Safe as houses
The Mahindra XUV300 is nippy and affordable, but these features don’t come at the expense of safety, says Cyril Klopper.
Like the Isuzu D-Max on the previous pages, the Mahindra XUV300 was also launched in 2019. But, unlike that bakkie, the XUV300 has been in SA for some time now. What is new about the XUV300, however, is that it’s just been named “safest vehicle in Africa”.
It’s a bold claim – good luck trying to convince my neighbour that a Mahindra XUV300 is safer than his Volvo XC90. The title was awarded by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP), which focuses specifically on vehicles sold in developing countries. (You may recall that’s the same organisation which awarded zero stars to the Nissan Hardbody, calling it the “least safe vehicle in Africa”.)
How safe?
Global NCAP subjected the Mahindra XUV300 to several side and head-on collisions during testing.
The result was a score of 16,42 out of 17 points for the protection of adults. This result was enough to award it five stars. The organisation then awarded the XUV four stars for child protection and described it “good” or “adequate” in all areas of passenger protection, cabin intrusion, and cabin deformation.
The entire XUV300 Series, regardless of trim level, is equipped with at least two airbags, electronic stability control (ESP), anti-lock brakes (ABS) with emergency braking power distribution (EBD), and disc brakes on all four wheels. All models also have certified ISOFIX anchor points for baby seats, which probably helped the Mahindra get such a high rating for child and passenger protection.
Each XUV300 is additionally equipped with automatic door locks when you reach a certain speed (our test vehicle’s locks closed at around 55 km/h), and according to Mahindra South Africa, the locks automatically open in a collision, so emergency workers can reach you faster and more easily.
The steering column also folds away as the impact sensors detect you’ve been involved in a collision, and just like more expensive luxury vehicles, the seat belts automatically tighten around your body.
We tested the W6 petrol model, but if you choose the higher appointed W8, you get even greater peace of mind with airbags for your knees and curtain airbags next to your head – a total of seven airbags – plus more electronic aids to keep the wheels on the road.
How does it drive?
We’re often stunned by the small-capacity engines that are so popular these days. This 1,2 ℓ turbocharged petrol engine (three cylinders) pulls harder than the 2 ℓ four-cylinder engines dating back just a few years. The XUV300 feels agile through the turns of mountain passes – we let loose on Sir Lowrys Pass in the
Cape, and the vehicle clung to the road like bubblegum to pavement.
It’s also available in a 1,9 ℓ turbodiesel that produces slightly more power and torque than the petrol engine (85,8 kW and 300 Nm respectively). The petrol and diesel models both get a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive.
“With the refreshed XUV300, we can now rightly claim to be offering one of the most comprehensive vehicle packages in the compact SUV segment. Not only is the XUV300 a dynamic and rewarding drive, but it offers a level of comfort and luxury not common in this segment and, of course, it is South
Africa’s safest vehicle,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
Conclusion
We absolutely love that affordable cars like this take your well-being into consideration. Mahindra focuses mainly on young people who can afford to spend around R3 000 a month on an instalment.
The XUV300 is playful and the cabin large enough for four friends to ride comfortably. Five people will fit, in a pinch, but the 1,2 ℓ engine might struggle a bit to cart around that many people and their luggage.