Quick drive: Mahindra TUV300 T8

Quick drive: Mahindra TUV300 T8

Lots of features and avery attractive AMT price

Mahindra launched the TUV300 “tough utility vehicle” bang on schedule in the middle of September, very nicely setting themselves up for the holiday buying season. And in typical Mahindra fashion, the value proposition was very attractive. The TUV is based on the Scorpio, but is shorter, while still retaining 7-seater capability

There’s a shared platform involved, but other than that, the TUV300 is almost all-new. Mahindra does have another similarly-sized vehicle in the Quanto, but the stubby TUV looks decidedly better designed. It’s under four metres in length and runs a 1.5-litre motor, which allows some tax breaks for Mahindra, reflected in the very competitive pricing. The Mahindra TUV300 is available in seven variants, including an automatic, ranging between Rs 6,90,000 and Rs 9,12,000, ex-showroom, Pune.

The TUV300 is a smart packaging exercise wrapped in very decent looking bodywork. Mahindra is at pains to describe how they were inspired by the aggressive stance of a battle tank, how tough and masculine the TUV is. All the things a Quanto isn’t, if you were wondering. The lessons learned in the new Scorpio are carried over with a squared-off, but pleasing design and a comfortable, functional interior with few idiosyncrasies. In fact, we’d peg the ergonomics of the TUV300 a notch above those of the elder Scorpio. The entertainment system, for instance, isn’t a touchscreen unit, nor is it full-colour, but it’s well specified, connecting to Bluetooth devices as well as iPods crisply and you don’t need to bend awkwardly to read it. There are two 12V sockets available as are USB and Aux ports. The speakers are adequate and do well in the surprisingly quiet cabin, and you can manipulate music tracks and volume from the steering wheel.

Mahindra have played it safe with the interior, using muted beige, black and brown. The choice of colours as well as the generous greenhouse provide a sense of airiness to the cabin. Space is no problem for average-sized drivers and passengers, and legroom is also comfortable. The more portly will probably fold the chintzy armrests back, but this underweight reviewer had no problem with them. The front two seats would have been close to perfect had Mahindra kept the armrests on either side at the same level. As it stands, your elbows will be relaxing lopsided.

Unlike some other vehicles that insist on including seats where there really isn’t any room, the TUV300’s jump seats at the back can actually be used. Headroom is at a premium, but one 5’7” and one 5’9” rider were able to accommodate themselves without getting inadvertently intimate. With the jump seats folded up, there’s a generous amount of cargo room, aided by the folding rear seat. Our editor was able to transport long bamboos to construct a shed on his fabulous terrace, getting in and out of crowded market areas with ease.

Possibly the most impressive thing about the TUV is just how quiet it can be when you keep it in the sweet spot. Quiet conversations are possible.

The TUV’s three-cylinder 1493cc engine develops 84bhp and, what Mahindra claims is a class-leading 230Nm of torque. While the engine is limited in how fast it can turn over smoothly, the generous and available torque drives this small SUV smoothly and quietly, when driven with a light foot. 1500–2250rpm is the published sweet spot, which is very apparent on the go. In this range, the engine is quiet and responsive, and turbo lag is barely noticeable. Approaching 3000rpm, the engine gets noisier and beyond 3500, you stop impressing anyone. Mahindra calls this new engine the mHawk80, and there does appear to be a family resemblance in the way it responds. The TUV300 is not an ideal mile-muncher, but it’s certainly up to the task.

Clutch action was described as hard by more than one driver we sampled the SUV with, while this author had no such concerns. The steering could be a little bit lighter for the sort of vehicle this is, but we appreciate some weight against an entirely robotic electronic steering action. The front discs and drums at the rear are adequate, with enough bite on our test vehicle. Mahindra appears to be handing out test vehicles with different tyres. Our test vehicle came with CEAT Czar tyres, while some other testers received different tyres. Anecdotal evidence is that this does impact ride quality slightly. Our initial reaction to the ride was that it was too bumpy, but it was sorted by correcting the tyre pressure to 32psi.

The suspension setup on the TUV300 feels sturdy, and you can drive without picking your lines to save your spine. Sharp bumps are absorbed adequately and ride comfort was satisfactory. Being a body-on-frame design, there is more body roll and pitch than a monocoque like, say, the Creta, and the relatively heavy gross weight of the SUV (2225kg) gives you pause when you want to pitch it aggressively around a corner. This battle tank is best left for urban assaults.

Sitting between seven and nine lac rupees, the TUV300 is a compelling prospect. Throw in an attractively priced automated manual transmission option, and you have another USP. Data from other manufacturers suggests that buyers are enthusiastically adopting automated manuals, so this may be a key factor for Mahindra. Neat touches like cornering headlamps on top variants, and ABS, airbags on most trims are also value-additions that are hard to ignore at this price point.

Mahindra is going to pull a lot of curious customers from other segments with the TUV300. There’s enough here to think about whether you’re buying a sedan or even small MPVs like the Mobilio and Ertiga.

3.5/5

Originally published at thrillofdriving.com on October 3, 2015.