Hatchback SUV for everyday use

Exterior - Awesome looks, the best part is that the car looks unique from the ones already available in the market and its not boxy in design, SUV looks at the size of a hatchback and price of a hatchback. This car is surely to make heads turn when driven on the roads for sure,  I had people knocking on my window at signals to ask me about the performance of the car, milage and the price.

The side cladding could have been more giving it a more better look from the side profile.  14 inch wheels look small for a car of this size.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

The can be some features which can be common for all variants which Mahindra has to consider, like for example the cooled glovebox, mood lighting, Sunglass holder else they should provide an option or a package which can add these features to any car variant which will surely attract more buyers

The dashboard and the layout looks different and new and definately of good quality when compared to Mahindra or Tata cars, but Mahindra surely has more competition in the hatchback segment at this pricepoint and hence needs to be better in the interior quality and plastics being used, it surely cannot match upto the interior quality of a Hyundai Grand i10 also which is priced at the same price levels.

Mirror - No Co-driver mirror in this car which is so surprising

Storage spaces - The six seater version does not have any space to keep a mobile or even a tissue box, keys etc which is a pity in such a good car.  Space given in the doors also is not enough as they are very small and can only fit in a bottle, cleaning cloth, book or goggles and nothing more in the front door while only a bottle in the back doors. 

Seats – The seats and the position of the seating is comfortable but Mahindra could have designed the seats better so it gives a good look and attracts anyone at first sight and they should provide fabric seats for all versions and may be leather seating and leather wrapped steering wheel for the top end variant

Finish - Overall the quality of the dashboard, painting, carpet flooring etc are good but however there are few areas where Mahindra could focus more so that the finishing looks better as the competition for hatchbacks are too big compared to the SUV market where Mahindra is a leader always

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox 

The Engine and the power is good, the gear shift is uniquely placed which helps in quickly changing the gears and is very smooth to shift quickly, the torque available starts from the 2nd Gear and surprises you as one can reach speeds up to 70kmph in the 3rd gear itself which is more than sufficient for within the city daily commuting. This diesel engine though is the first one at 1.2lt sounds silent and refined from the inside cabin and once on the move is rarely audible except at higher speeds. Compared to a VW polo Mahindra is an Indian car manufacturer primarily and has managed with a refined engine for sure though its a new one

 

Ride Quality & Handling

Drivers Car - Car is very comfortable and the driver gets good confidence driving at high speeds and cornering as the vehicle does not loose the road grip even at higher speeds, the driver can truly enjoy driving this car as the clutch and gear shifts are smooth and easy

Passengers Comfort - Due to the high bench style seating position of the car, all the passengers in the car can sit comfortably in the car with good leg and under thigh support

Long Drives - Long drives are never stressful in this car though it is a hatchback due to its smooth ride

City Driving - The car is very easy to drive within the city in heavy traffic and does not require frequent change in gears, one can drive from 30 to 70 km per hr speed in third gear without any issue

Suspension – Mahindra has got the suspension settings right for this car as one can hardly feel the potholes ridden bumpy ride which is normal in India

Steering - The steering set up is actually heavy for in city commute and parking but gives more confidence with a stiff steering for long rides on the highway.  The electric steering should be better tuned to allow it to be lighter during daily commute within the city.

 Final Words

Its an awesome car for those looking to own a 6 seater at the price of a Hatchback (5 seats only) but cheaper than the Maruthi Swift with better cabin, engine performance and a better handling car with SUV looks

Areas of improvement  

Storage spaces, better and more luggage space, bigger tyre size, better finishing overall, better quality of plastics used, accessories available in the market, 

Key – Wondering how a Key can be of an area of improvement? Yes it’s very poorly designed by Mahindra engineers as its extremely wide and long, no option of foldable keys also even for the top end variant which is surprising

 

Size – The length of the car could have been increased by 200mm and still take advantage of the tax benefits and this would have given the car a bigger boot capacity at least if not nothing else

Boot capacity – Boot capacity for a hatchback should be at least 300 liters when a small car as small as a Kwid can accommodate then why not a car of a bigger size 

Breaks – The passengers would move forward when the brake is applied suddenly though it’s enabled with ABS as a standard for all models due to the high seating and suspension set up

 

Driver Information - Distance to empty and Average Fuel efficiency details should be a standard across all variants and should be displayed in the speed o meter and not in the entertainment unit and these must be available feature for all the variants as they are most important details for cars at this price point 

Mileage, Gear Shift, Comfort, Power, Looks, SuspensionBoot Space, Material of the seats and styling, Key, Storage Spaces, Driver Information