Introduction
There’s a new crop of compact SUVs on offer and among them, the two newest of the lot are the Tata Nexon and the Mahindra XUV 3XO. They are feature-loaded, unique looking, offer a turbo-petrol, two-pedal driving experience and, most importantly, are very (very ) closely priced. All of this puts them in heavy contention with each other to appeal to the new-age buyer who places a higher emphasis on features, appearance, and driving experience.
Design highlights
Two approaches to the same task, that is, the exterior design for both vehicles. On the one hand, you have the XUV 3XO which is square(ish) in its stance with a stubby boot, long hood, and large wheels that sit on the edges of the car. The Nexon, on the other hand, was the first coupe SUV design in the fray and has held that appeal for almost seven years now. When putting XUV 3XO vs Nexon, the latter has the bigger face and higher stance but the XUV’s taillamp element looks much more modern and it also has the sharper-looking wheels.
Overall both cars have the same type of interior with a big emphasis on front occupant experience. Across Nexon as well as 3XO, you get dual-digital displays, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, centrally mounted climate control system, and ventilated front seats. That said, the second row in the Nexon loses out on some of the headroom due to the curved roofline but overall both cars offer a similar seating experience. Dimensions too are similarly matched, though the Nexon has a boot space of 382 litres while the boot of the XUV 3XO stands at 364 litres.
XUV 3XO vs Nexon: Feature list
This is where things get interesting. When looking at the top-spec models in terms of features, they are evenly matched with things like dual-digital screens, connected car technology, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. However, over the Nexon, the fully loaded XUV 3XO gets Level 2 ADAS and dual-zone climate control — both of which are segment-first features.
Powertrain comparison of Nexon and XUV3XO
In this comparison, we are looking at the top-spec turbo petrol models. In the XUV 3XO, it’s a 1.2-litre GDi engine producing 129bhp/230Nm while in the Nexon it’s a regular turbo-petrol producing 118bhp/170Nm. The former gets a six-speed torque converter AT while the latter gets a seven-speed DCT.
Real-world mileage of 3XO vs Nexon
Nexon
Officially, Tata claims a mileage of 17kmpl. In our real-world tests, we got 9.1kmpl in the city conditions with an MID indicated 11.3kmpl, while out on the highway we got 16.6kmpl with an MID indicated 18.2kmpl. This gives us an average of 10.8kmpl and a tank capacity of 44 litres, thus providing a tank-to-tank range of 476km.
XUV 3XO
Officially, Mahindra XUV 3XO mileage stands at 18.2kmpl (claimed). In our real-world tests, we got 9.6kmpl in the city conditions with an MID indicated 10.2kmpl, while out on the highway, the mileage was 18.08kmpl with an MID indicated 18.9kmpl. This gives us an average of 11.7kmpl and a tank capacity of 42 litres, thus giving us a tank-to-tank range of 492km.
Conclusion
There’s only a difference of Rs. 49,000 separating both cars and in the case of the XUV 3XO, it buys you Level 2 ADAS and an unlimited kilometre limit on the warranty but for three years like the Nexon. Ultimately, when putting 3XO vs Nexon, it boils down to wanting a more powerful engine and driver assistance package, where the XUV 3XO has an advantage over the Nexon.
