Mahindra: New Cars 2012

By Tim Beissmann | January 27th, 2012

Indian manufacturer Mahindra will make its first venture into Australia’s passenger vehicle market in 2012 when it launches the XUV500. The seven-seat SUV joins the Mahindra Pik-Up, which will continue in its single and dual cab chassis and cargo body styles.

MAHINDRA XUV500

Vehicle type: Medium SUV. Timing: April

Mahindra’s first global SUV will arrive in Australia early in the second quarter of the year. With an estimated starting price $25,500 driveaway, Mahindra has set its sights squarely on the $25,990-driveaway, Chinese-built Great Wall X200. Powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine with 103kW and 330Nm of torque, the XUV500 will initially be available with a six-speed manual transmission (a six-speed automatic is under development and should launch by around mid-2013). It will be available in both rear- and four-wheel drive.

Mahindra says the seven-seater’s unique exterior is inspired by a pouncing cheetah. It promises to be well equipped with dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, reverse parking sensors, and a six-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation and DVD playback. Six airbags and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation will also be included as standard.

Noddy

Looks a better bet than the Great Wall.

Uog

Does it come with special roof, side, rear and front racks where you can pack 200 more Indians on? LOL

Should be good fuel economy, sure beats being cramped in an Indian bus hey, more wind to blow away the curry smell ROFL

Deano

Move over , here comes our next national Edinburgh Festival treasure, Uog.

Damn man, they should bottle you!

Deano

Wow, Disqus is trying to turn my sarcasm into SQL… that’s kinda cool.

anonygoose

Pretty sure that was HTML, not SQL.

Martin

You know it better because your convicted ancestors might have told you how they came in Australia in such a cramped boat which didn’t have any window to blow away their farts. You are great man.
Igomi Watabi

ah, the beauty of unmoderated website commentary – unfettered Aussie bogan racism.

Just as an aside, I thought I might comment on the car itself rather than taking an ignorant swipe at another country – I quite like the oversized wheelarch curving up into the glasshouse thing.

Anonymous

The moderators are slow on the uptake here. It’s taking Disqus five days to get around to this one, if they’re going to get around to it at all. I hit the flag five days ago and….nothing.

Igomi Watabi

It’s kinda disappointing that it’s even required

Henry Toussaint

I don’t understand how it looks like a pouncing cheetah, but any way it doesn’t look bad!
Anonymous

Thats not saying a lot! Its still butt ugly. But nice interior.
Atul

Mahindra xuv500,strong car sporty looks,far better than chinese junk great wall,chery and blah blah blah.In india within ten days 10000 cars sold company stop bookings .open again on 25th jan more than 10000 cars booked ,this car definetly will rock in oz.Mahindra on rise go for it
steve of sw

seeing more and more greatwalls on road everyday so people who say junk greatwall should really use their brain, bashing greatwall not gonna make indian cars popular.I quite like the look of this suv it has got an x-trail frontal looking, the interior looks good on computer screen, but not many people interested in indian cars anyway only few comments made here more than half of them from indians ,seriously indian car industry has got a long long way to go,i am curious to see how many of these would be on our road

UniversityOfGoogle

If I was Indian I would bag Chinese vehicles too, I mean what else can you do as an Indian but sit in China’s shadow? LOL
Atul

Mahindra does not need oz markets,mahindra does not need to be popular in oz its fine just the way it is.and rocks in Indian market anyway almost half of the people drive second hand car in Australia.

UniversityOfGoogle

Ye this car is too good for Australia, we can’t afford it here. They need to lower the safety rating to 2 stars, spray paint some leather and leave some curry stains on the floor before Aussies are eligible to buy.

Good advice, you just saved me like $70k on this vehicle.

Anonymous

That front end is nearly as gaudy as a HSV, just needs a few more vents n scoops n stuff.
Goal

Seems like a good deal. If the safety rating is any decent this would be a perfect family bus!

Lu

lol so ture, you should see the Chinese forum and how we bash Japanese cars..way much harder and desperate…

Anonymous

I kinda like it, 25k and it will sell.chances are will look better as a base model
Tarquin, Hair Artiste

Price, looks and 7 seats are all big pluses. Aussies will be cautious given that the Pikup is less than a stellar effort. Mahindra must do everything right and build their brand. I see them struggling to shift metal at least in the medium term. If quality and reliability are not good they will sink like a stone.
Atul

Mahindra registers over 25,000 bookings for XUV500 in India Again