On a trip to India in May, I drove the diesel model. After 40km on the Mumbai highway, it became clear to me that the top-tier hatchback could raise some eyebrows in the South African passenger car market.
My first experience with the Mahindra KUV100 in South Africa was a ‘Sunset Orange’ diesel model. It was powered by a 1.2-liter turbodiesel engine with a modest output of 57kW / 190Nm. They claim that the fuel consumption is 4.4 l / 100 km, but you will not be able to know this precisely as it does not have a consumption indicator.
Specs:
Derivatives K6 + and above offer a six-speaker sound system with Bluetooth connectivity to the Mahindra Blue Sense app. Also included are a multifunction steering wheel and a cooled glove box.
Despite its low power, the three-cylinder delivered as it did in Mumbai and felt alive with plenty of torque between all five gears.
The gearbox really deserves all the brakes. Shifting is solid and precise, but sadly the clutch pedal is too low on the floor. It took me a while to get used to and this is perhaps something Mahindra should reconsider.
On that note, the clutch and brake pedal locations are too close. If you have small feet, it may be fine or just let your child carry you.
Reaching a gravel road showed acceptable handling, but the KUV100’s 1,155kg height meant the ride was quite bumpy, especially at high speeds. The build quality could also be improved as I experienced wind noise while driving down the road.
I wouldn’t go for the gasoline model even though it also has the 1.2-liter (61kW / 115Nm) three-cylinder engine. It feels sluggish and nothing compared to diesel. In first, second and third gear he really struggled like the Bulls did in Super Rugby this year.
Is the KUV worth buying ?:
Mahindra claims that the KUV100 competes with the Toyota Etios Cross, Renault Sandero Stepway, Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10, Chery J2, Tata Bolt, and Ford Figo. It’s a tough question as most of these cars have great business value, brand loyalty, a better perceived build quality, and an established dealer network.
There is one area where the Mahindra KUV100 outshines the rest and that is price. It’ll cost you just under R150,000 for the entry-level petrol model that comes standard with air conditioning, power windows, ABS, and driver / passenger airbags.
I may have been a bit reluctant to the KUV100, but by the end of the launch I had really gotten excited about the diesel model. The price, the equipment level and the overall driving experience made a good impression. Let’s hope the automaker ages like fine wine and not vinegar.
In conclusion, the diesel engine and gearbox are more than adequate, but the biggest concerns are the placement of the pedals, the clutch and the noise of the wind. Whether or not South Africans will be interested in the KUV100 remains to be seen, but it is certainly worth mentioning. Even if the Mahindra KUV100 isn’t your thing, there are more Mahindra’s on the way.
* Three-year or 100,000 km warranty on all models and a three-year or 50,000 km service plan on K6 + and K8 models (optional for K4 +).
