The Mahindra XUV300 has been around for a couple of years in the Indian market and has done well for itself. A nice set of diesel and petrol engines, a good feature set and the biggest feather in the cap for Mahindra has been the 5 star rating in the Global NCAP crash tests. While the diesel received an AMT gearbox a couple of years ago, petrol automatics are still very popular despite petrol prices soaring through the roof. So what we have here is the Mahindra XUV300 petrol AutoShift, which is a welcome addition to the model lineup. So how does it drive? Read on.
Mahindra XUV300 Petrol AutoShift Performance
The XUV300 petrol continues to be powered by a 1.2 litre three cylinder turbo petrol engine that develops 110 hp and 200 Nm of torque. The gearbox is a six speed automated manual transmission (AMT) developed by Mahindra with Magnetti Marelli. The gear selector feels nice hold and even shifting through the various positions is easy. What is also nice is that you can shift between automatic and manual modes by just one tap to the left. Slot the lever into D and the XUV300 starts creeping forward but rather quickly. This could get a little tricky especially when tackling tight parking spots. The creep function also automatically gets disengaged if there is a door open. This is a nice safety feature. Once you get a move on, the gearbox feels best when driven with a light foot and this works well in city driving. Get aggressive and you will experience that infamous head nod that AMT gearboxes are known for. However the shifts feel smoother at cruising speeds and the punchy nature of the turbo petrol makes the driving experience better. This becomes noticeable when you are say cruising at say 60 kph and want to overtake, a downshift isnt needed. There is enough power on tap to complete the overtake in the same gear without any jerkiness.
Where the XUV300 petrol AutoShift impresses more is on the highway. You forget that the car is equipped with an AMT gearbox. The shifts are smooth and the performance from the motor along with the high speed stability make it a joy to drive. Though ride is on the firmer side, it is still adequately compliant and well sorted. The car goes over bumps easily and doesn’t get unsettled by road undulations. The XUV300 feels planted when going into corners and while body roll is present, it is still confidence inspiring and grip levels are good. There are three steering modes on offer: Normal, Comfort and Sport. All round disc brakes give is excellent stopping power.
