In a very competitive, low-budget vehicle market with new models coming from all corners of the globe, Mahindra takes a stand with its quirky crossover, the XUV 3XO. Does it, however, deserve to leave a mark in this segment?
Taking over from the XUV300, the XUV 3XO features more than just a facelift. Mahindra gives it a drastic update in terms of design and handling, with the competitive price tag being the only aspect kept intact from the old shape.
I never got acquainted with the previous version of the XUV, thus, a before-and-after comparison is tricky. Yet since Mahindra is positioning the XUV 3XO as a new car rather than an upgrade of the XUV300 this will likely do justice to this review.
Exterior
With Mahindra going all-in on tech, the XUV 3XO also needs to look the part. Its masculine front end is adorned with a new 3D fascia that blends seamlessly with the bumper. This makes it look like a single unit rather than separate components clumped together by screws.
The rear carries a similar effect, with a light bar reminiscent of ‘yester-year’ designs—and also something making a strong comeback across various brands. Mahindra calls it the infinity LED tail lamp, giving the impression that it wraps around the entire vehicle. This design choice, however, slightly reduces the size of the rear window.
The lower half of the body is clad in plastic, but like the rest of the car, it doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Instead, it complements the design, adding a rugged appeal. Given that this is a compact SUV, this feature will also protect your paint if you decide to take it on gravel roads. Speaking of which, the car comes fitted with a set of 17-inch diamond-cut mags wrapped in thick rubber, making it more than capable of tackling gravel roads.
Interior
According to Mahindra, it’s out with the old, as the entire interior is redesigned to be as dramatic as the exterior. You are greeted by plastics that do not feel like you made a cheap deal with an inept interior designer. In fact, the top half of the panels feature stitched leatherette with soft-touch elements, extending from the seats to the dashboard. Glossy black panels are strategically placed to add contrast and make the cabin feel more dynamic.
Instead of soft-touch infotainment controls, Mahindra keeps physical buttons on the centre console. I actually love this because I can activate my climate control directly without fumbling through a complicated menu. The same applies to the volume knob, which adjusts the sound from the Harmon Kardon system, complete with an amp and subwoofer.
The infotainment system is linked to a high-resolution 360-degree camera system, offering blind-spot assist when turning and even allowing you to see the curb up close—so you don’t scrape those diamond-cut wheels that come with the hi spec variants.
Connectivity is on point with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Below the screen, is a decent-sized wireless charging pad and a USB-C charging point in case your phone is not wireless charging enabled. There is also a cooled glovebox, which is perfect for keeping drinks cold on long trips—ideal for those nights when you park on a scenic trail, open the panoramic sunroof, and enjoy the stars, with the extra assurance that your devices are or can be charged.
Yet, not all is rosy when it comes to practicality. While the cabin offers good head and legroom along with rear climate control and center console cupholders, the boot space is lacking. It is better than some competitors in the segment, but a slightly longer wheelbase could have accommodated more than just two large suitcases and a couple of handbags.
The drive
The Mahindra XUV 3XO has 1.2L three-cylinder turbopetrol engine producing 82kW and 200Nm, paired with a 6-speed dual-clutch auto. It doesn’t sound like much, but considering the car weighs just over 1 300kg, it performs well. Unlike the XUV300 the 1.5L turbocharged diesel engine is no longer available.
A lighter car means the engine does not have to work as hard but depending on how much weight you load (likely hence the tiny boot), you will not get the most out of it fully loaded.
As for the drive modes—Zip, Zap, and Zoom (I kid you not)— I found that Zip and Zoom felt relatively similar. Granted, it is not a performance or more expensive vehicle this is not surprising. Perhaps adding drive modes to a vehicle in a segment that would not normally have such was more of a novelty given their interesting names.
The fuel consumption unfortunately did not impress. Maybe it is because my right foot is notoriously heavy, but I struggled to get below 8.6L/100km.
Now, onto my biggest gripe, with a small disclaimer that it may have been the derivative tested but it felt like the car had a mind of its own at times. While systems like lane assist are great safety features, at times it felt overly strong.
At low speeds, I noticed an occasional lag—possibly due to the dual-clutch gearbox—which made it feel undecided on which gear to use, causing slight jerks at times.
That said, the XUV 3XO is still fun to drive. It has some pep, and overtaking is handled well when the power kicks in. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to test its dirt-road capabilities, but aside from a few quirks, it is a solid performer.
Final thoughts
Considering the tough economic times—and 2025 giving us a literal run for our money already—Mahindra placed a little gem in a market overflowing with increasingly popular crossover or compact SUV.
All variants are well-equipped, with the higher trims offering more tech. If you’re looking for the best value, I’d suggest aiming for the—get ready for the tongue twister—Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7 L. Priced at R352,173, it gives you all the tech you’d typically get in a more expensive Chinese competitor but at a more affordable price.
The specs
Engine: 1.2L three-cylinder turbopetrol
Transmission: 6-speed DCT
Fuel consumption (claimed): 5.3 to 6.6L/100km (derivative dependent)
Power: 82 kW
Torque: 200 Nm
Price: starting from R255 050
Warranty and service plan: 5-year/150 000km mechanical warranty. MX derivatives come with 3-year/55 000 km service plans. AX derivatives have a 5-year/100 000km service plans.
Variants & pricing (as of February 2025)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 MX2 MT – R221,738* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 MX2 AT – R239,130* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 MX3 MT – R239,130* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 MX3 AT – R256,521* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 AX5 MT – R278,260* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 AX5 AT – R299,999* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 AX5L AT – R326,086* (Excl. VAT)
- XUV 3XO 1.2 AX7L AT – R352,173* (Excl. VAT)
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