Mahindra XUV300 Diesel W8 Manual on the Road
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18 AUTODEALER Secunda • Standerton • Bethal | 27 September 2019 Advertising Manager: Henriëtte Pieterse: 013 243 1434 Advertising Consultants: Petro Maulicino: 083 755 0482 Lizelle Grobler: 081 413 8863 Tumi Matladi: 067 021 4394 Highveld mag .co.za Liza Smit: 079 491 7160 Offi ce: 017 634 7728 Week 39 27 September 2019 Mahindra XUV300 Diesel W8 manual on the road If Mahindra’s steadily growing market bag). footprint in the South African landscape has Available with either a 1,2-litre to date relied on adjectives such as “rugged” turbopetrol or 1,5-litre turbodiesel, it’s the and “reliable”, with the arrival on the latter Mahindra-built unit (an Engine of scene of the brand’s freshest offering, this the Year winner in India) that is one of the Indian brand is looking to unlock another highlights of the new XUV300 package. signifi cant attribute: refi nement. Mated exclusively with a six-speed manual Majority shareholders in SsangYong transmission, this engine features electrically Motor since 2010, Mahindra’s all-new controlled, variable-geometry turbocharging XUV300 is built on the same X100 to deliver 86 kW and a healthy 300 N.m monocoque platform as the Korean brand’s of torque between 1 500 and 2 500 r/min. Tivoli small crossover, although it has been While the drop-off in performance once heavily adapted to suit the Indian market’s the needle passes the 3 500 r/min mark is unique requirements. notable, the XUV300 is an eager performer, More European in its styling than especially round town. stablemates such as the KUV100 and Aided by a keen (if not particularly TUV300, the XUV’s blunt rear-end, feelsome) steering system and sharp turning in particular, is a result of Mahindra circle, the newest Mahindra offers a plucky positioning its crossover neatly within its character that feels well up to the task of home market’s sub-four-metre regulation, fulfi lling the mandate of an urban-based the XUV300 measuring 3 995 mm long modern small crossover. Three steering (shorter than the Tivoli). Other modifi cations modes are available, allowing the driver compared with its Korean twin include a to adjust (through comfort, normal and revised suspension (including a raised ride sport) the system’s weighting according to height) and a reconsidered engine line-up. conditions. Make what you will of the claim both the While the diesel-powered XUV300 is Tivoli and XUV300 spent time during their more than capable of maintaining national development phases in the wind tunnel of speed limits, it’s a goal best achieved Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina – or the through manual control instead of using fact that Mahindra likens the vertically the somewhat frenetic cruise control. mounted LED daytime-running lights on Consumption at steady speeds is excellent, its offering to the tear lines of a cheetah as confi rmed by our impressively low 5,3 – the XUV300 received universal praise L/100 km consumption over the course of from the CAR team for its well-considered our standardised fuel route. exterior packaging. In top-of-the-range W8 Raised ground clearance (to 180 mm) and specifi cation, this includes 17-inch alloy adapted to suit Indian driving conditions, wheels, chrome-look scuff plates front and the XUV is yet another Mahindra that is rear, a boot-mounted spoiler, colour-coded more than capable of coping with most mirrors and door handles, and “fashion rails” South African road surfaces, including (not to be confused with actual load-bearing The new XUV300 presents a strong step forward by Mahindra. (Photo: Supplied) gravel. Body roll is kept relatively well in roof rails). check, even fi tted with the upgraded 17-inch There’s more good news inside, where a was not fl agged as a major concern by the the standard specifi cation offered on the alloys of the W8 specifi cation (16-inch standard sunroof and light-coloured faux- CAR team. XUV300. On W8 derivatives (petrol and steel items on W6 models) and only severe leather upholstery (although ultimately less An area that did draw criticism, however, this diesel), this includes keyless entry, road imperfections have any impact on the practical than the black cloth items found is the relatively small luggage compartment dual-zone climate control, auto headlamps otherwise impressively pliant ride quality. elsewhere in the range) lend the cabin a (160 litres by our measurements), no doubt and wipers, cruise control, front and rear Another area where the XUV sets new light and airy feel. While hard plastics a concession of shortening the XUV300’s parking sensors (including a camera) and a standards for its maker is in stopping ability. abound, perceived levels of fi t and fi nish are profi le. Fortunately, a 60:40-split rear tyre-pressure-monitoring system together Where the TUV300 and recently tested impressive, while the XUV’s cabin includes backrest reveals 992 litres of utility with mobile phone-mirroring software (February 2019) KUV100 were let down myriad storage options. space. With these seats in place, both and satellite navigation, both operated by their braking performance, the newest A slight stretch over a relatively wide rear passenger leg- and headroom are via a touchscreen infotaiment system and Mahindra with its ABS-assisted discs-at- door sill fi nds a welcome tall default driving competitive for the segment. multifunction steering wheel. Standard all-corners braking system proved more position providing good visibility out of Where Mahindra could well steal a march safety equipment on the W8 includes Isofi x profi cient at tackling this all-important task, the cabin. The absence of reach adjustment on its competition and, indeed, invite foot child-seat anchorage points and a total of registering the brand’s fi rst-ever “good” (only rake is offered) on the steering column traffi c through its dealership doors is with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee rating in our books. S.A. Driving Car Care Annual Checklist CHECK FREQUENTLY School Dashboard indicator Learner’s licence / Drivers Licence lights, vehicle lights, tyre infl ation and K53, Code 08,A,B and C1 condition, windshield washer fl uid & engine Quality motor spares & body parts oil levels EVERY 3 MONTHS Tel: 017 632 2334 Naeem All of the above + 9 Turrien Road, Evander Automatic transmis- (Opp Taxi Rank) sion fl uid, battery and cables, belts, engine air motor spares fi lter, exhaust, hoses & power steering fl uid. Finestra Couriers EVERY 6 MONTHS All of the above + Andrè Pretorius Bethal Chassis lubrication & (Code 08): Areas wat ons dek: wiper blades • Gauteng • Bethal EVERY 9 MONTHS 084 341 6127 • Kriel • Middelburg Same checklist as ever Offi ce: • Witbank • Secunda 3 months • Evander • Kinross EVERY 12 MONTHS 074 996 5353 • Leandra • Ermelo Klein of groot, ons doen All of the above + • Trichardt Brakes, cabin air fi lter, 3 Lebombo str • Standerton enige vervoer! coolant (Antifreeze), steering and suspen- Secunda 083 509 1300 sion & wheel alignment 27 September 2019 | Secunda • Standerton • Bethal AUTODEALER 19 Biggest vehicle-exporters from SA in July 2019 According to Naamsa, the South African automotive industry’s July 2019 export sales registered a “substantial gain” year-on-year, refl ecting a climb of 22,1 percent, with 34 297 units shipped off during the month. So, let’s take a look at which automakers were the biggest exporters from South Africa for the month. In July, Mercedes-Benz held onto the top spot with 9 495 units of its C-Class exported from the East London plant. This represents an increase of 1 352 units, month on month. Ford, meanwhile, climbed three places to second, shipping off 9 253 units (comprising 9 247 units of the Ranger and six of the Everest) from its Silverton facility in the month. The Volkswagen Group dropped three places to fi fth, exporting 2 927 examples (down a whopping 3 366 units) of its Polo hatchback This represents a massive increase of 5 894 units over June’s effort. The BMW Group moved up one spot to third, with its Rosslyn plant churning out 6 788 examples of the X3 for foreign markets, representing an increase of 903 units compared with the preceding month. Toyota, meanwhile, fell one place to fourth, with an export fi gure of 4 689 units, Ford SA’s exports increased to 9 253 units in July 2019. (Photo: Supplied) including 4 494 examples of its Hilux, 148 units of the Fortuner and 47 of the Corolla hatchback from Uitenhage. Hardbody units and six units of the NP200), 1. Mercedes-Benz: 9 495 sedan (all built at its Prospecton factory). From what we understand, this decrease while seventh-place Isuzu improved by 2. Ford Motor Company: 9 253 This total is down 1 444 units on the is largely thanks to a strike at the Port 82 units to total 281 (including 276 units 3. BMW Group: 6 788 Japanese fi rm’s effort in June. of Ngqura preventing the factory from wearing the D-Max badge plus two MU-X 4. Toyota: 4 689 The Volkswagen Group dropped three receiving certain parts. units and three vehicles from its truck 5. Volkswagen Group: 2 927 places to fi fth, exporting 2 927 examples Nissan remained in sixth, with its exports division). 6. Nissan: 716 (down a whopping 3 366 units) of its Polo climbing 280 units to 716 (made up of 710 Biggest exporters for July 2019: 7. Isuzu: 281 Lizelle: 081 413 8863 - [email protected] | Petro: 083 755 0482 - [email protected] Tumi: 067 021 4394 - [email protected] | Liza: 017 634 7728 - [email protected] l 16 DAMWAL STR - BETHAL l CONTACT THE WINNING TEAM MILAN PARK MOTORS MUAZZAM OR NICOLENE AT 017 647 1146 OR 017 647 1503 13 PEUGEOT 508 1.6 THP ALLURE