New Mahindra Xylo

If you have been regularly traveling on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, you might have seen a vehicle that was heavily camouflaged. Speeding away out of vision. And you rack your brain hard to make out which vehicle it is.


Back then it was called the Project Ingenio. Mahindra has tested over hundred prototypes of the car for over millions of kilometers to put its engines, chassis, suspension and overall reliability to test. The platform has cost Mahindra over 550 crore rupees and they have made sure that the Xylo is a major step up when it comes to quality and build.

The Xylo is a proper MUV from Mahindra and will compete in the segment currently dominated by the Toyota Innova and the Chevrolet Tavera. To make any dent in their sales, the Xylo will have to prove itself. Let’s see if it lives to the hype.

STYLE:

The styling of the Xylo is sure to turn heads. While the Scorpio was styled in a way not to offend many, the Xylo’s in your face frontal treatment might not be to everyone’s liking. However, with the Santro and the second generation Honda City, the Indian market is known to accept a bit of weirdness for practicality and utility.



The front of the Xylo with its large Mahindra signature grill and comparatively smaller headlamps strikes the eyes. It might seem like an after thought or proportions gone wrong, but that’s not the case. The grill was that way right from the design stage. The side profile though pleasing, you cant stop comparing it with that of the Innova. Unlike other UVs from Mahindra, the Xylo has a smaller engine bay, which allows a longer cabin in the given wheelbase for more legroom. More on that later. The rear profile is quite similar to the Tata Sumo Grande. It looks good with the vertical wrap around tail lamps. Also with the width, it creates enough space for three adults in the rear bench seats. A range of color is on offer. The pick of the lot would be one in Toreador red, the one that appears in the adverts.

The build quality, as mentioned earlier, is better than any other Mahindra product. Its better than the Tavera, but the Innova is still a tad better assembled. The doors shut with a nice thud sound, assuring a solid structure. It’s a body on frames construction; it meets front crash worthiness and side crash safety norms easily. At over 1.8 tons the Xylo is a tad heavier compared to the Innova.


ENGINE:

The Xylo is powered by the 2.5 ltr CRDE engine from the Bolero, tuned for more power and torque. So in the Xylo, it makes 112 ps power and over 240 Nm torque. Though enough for most applications, it would have been better to see the 2.2 ltr MHawk engine from the Scorpio. Apart from obvious power and Torgue benefits, the engine is 80 kg lighter.

A drive in the demo car from the Mahindra dealer confirmed meaty torque spread from the engine. The gear shifter is quite stiff, not as slick as in the Innova. However, the engine is highly refined, even better than the Scorpio.


INTERIORS:

The Xylo comes with 8-7 seats options. All front facing seats provide superb thigh and lumber support for excellent comfort. The front bucket seats are become flatbeds in a matter of minutes, a feature seen in the much expensive Mitsubishi Pajero. There are other bits like individual reading lights, mobile and laptop charging points, which add to the convenience factor. Theater style seating and lights add to the luxury feel. Also Surround Cool Dual AC ensures superb cooling in the spacious interiors.

Doors come with puddle lamps for ease of access in dark. The Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS) has an on board computer to flash information like estimated mileage. It also alerts you in case the seat belts are not used or the handbrake is engaged. If you travel a lot, the barometer will also come useful. And that is also included.

The top model E8 comes fully loaded with following features:
• Surround cool dual AC's with Roof mounted vents
• Body colored bumpers
• Electrically adjustable rear view mirrors
• Front & Rear Fog Lamps
• Alloy Wheels
• Body Colored Side Cladding
• Digital Drive Assist System (DDAS)
• Mobile charging points
• Fold able flight trays
• Intelligent reverse assist System
• Power window express up/down (driver side) with anti-pinch
• Double DIN Music system

DRIVE:

The Xylo is confidence inspiring in the corners. Though not an excellent handler, it handles better than the Scorpio, thanks to the five link independent rear suspension. The tires also provide good grip. The longer wheelbase and wider tracks make it stable at high speeds. Talking of high speeds, it can hit a top speed of 160kms/hr given the right road. Fuel efficiency is expected to be around 10-14 kmpl range. Slightly better than the Innova.


SUM IT UP:

The Xylo is loaded with features and also comes at a 1.5 lacs lesser than similar features for the Innova. If it beats the Innova sales, only time will tell. But, the team at Mahindra have done a great job with the Xylo and is a great alternative for those looking for a cheaper alternative to the Innova.


Prices in lacs:

E2 - 632500
E4 - 669500
E6 - 732500
E8 - 769500