New Mahindra XUV500 to launch on 18 April

- Second facelift of the XUV500

- Gets a new front and rear design

- Soft-touch dashboard, perforated leather seats

- Expected price – Rs 12.5 lakhs to Rs 19 lakhs

Mahindra and Mahindra is all set to launch the new avatar of their flagship SUV, the XUV500, on 18 April, later this month. This is the second facelift for the XUV500 since its launch back in 2011 along with the engine upgrade in 2015.

The 2018 Mahindra XUV500 gets a complete redesign, so to speak, with a fresh design of the front fascia as well as the rear. While it has still retained the vertically slatted grille in essence, the slats are now highlighted by chrome dots to create a starry feel. The grille blends with the new design of the headlamps with the chrome strip flowing across the face. The single LED DRL strip is now perched on the top but the blacked out bumper kink that houses the fog lamp has been carried over.

Since it is a facelift, the profile remains the same, except for the new design of the alloys, but the tailgate has undergone a sea of changes. The vertical stack is replaced by horizontal triangular tail lamps and separate rear fog lamps. The twin exhaust pipes and roof spoiler continue to give it the sporty look.

On the inside, the new XUV500 gets a soft-touch dashboard-top, thereby adding a touch of premium to the cabin. The front seats gets perforated leather while the layout of the cabin remains the same. Which means it will get rear AC besides folding rear and third-row seats. With the upgrades and new features, Mahindra might offer the new XUV at a premium and we can expect the entry-level trim to be priced between Rs 12.5 lakhs and Rs 13 lakhs ex-showroom.