In my review, I will tell you everything that I read, felt, co-related what I read_to_what_I_felt and much more. If you want to know lot more, read my complete review - as I have lots of details to share - as a user of this vehicle.
This is the best product from MNM that has impressed me and most Indians(I think as this has had the biggest booking spree going on - and they are going to take the 2nd booking slot with lucky draws of 7200 orders only throughout India). This means that the demand is extremely high - now.
Now, I testdrove this vehicle yesterday from the Chennai based dealer in Mt Road before which I was letching at the vehicles beauty from Inside and out. Since it was the showroom, I went around and saw the new Scorpio, Xylo and then this beautiful beast - standing in red color.
Inside / Out:
As I got into the vehicle, it had a very impressive cockpit look with lots of things that the driver and the passenger can meddle with and operate - PLUS they all were placed at reachable distance. The view was very good from the driver’s seat and the middle seat was spacious even when the front seats were pushed to the max position. I am a six footer and it was absolutely comfy in the front and middle seats. Then I knew that the rear seats were not big enough to fit me comfortably but still I wanted to know if I would fit and and I did. I had to bend my legs but still I could sit down. And the rear most seats impressed with with a rear AC blower which had its own air-flow level controller plus it had a 12v socket to plugin your electronic items.
The middle seats too had the 12v socket PLUS AC blowers but the air-flow is controlled by the front panel(driver/front-passenger).
The Ride:
Tested the vehicle which did good for the 140bhp mHawk engine but I felt that the engine was a little sluggish in its lower gears(maybe I thought that that 2000rpm had not reached that’s why) but still the time to get to 2000 rpm was rather slower than I thought it would. But I felt it quite powerful in its 3rd gear onwards.(Most reviews would say this)
The Steering - Pro & Cons:
Pro - The steering is so smooth PLUS its got a monocoque body design that the manoeuvrability was like a car(not a tough SUV). This means that most ladies and new car drivers can handle this vehicle pretty easily too. Personally, I expected it to be more rougher - which gives a tough feel, but for city drives, this is better always.
Con - The smooth steering which I said as the Pro is also the CON. At a speed of 80kmph and more, usually the powersteering(generally at 60kmph+) should cut-off to become manual like(meaning should lose the lightness and be more heavier to steer) for better control. But this steering was very light and I found it a little unsafe.
The BIGGEST DISLIKE I HAD -
I could feel the steering column and bolts in it hit my left toe / shoes(when it was on the clutch) and when I was making turns AND this happened multiple times. THIS IS BADDDDD. My Chevy Spark has the same problem, but rarely I get in contact but this one was more frequent in that 20min drive.
Loaded Features - Navigation and Reverse -(Infotainment unit)
Top end model comes with a nice 6" touch screen GPS(which has DVD supported movie playing) and the same unit displays the parking sensors distances/indications during reversing. Plus the same unit can pair upto 5 bluetooth devices. And the same device supports voice activated commands for GPS to FM/CD changer etc. PLUS most of these can also be controlled via your steering wheel except(GPS etc which needs to be operated via your voice or touch)
The infotainment screen also shows the DIS Plus tyre pressure on all 4 wheels PLUS your spare wheel(I thought, sensor for this too? man - wow)
Electrically foldable mirrors via switch and also when you lock your vehicle(after you get out). - WOW.
Plastics & some Interior - (NEGATIVE)
The plastics of the AC Vents looked bad. The plastics inside the vehicle was not great. The walnut finish dash was an attempt - not that great. White and Black color models get a beige dual tone interior and the other colors get a black+purple dual tone. All these colors did not look rich or classy but rather middle_class. They did not look cheap but did not look rich. Infact, these were leather finish - which I saw in the top end model.
Ride Comfort - Theory Vs Practical
From the drivers seat, the feel of the ride was a little bumpy. However, my wife who sat in the middle seats found that the ride was quite bumpy. I read in many other user reviews who talked about the bumpy ride of the vehicle.
(Theoritically) - The sales man however said that MNM has used a sporty suspension - a suspension system of McPherson struts up front and the independent multi-link suspension in the rear AND is one of the best in class. The theory is verified to be true though.
Noise, Vibration - Very less
Did not feel any vibration and had very low noise level. So MNM has done a good job this way.
The Clutch - Hmmm
I also own a diesel dZire and its the best smooth clutch I have ever used and the worst I have used is the Mahindra Logan clutch for its hardness. This one had a hard clutch. This is not good for your knees on the long run. And I guess, from the Logan experience, the clutch would get harder for the XUV too in the long run. So if you do have knee problems, go for the automatic one, else its fine. You may have to do clutch bleeding quite often to keep the smoothness of the clutch.
Other Nice ones
1) Concealed lounge lights - Inside the car, it has a series of dim light which is illuminated under the door handles, floor ceils, front driver ceiling, etc which is a beauty.
2) Lumbar Support - I did not test them - oops
3) micro Hybrid technology - automatically switches off the engine after 2.5 Sec, if the vehicle stops in signals etc and starts automatically when a clutch is engaged. cool_feature.
4) Telescopic Steering
5) Climatic control AC
6) Dual glove compartments
7) Front row hand rest with compartments and cooler Flasks
Untested features - could not test.
1) Cruise Control - Works only after 100kmph speed
2) Descent Control - Works only in a hill climb
3) ESP - Electronic Stability Program - if you want to know abt this, read this from google / MNMs website.
4) Top Speed Claimed
5) Mileage Claimed
6) Services promised
7) AWD - AllWheelDrive - MNM is yet to produce these models and is not available anywhere now
8) Automatic headlamps and wipers
Overall Verdict:
An SUV that’s got everything you need and more(except a 4WD) & the clutch_feet touching the steering_rod problem.
So, if you cant resist your temptation, just go for it.
If you can wait, wait for MNM to rectify the issue and may be others (for ex, in some reviews I read it has some axle problems) before you spend (Chennai-onRoad) 13.5 to 15.1 lakhs on this beast.