It's an SUV and it can do stuff a hatchback cant even dream of

Exterior

Its not a stunner but you will fall in love with it over time, looks better than a xylo and looks more like a conventional SUV as compared to the Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster.

The bottom line is it looks Strong, Robust and ready for Abuse.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Massively Spacious, very comfortable front seats, mid row seats are a bit upright but good under-thigh support (my model does not have folding seats which is an impedement), last row is okay for short trips and perfect for kids, minar clanky noises as seen in almost all mahindra Suvs, well equipped and the music system from Nippon does a good job, the dash could have been made jazzier with new styling and better use of plastics (not the worst, there are whole lot of worse plasticy dash sold in India on the pretext of cost cutting), loads of convenience features (3 charge point, plenty of cup and bottle holders, under seat drawer) and i absulutely love the aeroplane like food trays.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Its a downsized mHawk which is a proven machine, fairly powerful and pulls well and the dual stage turbo is brilliant, the clutch is however a little heavy but i guess it comes with M&M territory and so does the rubbery gear shift (and again its not the worst,ie, ever driven a SUMO??), however, saying so the gear throw is quite good and works well at higher revs. But, the gear and engine needs taming (higher gear lower revs, and the car will want to throw you out with all the knocking, drive the Amaze 1.5 I-DTEC, you'll understand what i mean). Finally fuel efficiency, I participated in a rally when the car was about 3 months old and i gt a mileage of 20Kmpl, that aside i live in a congested city like Calcutta and traffic is a right nuisance so 11 kmpl inside the city highways again i have managed between 17 - 20 kmpl.

Ride Quality & Handling

It needs taming, its like a dog that listens to its master only. Ride quality is good but hard at times but thats granted because it's on the INGENIO platform (hard suspension), glides over potholes and bumps and speed breakers, dampers do make a thudding noise initially but settles down as the suspension settles down and the car gets slightly older. Its a pretty comfortable ride.

As for handling well it can scare a new driver, the steering is not the most responsive in the world. Now, I have heard people complaint about body roll...really? Have such people driven ladder on frame chasis SUVs before?? Scorpio, Bolero, Sumo, Safari, Pajero, LandCruiser, they all have body roll. Such cars never handle corners well at high speeds, so don't complaint just be a better driver ;)

The wheels should have been 16 inches but then again its built on the Ingenio platform and the XYLO runs on 215/75 R15 tyres while Quanto runs on 205/65 R15.

Final Words

Honest car - definitely value for money, definitely an SUV, can do stuff a hatchback can only dream of so branding it as a hatchback is probably being a little harsh on Mahindra.

The looks tend to grow on you with time

Areas of improvement  

Last row seats, now they have the yoga seats so thats all good, better dash, could provid decent fog lamps (its really run of the mill quality), rear roof blowers, airbags should be made compulsory for all models.

 

 

Ample space, Fairly powerful engine - pulls well, excellent suspension, well equipped for its priceGawky, cramped 3rd row seats and non folding middle seats, heavy clutch, rubbery gear shift