANDE
2.The plastic door sill
3. The boot plastic lining
3. The lid on toop of the centre console( and the release button does not feel like it will lasgt a week...looks like it was bought for 20 bucks from lamington road which is quite near the showroom heheh)
Apart from this the plastic bits in the exterior aren't so good either.
1. The plastic cladding on the D pillar just behind the lights
2. The roof rail cover flexes under the slightest touch like you wouldn't believe
Back to the interior:
I admint having owned a TATA 206 ,then an Estate and and now a Safari we have been a bit spoilt for interior space and comfort but still.. the middle row seats in the XUV 500 are really quite small and offer almost no under thigh support ,,Ok I admit that I AM 6FT 3" TALL BUT THIS IS AN suv WHICH SHOULD BE SPACIOUS . The front seats are slightly better but not much ,,,never really bothered about the rear seats in any car so lets leave them out.
Apart from these points,,when I opened the bonnet,the first thing I noticed is that the smart engine cover wuill hinder the battery removal,
also with the bonnet closed i just pressed on the lid and boy oh boy the lid showed a lot of play which will again lead to rattling quite soon......
A point I want to just mention here is that the Front while looks stunning in design concept has one thing I feel is a bit of a let down and this is just a personal issue,,,,If you notice that there is a black grill like thingy below the lights around the sharp angular design on the bumper and this looks good from afar but step closer and you notice it is not a grill really and is a plastic plate with a grill like design on it ,,,bit of a let down..
My conclusions:
A brilliant shock product,, good features ( like the hill hold and descent control),nice looks,,but and this I fell is a big but the quality is just not upto the standards the Indian customer now demands and it is not a cheap car ,,and in the near future will get even more expensive when they get rid of the introductory pricing. The Aria is another case in example...here I feel that the plastics ( leaving a few odds and ends ) is quite upto to standards demaded and it is just the TATA badge ( no one wants to pay that much for a TATA badge..fair enough) but the XUV on the basis of it's quality cannot compete at that level....
That said I hope the XUV 500 does well ...and I have a nagging feeling it will cause Mahindra while on a roll with good products have been lucky ,,,the Scorpio is a good product but not so good that it should over shadows the Safari in terms of sale.... still credit due they make a car that the customer approves of.. |