Now,
just
three
months
down
the
line
since
the
new
Venue’s
arrival,
we
have
its
much-talked-about ‘performance’
variant
in
our
hands.
So
does
the
all-new
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
just
pay
lip
service
to
N
Line
legacy
or
is
it
the
real
deal?
We
drove
the
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
around
a
rather
rainy
Bangalore
to
find
out…

Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
Exterior
Design
–
A
Slight
Touch
Up

Hyundai
gave
the
Venue
a
proper
makeover
as
part
of
its
mid-life
refresh
giving
it
a
new ‘Parametric
Jewel’
grille,
new
bumpers
and
wheels
and
a
set
of
connected
taillights.

The
Venue
N
Line
highlights
those
changes
with
red
highlights
on
the
front
and
rear
bumpers,
wheelarches,
side
skirts
and
roof
rails.
Hyundai
has
slightly
tweaked
the
Venue
N
Line’s
grille,
front
and
rear
bumpers
and
the
faux
skid
plates
that
adorn
them
(now
in
a
split
guise).
The
rear
bumper
also
sports
the
N
Line
badge
and
new
dual
exhaust
tips.
The
final
change
comes
in
the
form
of
the
16-inch
alloy
wheels
that
are
specific
to
the
Venue
N
Line
and
sport
N
logos.

Hyundai
Venue
Interior
Design
&
Features
–
A
Sporty
Uplift

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
brings
quite
a
few
cosmetic
changes
to
the
insides
of
the
sub-4-metre
SUV.
The
red
highlights
from
the
exterior
continue
inside
the
Venue
N
Line’s
all-black
cabin.
There
are
red
highlights
on
the
seats,
steering
wheel,
gear
stick,
HVAC
control
dials
and
air
vents.

The
red
highlights
on
the
new
3-spoke
steering
wheel
with
the
N
logo
come
in
the
form
of
contrast
stitching.
On
the
seats,
there
is
red
piping
and
a
red
checkered
stripe
along
with
an
N
logo
in
black.
Adding
to
the
sporty
theme
of
the
Venue
N-Line’s
interior
are
aluminium
pedals
and
red
ambient
lighting.

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
continues
to
sport
the
8-inch
infotainment
display
with
support
for
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
and
the
carmaker’s
Bluelink
connected
car
suite.

Other
features
carried
over
include
the
digital
driver’s
instrument
cluster
with
its
colourful
driving
mode
themes,
automatic
climate
control,
wireless
phone
charging
pad
and
the
electrically
operated
sunroof.

The
biggest
feature
upgrade
on
the
Venue
N
Line
comes
in
the
form
of
a
dashcam
with
dual
cameras
for
those
who
want
to
record
every
journey
in
the
new
SUV.
One
camera
points
outward
and
keeps
an
eye
on
the
traffic
ahead
while
the
other
points
inward
into
the
cabin.

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
comes
packed
with
safety
features
including
a
maximum
of
6
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
Brake
Assist,
Electronic
Stability
Control,
Hill
Assist
Control,
Vehicle
Stability
Management,
disc
brakes
all
around,
ISOFIX
child
seat
points
and
a
tyre
pressure
monitoring
system.

Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
Specs
–
More
Of
The
Same

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
line
uses
the
same
setup
as
the
Turbo
version
of
the
SUV
but
is
only
offered
with
a
single
gearbox
option
–
the
7-speed
DCT
automatic.

The
998cc,
3-cylinder,
turbocharged
petrol
puts
out
118.3bhp
at
6,000rpm
and
172Nm
of
peak
torque
between
1,500
and
4,000rpm
all
of
which
is
sent
to
the
front
wheels.

The
Venue
N
Line’s
dimensions
are
the
same
as
the
regular
SUV.
The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
is
3,995mm
long,
1,770mm
wide
and
1,617mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
of
the
Venue
N
Line
is
2,500mm
long
and
the
sub-4-metre
SUV
has
a
45-litre
fuel
tank.

Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
Driving
Impressions
–
More
Than
Just
An
Extra
Dose
Of
Colour

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
sits
at
the
top
rung
of
the
South
Korean
sub-4-metre
SUV’s
lineup
in
India.
During
our
time
behind
the
wheel
on
the
rainy
streets
of
Bengaluru,
the
Venue
N
Line
set
about
proving
itself
worthy
of
that
tag.

The
output
from
the
three-pot
petrol
engine
is
still
peppy
and
the
dual-clutch
transmission
is
as
slick
as
ever.
However,
the
soundtrack
from
the
powerplant
is
fruitier
than
ever
thanks
to
what
appears
to
be
a
more
open
setup
with
twin
exhaust
tips
ensuring
those
who
hear
the
sound
know
where
it
is
coming
from.

The
three
different
driving
modes
–
Eco,
Normal
and
Sport
–
change
the
character
of
the
Venue
N
Line.
In
Eco
mode,
the
gearbox
shifts
up
early
and
prefers
to
stay
in
a
higher
gear
even
at
lower
speeds
while
the
throttle
response
is
quite
laid
back.

Normal
mode
smoothens
things
up
quite
a
bit
as
the
gearbox
holds
onto
gears
for
a
bit
longer
and
the
response
to
pressing
the
throttle
pedal
is
more
noticeable.
In
Sport,
the
Venue
N
Line’s
gearbox
allows
you
to
rally
rev
the
three
pot
up
and
the
loud
pedal’s
response
is
quick
and
more
pronounced.
For
those
looking
for
a
bit
more
interaction
with
the
Venue
N
Line,
the
ability
to
shift
through
the
gears
manually
with
the
provided
paddle
shifters
should
provide
enough
entertainment.

Shifting
through
the
driving
modes
also
tweaks
the
way
the
steering
wheel.
In
Eco
mode,
the
steering
wheel
feels
very
light,
which
is
quite
helpful
in
traffic.
Sport
mode
results
in
a
heavier
steering
feel,
which
while
not
really
good
for
start-stop
traffic,
gives
those
gripping
onto
it
the
confidence
to
tug
it
around
at
higher
speeds
as
it
weighs
up
quite
nicely.

The
suspension
setup
of
the
Venue
N
Line
is
where
Hyundai
has
put
in
quite
a
bit
of
work.
Put
simply
–
the
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
is
the
best-handling
SUV
in
the
segment.
The
suspension
setup
on
the
regular
Venue
was
already
on
the
stiffer
side,
but
on
the
N-Line,
Hyundai
has
taken
it
to
a
new
level.

This
stiffer
setup
ensures
that
body
roll
is
kept
to
a
minimum
and
gives
the
person
behind
the
wheel
the
confidence
to
change
directions
in
the
Venue
N
Line.
However,
the
stiffer
setup
means
that
when
you
ride
over
rougher
roads
at
higher
speeds
(aka
Banga-lored
roads),
the
thuds
are
more
noticeable
as
is
the
cursing
that
follows
from
the
others
inside.

To
ensure
that
you
don’t
find
yourself
in
trouble
when
you
bring
the
Venue
N
Line
to
a
quick
stop,
Hyundai
has
fitted
the
go-faster
SUV
with
disc
brakes
all
around.
The
brakes
offer
good
initial
bite
and
are
quite
progressive
while
the
pedal
is
easy
to
operate
and
does
not
have
much
travel.

Final
Thoughts
On
The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
–
Not
Just
Lip
Service

The
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
may
look
like
the
same
SUV
with
a
few
red
highlights
to
the
snarky
glass
half-empty
pessimist
looking
at
the
spec
sheet.
However,
dig
a
bit
deeper
into
the
Venue
N
Line’s
personality
and
you’ll
find
start
enjoying
the
experience
it
offers
from
behind
the
wheel.
If
you’re
looking
for
a ‘performance’ sub-4-metre
SUV,
then
the
Hyundai
Venue
N
Line
is
the
one
that’ll
draw
you
in
and
make
you
open
your
purse
strings.

Source

7
years
have
passed
and
Maruti
Suzuki
is
back
with
the
Grand
Vitara
and
is
looking
to
knock
Hyundai’s
Creta
off
its
perch
with
the
help
of
fellow
Japanese
carmaker
Toyota.

So
can
the
all-new
Grand
Vitara
revive
an
iconic
Suzuki
nameplate
in
India
or
is
it
too
focused
on
fuel
savings
to
do
much
else?
Is
the
new
Grand
Vitara
too
much
like
its
badge-swapped
Toyota
sibling
or
has
Maruti
Suzuki
done
enough
to
make
it
stand
out
from
Hyryder?
These
were
the
questions
we
set
out
to
answer
when
we
took
to
the
streets
of
Udaipur
in
the
all-new
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara…

Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
Exterior
Design
–
Bold,
Blocky
&
Distinct

While
the
Grand
Vitara
and
the
Hyryder
may
be
siblings
born
under
different
badges,
Maruti
has
made
the
effort
to
ensure
its
new
flagship
SUV
looks
different
from
its
Toyota
sibling.

At
the
front,
the
LED
daytime
running
lights
and
indicators
are
connected
by
chunky
strips
of
chrome
to
the
Suzuki
badge
sitting
at
the
top
of
the
large
grille
that
also
features
chrome
surrounds.
The
LED
projector
headlamps
sit
lower
on
the
front
bumper
on
opposite
sides
of
the
grille.
The
lower
section
of
the
front
bumper
features
a
faux
skid
plate
finished
in
grey
atop
which
sits
a
small
air
intake.

Black
cladding
can
be
seen
on
the
edges
of
the
front
bumper
and
this
continues
around
the
sides
of
the
new
Grand
Vitara
to
the
rear
bumper
where
they
meet
up
with
the
faux
skid
plate
element.
Most
versions
of
the
new
Maruti
Grand
Vitara
ride
on
17-inch
dual-tone
precision-cut
alloy
wheels
which
look
quite
nice.
The
Sigma
&
Delta
versions
of
the
new
Grand
Vitara
ride
on
17-inch
steel
wheels
with
full
wheel
caps.
The
sides
of
the
new
Grand
Vitara
feature
some
rather
chunky
wheel
arches
and
a
blackened
section
on
the
C
pillar
that
give
the
illusion
of
a
floating
roof.

The
rear
section
of
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
also
features
a
split
lighting
setup
with
the
LED
brake
lights
connected
to
the
Suzuki
logo
in
the
centre
underneath
which
you
can
find
the
Grand
Vitara
badging.
The
rear
bumper
also
features
sets
of
vertically
stacked
lights
on
either
edge
which
house
the
other
essential
lights.

Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
Interiors
–
Dual
Tone
Differences

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara’s
interiors
are
offered
in
two
different
themes
that
depend
on
the
powertrain
option
chosen
by
the
customer.
For
the
owners
of
the
mild
hybrid
powertrain
Grand
Vitara,
there
is
a
Black
and
Bordeaux
theme
for
the
interior
with
added
silver
accents.
Buyers
of
the
strong
hybrid
version
of
the
new
Maruti
Grand
Vitara
get
an
all-black
interior
with
Champagne
gold
accents.

Maruti
Suzuki
has
used
soft-touch
materials
on
many
surfaces
inside
the
Grand
Vitara’s
cabin
including
the
multi-layer
dash,
which
gives
it
a
very
premium
feel.
However,
the
quality
of
the
hard
plastics
used
could
have
been
a
lot
better.
The
ventilated
front
seats
are
a
welcome
addition
for
our
crazy
summers
and
the
faux
leather
upholstery
looks
and
feels
quite
premium
as
well.

The
multi-layered
dashboard
is
dominated
by
the
9-inch
touchscreen
infotainment
system
that
wirelessly
supports
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.
The
display
also
can
be
used
to
access
the
Grand
Vitara’s
connected
car
suite
that
adds
over
40+
connected
car
features
which
users
can
access
through
the
Suzuki
connect
app.

Below
the
infotainment
screen
sit
the
controls
for
the
HVAC
system,
a
12V
socket,
the
USB
ports
for
connectivity
and
the
wireless
phone
charging
tray.

Depending
on
the
model
chosen
you’ll
find
either
the
rotary
drive
mode
selector
for
the
all-wheel
drive
model
or
the
buttons
for
the
strong
hybrid
model
beside
the
gearbox
of
the
new
Vitara.

Other
options
on
the
Grand
Vitara
include
a
panoramic
sunroof,
ambient
lighting,
a
heads
up
display
and
a
360-degree
camera
for
easier
parking.

The
new
Grand
Vitara
also
comes
with
an
array
of
safety
tech
including
6
airbags,
ESP,
Hill
Hold
Assist,
all
wheel
disc
brakes,
Hill
Descent
Control,
and
TPMS
among
others.

Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
Specs
&
Dimensions

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
is
offered
with
two
powertrain
options
–
a
1.-5-litre
4-cylinder
petrol
engine
with
mild
hybrid
assistance
and
a
1.5-litre
3-cylinder
petrol
engine
strong
hybrid
setup.

The
1.5-litre
mild
hybrid
setup
is
seen
on
a
host
of
other
Maruti
cars
including
the
smaller
Brezza
and
remains
untouched
under
the
bonnet
of
the
new
Grand
Vitara.
The
engine
produces
101.6bhp
and
117Nm
of
peak
torque.
The
engine
is
offered
with
the
choice
of
either
a
6-speed
automatic
with
paddle
shifters
or
a
5-speed
manual
that
can
be
paired
with
the
Suzuki
All-Grip
all-wheel
drive
system.
The
FWD
manual
delivers
a
claimed
21.1km/l,
the
AWD
manual
offers
up
19.38km/l
while
the
automatic
ekes
out
20.58km/l
(all
figures
as
per
ARAI).

The
1.5-litre
three-cylinder
Atkinson
cycle
petrol
engine
and
strong
hybrid
setup
is
from
Toyota.
The
engine
produces
91.1bhp
and
122Nm
of
peak
torque.
The
motor
produces
79bhp
and
141Nm
of
peak
torque.
However,
combined
system
power
is
capped
at
114bhp.
The
strong
hybrid
setup
is
paired
to
a
eCVT
gearbox
that
sends
power
to
the
front
wheels.
The
strong
hybrid
Grand
Vitara
delivers
a
class
leading
mileage
of
27.97km/l
(ARAI).

The
new
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
is
4,345mm
long,
1,795mm
wide
and
1,645mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
of
the
new
Grand
Vitara
is
2,600mm
long
and
weighs
between
1,150
and
1,295
kilos
(kerb
weight).

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
sports
McPherson
struts
at
the
front
and
a
Torsion
beam
setup
at
the
rear
with
disc
brakes
providing
the
required
stopping
power.
The
front
disc
brakes
are
ventilated
while
the
ones
at
the
rear
are
solid
units.
The
17-inch
wheels
are
shod
with
215/6
–
R17
tyres.

Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
Driving
Impressions
–
A
Mix
Of
Fun,
Japanese
Wizardry
&
Bland
Boredom

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
is
a
mix
of
Dr
Jekyll
and
Mr
Hyde
but
in
this
case,
Mr
Hyde
would
bore
rather
than
gore
you
to
death
except
for
one
specific
case.

Let’s
first
talk
about
the
Dr
Jekyll
side
of
the
Grand
Vitara,
better
known
as
the
models
with
Toyota’s
strong
hybrid
setup.
The
strong
hybrid
setup
is
the
same
as
the
one
found
on
the
Toyota
Hyryder
and
we
found
the
same
Japanese
science/magic
happening
under
the
bonnet.
In
EV
mode,
the
silence
is
all
encompassing
while
Normal
and
Eco
modes
offer
a
lazy
throttle
response
as
the
powertrain
looks
to
sip
every
drop
of
precious
petrol.
Power
mode
provides
an
extra
bit
off
oomph
with
a
sharper
response
from
the
loud
pedal.

The
battery
regen
mode
allows
for
single
pedal
driving
and
is
for
the
soulless
lot
that
plague
our
streets
that
do
not
derive
any
pleasure
from
driving.
The
CVT
gearbox
continues
to
work
around
in
the
background
and
looks
to
ensure
that
you
drive
in
a
laid
back
mode
with
its ‘seamless’ shifts.

Now
let’s
tackle
the
boring
Mr
Hyde
side
of
this
Maruti
Suzuki
Vitara
Brezza.
The
K15C
engine
under
the
bonnet
of
the
mild
hybrid
version
sports
the
same
mileage
obsessive
tune
as
the
other
cars
in
Maruti’s
lineup.
This
means
that
you
feel
a
lack
of
power
when
you
put
your
press
the
loud
pedal
on
the
go.
The
gearbox
works
as
intended
shifting
through
the
gears
rather
smoothly.

However,
all
that
lack
of
power
doesn’t
seem
to
matter
if
you’ve
chosen
the
Grand
Vitara
with
Suzuki’s
All-Grip
all-wheel
drive
setup.
This
is
not
some
watered-down
version
of
Suzuki’s
rather
famous
all-wheel-drive
system
and
it
allows
the
Grand
Vitara
to
traverse
terrain
that
it
should
have
no
right
to
cross.

There
are
four
modes
for
the
all-grip
setup
–
Snow,
Auto
Lock
and
Sport.
Snow
mode
is
for
the
really
low
grip
surfaces
and
we
tested
it
by
driving
the
Grand
Vitara
over
a
block
of
ice.
In
this
mode,
power
is
sent
to
the
wheel
with
the
most
grip
and
it
works
rather
nicely.

Sport
mode
is
best
suited
for
a
bit
of
spirited
driving
as
it
allows
the
engine
to
send
more
torque
to
the
wheels
at
rather
gentle
throttle
levels
for
better
acceleration.
Power
is
sent
to
the
rear
wheels
if
and
only
if
the
need
arises.

Auto
mode
in
essence
is
a
mostly
two-wheel
drive
setup
with
power
only
being
sent
to
the
rear
wheels
when
grip
levels
at
the
front
are
lower
than
expected.
Lock
mode
ensures
that
the
All-Grip
all-wheel
drive
system
is
always
active
and
power
is
equally
split
between
the
front
and
rear
axles.
We
tested
this
mode
in
slush
pits
and
the
Grand
Vitara
just
made
its
way
through
the
mud
without
no
problems
at
all.

The
suspension
setup
on
the
new
Maruti
Grand
Vitara
is
tuned
to
be
on
the
softer
side.
This
means
a
plush
ride
at
slower
speeds
but
bad
vibes
sometimes
do
enter
the
cabin
if
you
travel
over
bad
roads
at
higher
speeds.
The
soft
setup
also
leads
to
quite
a
bit
of
body
roll,
however,
you
can
still
carry
good
levels
of
speed
into
corners
as
the
chassis
deals
with
the
rolling
motion
quite
nicely.

The
brakes
on
the
Grand
Vitara
from
Maruti
Suzuki
are
a
bit
of
a
mixed
bag.
The
pedal
that
operates
the
all-disc
setup
is
quite
easy
to
operate
and
doesn’t
have
much
travel
but
the
initial
bite
from
those
metal
plates
could
have
been
a
whole
lot
better.
However,
once
the
brakes
get
to
work,
they
feel
quite
progressive.
The
regen
braking
with
the
strong
hybrid
version
aids
that
model’s
stopping
performance.

Thoughts
About
The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara

The
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara
is
a
mix
of
typical
Marutiness
with
added
Toyota
&
Suzuki
magic
thrown
in.
While
we
feel
Maruti
Suzuki
may
have
missed
a
beat
with
the
mild
hybrid
setup;
the
All-Grip
and
Strong
Hybrid
versions
along
with
the
crazy
mileage
figures
will
ensure
that
people
will
flock
into
the
cabin
of
the
Grand
Vitara.
However,
all
that
will
depend
on
the
Maruti
Suzuki
Grand
Vitara’s
price
tag…

Source

A
few
weeks
back,
after
delays
caused
by
the
godforsaken
pandemic
and
supply
shortages,
Mahindra
finally
revealed
its
electric
lineup
for
the
future
in
the
form
of
the
all-new
electrified
twin
peaks
XUV
and
the
Born
Electric
brands.

However,
one
EV
that
was
missing
on
the
15th
of
August
in
England
was
the
production
version
of
the
eXUV300
concept.
However,
that
has
now
changed
with
the
arrival
of
the
all-new
Mahindra
XUV400.

So
does
the
all-new
XUV400
herald
the
dawn
of
Mahindra’s
return
to
the
top
of
the
Indian
electric
market,
or
should
we
wait
for
the
upcoming
InGlo
platform-based
electric
lineup
from
either
the
electric
twin
peaks
XUV
or
Born
Electric?
We
drove
a
pre-production
version
of
the
upcoming
Mahindra
XUV400
near
the
manufacturer’s
facilities
in
Chennai
to
find
out…

Mahindra
XUV400
Exterior
Design
–
Retweaked
XUV300
With
A
Few
Extra
Copper
Details

The
new
electric
Mahindra
XUV400
is
a
retweaked
version
of
the
internal
combustion
engine-powered
XUV300
with
a
few
obvious
eXUV300-inspired
tweaks
and
of
course,
the
new
copper-coloured
highlights.

At
the
front
of
the
electric
XUV400,
Mahindra
has
quite
sensibly
closed
off
the
front
grille
section
and
front
bumper
thanks
to
the
lower
cooling
requirements
of
the
EV.

The
closed-off
front
grille
sports
the
new
twin
peaks
logo
as
well
as
arrowhead-shaped
inserts,
all
of
which
are
finished
in
copper.
Other
copper
highlights
can
be
seen
under
the
wraparound
headlights
and
on
the
front
bumper,
along
with
the
sides
sills
of
the
SUV
and
on
the
twin
peaks
logo
at
the
back.
The
other
major
copper
highlight
comes
in
the
form
of
the
roof
that
has
been
finished
in
a
glossy
copper
shade.

The
overall
profile
of
the
new
XUV400
remains
identical
to
the
XUV300
despite
its
increased
length
and
the
electric
SUV
rides
on
the
same
set
of
16-inch
alloy
wheels
that
we
see
on
its
ICE
sibling.
The
taillights,
though
the
same
shape,
feature
new
arrowhead-shaped
inserts.

The
new
Mahindra
XUV400
is
offered
in
five
colour
options:
Arctic
Blue,
Everest
White,
Galaxy
Grey,
Napoli
Black
and
Infinity
Blue
all
of
which
feature
a
dual-tone
roof
option
in
a
Satin
Copper
finish.

Mahindra
XUV400
Interior
&
Features
–
More
Of
The
Same

Step
inside
the
new
XUV400
and
the
changes
once
again
are
minimal
when
compared
to
its
ICE-powered
XUV300
sibling.
While
the
overall
layout
remains
the
same,
the
interior
is
now
finished
in
black
and
there
are
copper
inserts
for
the
surrounds
of
the
air
vents,
sound
and
A/C
controls
and
the
twin
peaks
badge
on
the
steering
wheel.
The
biggest
visible
change
comes
in
the
form
of
the
new
gear
selector
that
also
features
a
satin
copper
surround.

The
seats
are
comfortable
and
feature
ample
bolstering
to
keep
you
in
them.
The
XUV400’s
seats
sport
blue
stitching
which
looks
quite
nice.
Where
the
new
XUV400
doesn’t
feel
nice
is
when
you
move
your
fingers
around
the
car.
There
is
hard
plastic
almost
everywhere
and
the
piano
black
surrounds
for
the
central
console
are
an
absolute
finger
magnet
and
will
start
to
look
splodgy
after
only
a
few
hours
of
touching
buttons
and
moving
dials.

Speaking
about
the
centre
console,
the
7-inch
supports
both
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay
like
the
one
seen
on
the
XUV300.
However,
unlike
its
ICE
sibling,
the
new
XUV400’s
infotainment
unit
runs
Mahindra’s
new
AdrenoX
software
and
sports
the
automaker’s
Blue
Sense+
suite
of
connected
car
apps.
This
allows
for
features
like
OTA
updates
and
detailed
route
planning.
However,
we
were
unable
to
test
out
these
features
on
the
XUV400
we
drove
as
it
was
a
pre-production
unit
with
a
few
kinks
to
sort
out.

The
new
XUV400
comes
packed
with
features
including
dual-zone
climate
control,
a
single-pane
sunroof
and
cruise
control
among
others.
The
new
XUV400
also
packs
in
all
the
safety
tech
possible
with
6
airbags,
all-wheel
disc
brakes,
ISOFIX
anchors
for
child
seats
and
IP67
dust
and
water
resistance
rating
for
both
the
motor
and
battery
pack.

Mahindra
XUV400
Powertrain
&
Dimensions

The
Mahindra
XUV400
is
the
first
of
a
lineup
of
multiple
electric
SUVs
that
the
carmaker
plans
to
bombard
the
Indian
market
with.

The
XUV400
sports
a
single
electric
motor
that
power
the
front
axle
of
the
new
SUV.
The
Mahindra
XUV400’s
permanent
magnet
synchronous
motor
produces
147.5bhp
and
310Nm
of
peak
torque
which
is
sent
to
the
front
wheels
by
a
single-speed
gearbox.

The
Mahindra
XUV400
features
three
major
driving
modes
which
affect
the
power
delivery,
regen
and
steering
feel.
The
three
modes
are
dubbed
fun,
fast
and
fearless.
Also
seen
is
a
new
single
pedal
driving
mode
named ‘Lively’.

The
electric
motor
is
fed
by
a
39.4kWh
high-density
battery
pack
that
delivers
a
claimed
range
of
456
kilometres
in
modified
Indian
Driving
Conditions
(MIDC).

The
battery
pack
offers
three
different
charging
speeds
thanks
to
a
CCS2
type
charging
connection.
When
plugged
into
a
domestic
16A
domestic
socket
(around
3.3kW
AC)
the
0-100
per
cent
charging
time
is
a
massive
13
hours.
That
charging
time
can
be
halved
if
you
plug
the
XUV400
into
a
7.2kWh
plug
point.
The
fastest
charging
speed
on
offer
is
50kW
DC
charging
and
if
you
can
find
one
of
these
chargers
then
topping
the
battery
pack
from
0
to
80
per
cent
takes
just
50
minutes.

The
Mahindra
XUV400
is
a
well-proportioned
SUV
measuring
4,200mm
long,
1,821mm
wide
and
1,634mm
tall.
The
wheelbase
of
the
Mahindra
XUV400
electric
SUV
is
2,600mm
long
and
features
a
378-litre
boot.

Mahindra
XUV400
Driving
Impressions
–
Surprisingly
Spirited

The
Mahindra
XUV400’s
electric
powertrain
gives
the
all-new
electric
SUV
a
rather
spirited
driving
mode
thanks
to
the
instant
availability
of
torque
from
the
motor.
Mahindra
claims
that
the
XUV400
will
sprint
from
0-100km/h
in
just
8.3
seconds
and
onwards
to
a
limited
top
speed
of
150km/h.

The
three
different
driving
modes
–
Fun,
Fast
and
Fearless
–
change
the
steering
feel,
regen
and
performance
from
the
go
faster
pedal.
In ‘Fun’ mode,
the
top
speed
is
limited
to
95km/h
and
the
steering
feels
very
light
and
the
throttle
response
is
rather
lackadaisical.
The ‘Fast’
mode
uses
around
90
per
cent
of
the
power
from
the
motor,
which
allows
the
XUV400
to
sprint
to
a
top
speed
of
135km/h
thanks
to
a
quicker-responding
throttle
pedal
while
the
steering
feels
heavier
compared
to
Fun
mode.

In
the ‘Fearless’
driving
mode,
the
steering
feels
slightly
heavier
and
you
get
the
full
output
of
the
motor
when
you
put
your
right
foot
down
hard.
While
Mahindra
claims
the
production-spec
XUV400
will
be
limited
to
150km/h,
we
were
able
to
push
the
pre-production
unit
even
further
to
160km/h
at
Mahindra’s
test
track.
The
three
modes
also
feature
different
regenerative
braking
modes
with
regen
levels
getting
lower
as
you
switch
from
fun
to
fast
and
then
to
freedom.

Mahindra
has
also
added
a
new
single
pedal
driving
mode
called ‘Lively’
which
allows
one
to
drive
around
using
just
the
throttle
pedal.
While
brilliant
for
those
pissed
off
at
traffic
jams,
this
mode
is
also
one
for
those
bereft
of
deriving
any
pleasure
from
driving
a
car.

The
Mahindra
XUV400’s
suspension
is
a
bit
on
the
stiffer
side.
The
steering
feels
quite
light
at
slower
speeds
and
it
weighs
up
quite
nicely
which
inspires
confidence
at
triple-digit
speeds.
This
along
with
the
low
centre
of
gravity
means
that
the
XUV400
is
quite
happy
to
be
pushed
into
a
corner
with
body
roll
being
negligible.
We
were
only
able
to
drive
the
new
Mahindra
XUV400
on
the
smooth
tarmac
at
the
carmaker’s
test
facility
in
Chennai.
So
actually
talking
about
how
the
new
EV
takes
on
India’s
rough
roads
is
something
that
will
have
to
wait
for
a
proper
test
drive.

The
Mahindra
XUV400
sports
disc
brakes
all
around.
The
brakes
offer
good
bite
and
are
quite
progressive
and
the
pedal
is
also
easy
to
operate
offering
minimal
travel.
The
regen
braking
system
on
the
Mahindra
XUV400
is
quite
nice
and
helps
bring
the
electric
SUV
to
a
quick
stop.

We
weren’t
able
to
test
Mahindra’s
range
claims
as
our
pre-production
unit
didn’t
offer
any
outputs
regarding
the
same.
We’ll
have
to
wait
for
a
full
test
to
report
back
on
a
real-world
figure
for
the
range.
However,
NVH
levels
of
the
XUV400
were
very
good,
though
tyre
noise
does
tend
to
creep
into
the
cabin
at
higher
speeds.

Thoughts
On
The
Mahindra
XUV400
–
A
Rather
Nice
Starting
Point

The
Mahindra
XUV400
sees
the
Mumbai-based
carmaker
return
to
try
and
wrest
back
control
of
the
Indian
electric
car
market
from
Tata
Motors.
The
all-new
XUV400
is
larger
and
more
powerful
than
its
Tata
rival
and
offers
a
higher
claimed
range.
These
features
along
with
the
fact
that
the
new
XUV400
will
be
a
new ‘Mahindra
SUV’
should
ensure
that
more
people
flock
to
EVs
when
it
arrives
in
January
2023.

As
for
us,
we
hope
to
drive
the
new
Mahindra
XUV400
in
the
real
world
soon
to
get
an
even
more
detailed
view
of
what
this
new
dawn
for
Mahindra
Electric
has
to
offer
to
the
world.

Source