[ramnaresh_2000]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

And then how will Mahindra price it so that they can still sell the Scorpio & XUV500 at the premium price over the TUV300? Business plays a part in the product load up too. Its not a "looker" by any means. I like it - let me clarify that. But then look at what masses are buying & which cars are selling in thousands. People are paying for the looks & looks only. So people won't pay a higher price for TUV300 no matter how much safety you add in it.


I'm afraid thats asking for too much. Its based on the Scorpio platform that had quite a disappointing performance in the NCAP tests. Also - look at the A-Pillar & roof line design & their angle of meet-up. I'd be surprised if this car doesn't come back with a "body structure unstable" comment from an NCAP test - if tested.

Well Mahindra will price it the same way they priced XUV 300 W8(O) model. The XUV 300 W8(O) already has all the features I listed out apart from rear A/C. Now TUV being a bigger vehicle than XUV 300, rear A/C is a must. They can bring in a new variant T11 maybe? It will appeal to urban commuters as most of then are also looking for safer vehicle and moved over from "Kitna deti hein" (How much does it give?) Thanks to 5* rating for Nexon and how Tata is using this rating in all Nexon adverts.

There is no comparison between TUV & XUV 500 or Scorpio in that matter. Scorpio and XUV 500 are more butch and more powerful vehicles. Anyone looking for TUV will not look for XUV 500 or Scorpio in that matter.

Yes I agree Scorpio has received 0* rating in NCAP and TUV is based on Scorpio platform, but the comparison ends there. TUV uses more high tensile steel than Scorpio. Mahindra claims the TUV300 is equipped to get the highest rating in the Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP). The SUV uses a high-strength steel body shell, crumple zones, hydro-formed crush tips, along with side intrusion beams.

[sathyasuri]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

...the front & rear tracks appear to be quite narrow - especially in relation to its very tall height overall. That, coupled with its very high center of gravity (since the seats are also very high set) would actually make it very unstable & roll-hungry in an actual 4x4 off road scenario.

Again - its based on a Scorpio platform which doesn't perform too well off road in its 4WD variant in its stock form without modifications. There are countless videos on YouTube by our fellow bhpians where it is evident. So interesting as it is - I don't think the TUV300 would be a really capable 4WD vehicle OTR. Quite far away from Thar for sure.

Hi, I think the TUV's track width to vehicle height ratio is quite better then many body on ladder vehicles that have a 4x4 variant. Perhaps its front heavy design might make it appear to be otherwise. So I think TUV would be only as bad if not worse than any other body on ladder 4x4 south of 30L OTR when it comes to stability or roll-over mitigation is concerned. This I think is quite good for a vehicle at this price point.


Speaking of the platform, I learnt from a reliable source that the next Thar is based on the same platform as TUV, I guess that speaks for the capability of the platform as such. Having said that, I would not dare to compare TUV with Thar when it comes to proper off-roading like RFC. But if it is to do the weekday duty of driving in the city with family and friends and do a weekend duty like Mahindra Great Escape or shallow fording in a river bed trail I am sure a TUV 4x4 would be more than adequate. I don't have the numbers but from my observation this is pretty much most 4x4 owners dare to to do with their vehicles.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by Reinhard

While the approach and departure angles are really awesome and first thing that comes to mind is off-roading with it, the front & rear tracks appear to be quite narrow - especially in relation to its very tall height overall. That, coupled with its very high center of gravity (since the seats are also very high set) would actually make it very unstable & roll-hungry in an actual 4x4 off road scenario.

That was a good, thought provoking input you had provided here. I recall my offroading experience amongst 4x4 vehicles in March this year; mine was the only 2WD vehicle there. My TUV went to most of the places that the 4x4s went, except the most obvious ones.

Speaking of its high CoG and roll-worthiness, here are a couple of screenshots from my outing:

The above pic shows the beginning of my heart in mouth moment when they routed us via the slanted banks of a pond. Watching an Endeavour 4x4 make its way without rolling over, I followed suit afterwards...

This was the sight that I beheld. It's a pity that I don't have a cam showing the front occupants of my car; once I began this descent at a slanted angle, I literally held on to the door by grabbing it since my windows were rolled down. I sincerely thought it would roll over and into the pond.

But the humble 2WD TUV pulled through this and many other obstacles cleanly.
The rollover approach by the pond killed whatever curiosity I had for offroading though! Never again!

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by locusjag

When i owned a Swift in Chennai between 2011-13, I often found my extended family cramming into it en masse.
I knew I needed an overloadable people mover which could still fit into the city's confines and handle our poor roads.

At 4AM today, I ferried 8 grown-ups (including myself) to the Airport - a short run of 3Km - with the rooftop luggage carrier fully loaded with check-in sized baggages. The vehicle didn't feel strained or sluggish even on slopes. Its handling wasn't any different, except for its added momentum when coasting.

Where my extended family is concerned, with the TUV 300, it's full paisa vasool most of the time I am so glad I didn't go for a Honda Jazz back in 2018!

[CAPTAIN REX]

Originally Posted by locusjag

I recall my offroading experience amongst 4x4 vehicles in March this year; mine was the only 2WD vehicle there. My TUV went to most of the places that the 4x4s went, except the most obvious ones.

I did this same stretch with my TUV that had a MLD on, and it performed real well. The places where you got stuck was taken without any hassles, thanx to the MLD.

The above pic shows the beginning of my heart in mouth moment when they routed us via the slanted banks of a pond. Watching an Endeavour 4x4 make its way without rolling over, I followed suit afterwards
I sincerely thought it would roll over and into the pond.
But the humble 2WD TUV pulled through this and many other obstacles cleanly.

The first time is always scary. And even the second one might be, but then after that you get to know really what your vehicle is capable to do, and in the capable guidance of the Terra Tigers, I dont think they would have put you through into something that the vehicle could not handle.

The rollover approach by the pond killed whatever curiosity I had for offroading though! Never again!

One more time at the Farm, and you will get over this.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by CAPTAIN REX

The first time is always scary. And even the second one might be, but then after that you get to know really what your vehicle is capable to do, and in the capable guidance of the Terra Tigers, I dont think they would have put you through into something that the vehicle could not handle.
One more time at the Farm, and you will get over this.

Actually, there was one time before we went to play rollover at the pond. They tried to keep me engaged whilst the 4x4 players were busy in the tough parts. I had gone up a small mound and was supposed to hang a right:

It was somewhat steep going down at a sharp 90 degrees to the right. As the vehicle began picking momentum whilst listing to the right, my foot couldn't find the brake pedal. Instead I'd gone for the clutch pedal!


Even if I want to come to The Farm again, let's not assume they'll let me in. I almost did runover an organizer didn't I?

And in any case, I'm still genuinely confused as to whether I'm a SUV guy or a people moving MUV guy at heart. Moving my family around and showing them places really matters to me, as does being able to handle Indian road conditions...

OT: Here's a rear-ended TUV 300 that I saw early yesterday. It must have been a Force Traveler or a decent-sized heavy vehicle that did this to it:


I would say that this TUV has borne the impact well...but I don't know if it bodes well for its occupants in any of the rows; energy absorption, dissipation, crumple zones...not my area at all!

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by locusjag

I would say that this TUV has borne the impact well...!

Maybe he backed into a wall or projection, impact seems centered around the spare wheel.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by diyguy

Maybe he backed into a wall or projection, impact seems centered around the spare wheel.

It's upon seeing the high impact point on the spare wheel that a high set vehicle like the Force Traveler came to mind. Somehow, I can only imagine being rear ended and am hard pressed to think one would back into something with so much force! It's a solid rear hatch as we know well.

[diyguy]

Originally Posted by locusjag

It's upon seeing the high impact point on the spare wheel that a high set vehicle like the Force Traveler came to mind

okay, could be a bus too I suppose. However I imagine the rear windshield should have shattered due to indirect forces if this was a moving vehicle impact, not sure.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by diyguy

okay, could be a bus too I suppose. However I imagine the rear windshield should have shattered due to indirect forces if this was a moving vehicle impact, not sure.

I assumed that this person got the rear windshield alone replaced and didn't want to get the hatch repaired or replaced.

[shreedharan]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Actually, there was one time before we went to play rollover at the pond. They tried to keep me engaged whilst the 4x4 players were busy in the tough parts. I had gone up a small mound and was supposed to hang a right:
Attachment 1903920
It was somewhat steep going down at a sharp 90 degrees to the right. As the vehicle began picking momentum whilst listing to the right, my foot couldn't find the brake pedal. Instead I'd gone for the clutch pedal!
Attachment 1903919

Even if I want to come to The Farm again, let's not assume they'll let me in. I almost did runover an organizer didn't I?

And in any case, I'm still genuinely confused as to whether I'm a SUV guy or a people moving MUV guy at heart. Moving my family around and showing them places really matters to me, as does being able to handle Indian road conditions...

OT: Here's a rear-ended TUV 300 that I saw early yesterday. It must have been a Force Traveler or a decent-sized heavy vehicle that did this to it:
Attachment 1903921
Attachment 1903922
I would say that this TUV has borne the impact well...but I don't know if it bodes well for its occupants in any of the rows; energy absorption, dissipation, crumple zones...not my area at all!

On crumple zones & impact bearing capacity, ask me. I've had two hits on the sides over two years of ownership.

First one within few months of ownership. By a TNSTC bus. Which madly changed lanes while I was on the right. Hit my entire rear left doors & rear bumper. We were traveling at around 60-70Kmph near Dharmapuri. The vehicle was sturdy & didn't wobble or spin. Was in absolute control until it came to a stop.

Second one last week. A mad speeding bike came & hit perpendicular while I was making a move at Madiwala (Bengaluru). The impact had nothing more than a dent. (Yet to get it rectified.) The impact bearing capability of TUV is something one can vouch for. Trust me on that.

A word from Mahindra body shop is that, this vehicle has more capacity to bear the brunt than even an XUV - on the sides. The skin of TUV is itself hardened steel which couples with the crumple points / bars.

TUV is much safer vehicle.

[shreedharan]

Last week, we had a trip to Chennai. Came back loaded with 5 people & luggage. I had a very different feel driving while coming back. There was literally no body roll as it used to be earlier. But there were slight "slip-away" feeling while changing lanes.

Has anyone experienced this in a loaded TUV?

Btw, mine is TUV T10 (M) October 2017 model.

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by shreedharan

On crumple zones & impact bearing capacity, ask me. I've had two hits on the sides over two years of ownership.
..........
A word from Mahindra body shop is that, this vehicle has more capacity to bear the brunt than even an XUV - on the sides. The skin of TUV is itself hardened steel which couples with the crumple points / bars.

TUV is much safer vehicle.

Thanks for sharing your experiences! The Mahindra mechanics/engineers have so far compared the TUV with the XUV 500 and said to me that where the XUV 500 would fall apart upon rough use, the TUV 300 would only suffer from loose bolts. Only the TUV and the Scorpio are built by Mahindra for getting abused is what they told me. Good to know of the shell's toughness as well.

Originally Posted by shreedharan

Last week, we had a trip to Chennai. Came back loaded with 5 people & luggage. I had a very different feel driving while coming back. There was literally no body roll as it used to be earlier. But there were slight "slip-away" feeling while changing lanes.

Has anyone experienced this in a loaded TUV?

Btw, mine is TUV T10 (M) October 2017 model.

Others here and myself have felt too that with a full load, the suspension sorts itself out. It doesn't feel jumpy and kind of settles down. But I cannot relate to what you've described when changing lanes.

[shreedharan]

Originally Posted by locusjag

Thanks for sharing your experiences! The Mahindra mechanics/engineers have so far compared the TUV with the XUV 500 and said to me that where the XUV 500 would fall apart upon rough use, the TUV 300 would only suffer from loose bolts. Only the TUV and the Scorpio are built by Mahindra for getting abused is what they told me. Good to know of the shell's toughness as well.

Glad you had heard similar things from Mahindra.

Originally Posted by locusjag

Others here and myself have felt too that with a full load, the suspension sorts itself out. It doesn't feel jumpy and kind of settles down. But I cannot relate to what you've described when changing lanes.

What you told about suspension is 100% true. I did feel it. Agree with you there. And, yes, it is actually not noticeable until you reach 90-100kmph. Do pay attention & am sure, you will feel it too. If you don't feel it, I may have to explore if it is due to MLD replacement that Mahindra did it for me due to wheel spinning issue. What you think? Could it be an issue? Thoughts pleasre?

[locusjag]

Originally Posted by shreedharan

What you told about suspension is 100% true. I did feel it. Agree with you there. And, yes, it is actually not noticeable until you reach 90-100kmph. Do pay attention & am sure, you will feel it too. If you don't feel it, I may have to explore if it is due to MLD replacement that Mahindra did it for me due to wheel spinning issue. What you think? Could it be an issue? Thoughts pleasre?

I suspect it is an issue in yours. I'd done 1800 Km in December 2018 with 7 adults and rooftop luggage and what I remember is that the TUV felt stable even while changing lanes. There was no unexpected behavior at 90 Kmph in a straight line or when changing lanes.