Q.Mahindra KUV100 Detailed Review

The concept [USER="40"]Praveen[/USER] is called the Axe. That was a light military utility vehicle designed to meet Indian Army's specifications. However, after the evaluation, the army decided not to place an order. It looks mean though. I remember reading a feature on this a long while back in [I]Overdrive. [/I]I was completely smitten by its looks.

[USER="20"]NikilSJ[/USER] As you said, Mahindra could bring up a niche vehicle. Perhaps the civilian version of the Komodo? :D

The Komodo concept looks mean as hell!! This concept has the potential to actually become the Indian Hummer/ Humvee! Mahindra defence could actually reinforce the chassis, add a snorkel, light armour plating (at least to protect it from 7.62mm rounds), reduce the overhangs a bit and voila! I think it would be better than the Axe: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n11132[/ATTACH] Without being too bulky like the Marksman: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n11133[/ATTACH] Additionally the Komodo could have a roof mounted [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning"].50cal[/URL] gun or a [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_grenade_launcher"]40mm grenade launcher[/URL]. It would be [I]suweet[/I], right!

[QUOTE=MotuSid;n11116] Eh? That sounds counter-productive to me. Mahindra is not known for building good sedans - why would a potential customer suddenly take interest in a sedan from the company, even if the company does make one? There is a clear shift in trend showing people prefer SUVs or SUV-like vehicles as compared to other body styles - WORLD OVER. Mahindra should stick what they do best - no need to go into the sedan/hatchback market at all, unless they have a niche to fill. [/QUOTE] Mahindra is not known for for building sedans you say. That's because they've never even attempted to build one in the first place. But I agree with you that SUVs and crossovers are all the rage now and that Mahindra should stick to what they do best. All I am saying is they could bring in a niche sedan, may be like the Komodo to get rid of the 'tractor-maker' tag. That's all. Anyway, they are in a good place right now with the KUV, TUV and Bolero raking in the numbers for them.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n11043] Now that they are riding on a wave of success, I think they should put less focus on acquiring other companies and channel their resources to make a really good sedan. [/QUOTE] Eh? That sounds counter-productive to me. Mahindra is not known for building good sedans - why would a potential customer suddenly take interest in a sedan from the company, even if the company does make one? There is a clear shift in trend showing people prefer SUVs or SUV-like vehicles as compared to other body styles - WORLD OVER. Mahindra should stick what they do best - no need to go into the sedan/hatchback market at all, unless they have a niche to fill.

The Komodo concept looked fantastic and radical. I remember when I first saw that picture, gliding through the dust in a desert. They could try and put effort into making it a reality. I am not a huge fan of the way Aero concept looks, specially from this angle (above pic). Komodo looked nice, and had great proportions. Aero seems to have a huge fat ***. The rear looks too bulky. Komodo's rear was sleek and high of the ground. Or they could just put Aero into production but evolve the design to look more like the Komodo. The specs that were released about the Aero at the auto expo were really exciting, and Aero is more likely to be put into production. A 200+bhp engine is what I think they said. Considering it won't weigh anything more than the XUV does, it could be one fast car.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n11043][USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] the Verito doesn't count for me since it is a Dacia. Now that they are riding on a wave of success, I think they should put less focus on acquiring other companies and channel their resources to make a really good sedan. [/QUOTE] You mean Mahindra should channel its resources into making this concept - the Mahindra Komodo - into a reality? Remember this concept that went viral a couple of years ago? The Mahindra Komodo - I think it has great potential. On that note, remember the Mahindra XUV Aero showcased at the Auto Expo, a potential BMW X6 style vehicle at a much lower price point. The Mahindra Komodo concept: [ATTACH=CONFIG]n11103[/ATTACH] Another shot of the Mahindra Komodo - looks radical! [ATTACH=CONFIG]n11104[/ATTACH] And the Mahindra XUV Aero - it qualifies as a car doesn't it? [IMG]http://www.zigcdn.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=4186&d=1454564238&type=full[/IMG] More on the Mahindra XUV Aero Concept [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/4184-auto-expo-2016-mahindra-unveils-xuv-aero"]HERE[/URL]

Mahindra should definitely try and make a good sedan. Was wondering about it though. If there was a car designed by Fiat, chassis and suspension developed by Ford, interiors by Hyundai. Built with space of a Honda City and solidity of a Vento. Drop in an engine like the 1 litre ecoboost, or the 1.4 T Jet with 140BHP tune. I wish there was a car like that within 10-12 Lakhs budget. I'd buy it in a heart beat. I know it's too much to ask, but I was just wondering about it today morning. As for Mahindra though, I don't think people will readily accept a Sedan from them. It'll take some time to settle in.

[USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] the Verito doesn't count for me since it is a Dacia. Now that they are riding on a wave of success, I think they should put less focus on acquiring other companies and channel their resources to make a really good sedan.

[QUOTE=NikilSJ;n10861] Now maybe Mahindra should take some time out and try it's hand at making a sedan. A proper one, I don't want any of this crossover thing happening there. It can be designed by Pinninfarina and borrow the engines from the KUV100 or TUV300 mHawk100, what do you say?[/QUOTE] The Mahindra Verito does not count? It's a proper spacious sedan :cool:. Mahindra has not had much luck with cars - the Verito and the Verito Vibe are nothing to write home about. At least, the Verito still sold some decent numbers, but the Vibe tanked. Mahindra, I suppose, will stick to its core competency, which is making SUVs - micro SUVs, mini SUVs, compact SUVs, full size SUVs and MUVs.

The KUV100 was [USER="21"]JijoMalayil[/USER]'s mode of choice for the last 20-odd days. I had a go at it once and it felt very peppy. The dashboard-mounted gear lever made me feel like a rally driver with a sequential box. Initially, the height of the vehicle was bit concerning as I've never been in such a tall hatchback, but soon you start appreciating the height as you see other SUV drivers at an almost eye-to-eye level. Talk about giving and taking respect! Like Jijo mentioned, the cabin is very spacious for a vehicle in that segment. The flat floor really helps too. However, the bootlid is a bit high-set and quite narrow too. Only grouse I had was that I felt the KUV100 was undertyred, a size bigger would not have gone amiss. But nonetheless, it's great to see an Indian manufacturer make a good hatchback like this. Now maybe Mahindra should take some time out and try it's hand at making a sedan. A proper one, I don't want any of this crossover thing happening there. It can be designed by Pinninfarina and borrow the engines from the KUV100 or TUV300 mHawk100, what do you say?

Seems like Mahindra have created a lot of buzz via their campaigns. I must say, being a small car, the Mahindra has done a commendable job of offering much needed extra space compared to its rivals in the segment. Lets say the segment leader Swift being a proportionate car, it still lacks the space. What KUV excels is the styling department. For a layman, the KUV is still a SUV which is feature rich, a 6 seater (as advertised) with loads of space. It's definitely not a enthusiast's car but the SUV image Mahindra has made in the customer would definitely make sales better.

[B]Forum’s First Long Short Term Report[/B] What was supposed to be a quick two day stint with Mahindra’s smallest offering, the KUV100, turned out to be long a 21 day affair. You guys would be wondering why? Folks at Mahindra forgot to pick up the car, and we had the chance to put the “Micro SUV” to an extensive test on Delhi roads and on the highways. [IMG]http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=9443&d=1462422213&type=full[/IMG] So, how did it fair? First, the KUV100 looks like a rodent, a weird one though, waiting to just run away. It took some time for me to get adjusted to fact, how terrible the car looks from the profile. Saving grace is when viewed head on, looks like the Ecosport’s distant cousin. The rear is also a mismatch of lines and bulges. When you get past that, the KUV100 is one practical car for your daily city drive. What impressed us was the space on offer. The high-set cabin makes getting in & out a breeze. The car is wide and the flat floor is well enough to seat three at the back comfortably. Headroom on offer is also descent even for six-footers at the back. My six-footer roommate passed out flat on the KUV’s back seat and slept like a baby. All four windows roll down completely, but the placement of the rear door handles on the C-pillar, hampers view outside for the rear seat occupants. Issues concerning the interiors are the high-set oddly shaped dashboard that obstructs the view in front. Even with the seat adjusted to highest position, I could barely see the bonnet. Second would be the poor rear visibility, courtesy a small rear windscreen. Third would be the limited range (wide angle) provided by the high-set rear view mirrors, and you get wind noise from these non-aerodynamically designed mirrors, once you cross say 80-90 kmph. [IMG]http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=9455&d=1462423720&type=full[/IMG] Now to the features, we had the range-topping K8 diesel variant with us, which came with all the bells and whistles. Small features like the mood lights really lifts up the cabin ambience in an otherwise dull interior. The infotainment system is mediocre, and the monochromatic screen looks outdated. But, the system is functional and easy to use. The steering mounted audio controls helps in this regard. The Bluetooth telephony works brilliantly, and the system will memorize 5 phones recently paired to the system. The AC is really effective in the KUV100, in this 46 degree Celsius heat in Delhi, the unit cooled the cabin in no time. And there was hardly any lag in performance when it was switched on. Build quality and plastics used is superior to say Maruti Suzuki cars, but the textures and overall design feels a little too tacky. Now to the placement of the gear lever, I loved it. But, this being a five seat variant, gets no extra seat/central armrest when folded. After a point of time, your hand gets tired reaching out for the gear stick. Now, to the push-type handbrake, it’s an absolute pain to use, and you constantly keep searching for the handbrake at the usual spot. The dead pedal is a joke, as your feet hits the protruding dash. Okay, this review is getting long! 1.2 litre 3-cylinder diesel motor is one peppy performer. This motor is rev-happy and you get a linear surge of power after the 2000 rpm and stays strong till say 4000 rpm. Overtaking is a breeze, aim for that gap, drop a gear, coupled with KUV’s compact proportions make it fun! Push it past 4000 rpm, the motor fizzes out. You can hold to triple digit speeds easily with the rev meter settling down just above 2700 rpm. All these are experienced in the Power mode that KUV100 comes with. Put it in 'Eco' mode and the KUV100 gets extremely sluggish. The fuel supply is cut off after the 2000 rpm mark and KUV100 struggles to gather momentum. Although, Eco mode is usable in the stop and go city traffic and during highways runs, use it only if you don’t mind travelling at a constant 80 kmph. There is the usual three cylinder clatter at idle, but it gets better once you gather momentum. The cabin is insulated fairly well and you hardly get to hear the engine, tyre and wind noise inside. One thing that Mahindra has to be given credit is the brilliant suspension setup. Over broken roads and rough patches, the KUV100 will keep its occupants fairly comfortable. We took to the through a off-road patch in Delhi, and to our surprise, the occupants were hardly thrown around. And, that is seriously impressive for a small car. Handling is good for a tall-boy design car. Minimal body roll and heavier kerb weight ensures a planted ride. But, it's no hatchback either, corners at anything over 70 kmph, and your heart skips a beat. Now to the all-important question, [I]kitna dethi hai? [/I]Fuel efficiency, I managed close to 15 kmpl (Power Mode) in Delhi traffic conditions. On the highway, a 500 kilometer run with the AC turned on, the KUV100 returned a healthy 18-19 kmpl (Power Mode). Note that the car was barely 5000 kilometer run and this figure is bound to go up with consecutive services. [IMG]http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=9442&d=1462421932&type=full[/IMG] So, can I live with the KUV100? I can, but I don’t need one (being a bachelor) to be honest! I would still go for a hatch like the Ford Figo or say a Honda Jazz (With a 7 lakh rupee budget) which are better to drive. But if space, features and VFM is your priority and you can forgive how it looks, KUV100 makes perfect sense.

[USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] you should push Mahindra hard for that refund :p . The KUV100 seems like a brilliant car but it's just the styling I can't get used to. The mFalcon D75 three-cylinder diesel seems to have adequate power for this heavy car. However, the three-cylinder thrum that you hear when you push it hard could have been contained much better. ​But like [USER="40"]Praveen[/USER] said, it rides much better than the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. Not so sure if it is better than the EcoSport though. I also feel that the dashboard is set too high. I couldn't see the end of the bonnet (isn't that one of the joys of driving an SUV!) with the driver's seat set to its highest position. Like [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] mentioned, the view out the back too is very bad. The thick C-pillars don't help either. With [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/topics/car-and-bike-research/upcoming-cars-and-bikes/9311-maruti-suzuki-ignis-to-be-launched-during-diwali/page2"]Maruti Suzuki's 'active lifestyle crossover' IGNIS[/URL] around the corner, do you think the KUV100 can continue to hold its fort?

[USER="6"]Roshun[/USER] The suspension, in my opinion was much better than the more expensive options like [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/8793-maruti-suzuki-vitara-brezza-vs-ford-ecosport-detailed-comparison"]Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Ford Ecosport.[/URL] Not even on a single occasion was I thrown around when we were navigating through the off-road route. The rebound is just about right and the suspension can handle most of the road undulations. I loved the way Mahindra has integrated the tool-box and the spare wheel. Pretty neat!

[B]Mahindra KUV100 K8 Features[/B] I've got to hand it to Mahindra for really loading the KUV100 up with a lot of features. And for the unique design - allowing it to be legally called a six-seater. The KUV100 has more features than many of the premium hatchbacks in the same price bracket have. The instrument console is fairly comprehensive with easy to read speedometer and tachometer. The fuel and temperature gauge form part of the MID, which also has a gear shift indicator (shows you which gear you are in). The needles of the tacho and speedo are lit and the red reflection from the needle falls on the gauge as it moves, giving it a nice sporty touch. The needles do a full sweep of the console when you switch on the ignition. Odometer and two trip meters are also part of the MID. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9491[/ATTACH] The steering feels nice to grip and is well contoured. The silver accent is a nice touch. The steering audio controls are large and have a good clickable feel to it. The horn is a bit meek sounding. Note the airbag as standard on this top-end K8 variant. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9492[/ATTACH] The most unique feature of the Mahindra KUV100 though is this "arcade gaming" style gear lever. It is really easy to use and throws are short and precise. The position of the gear lever actually allows for some sporty driving. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9493[/ATTACH] Notice the distance from the steering wheel when it's in fifth gear? It makes it very flickable. Just reach out with your fingers and downshift to fourth, reach up flick to third. I guess that's why I see KUV100s usually being pretty quick about town. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9494[/ATTACH] The AC controls are well laid out towards the left of the gear lever. The buttons are large and intuitive to use. The overall plastic fit and finish is pretty good. The AC too is a chiller in 40 degree centigrade heat. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9495[/ATTACH] But what's not so nice is the position of the hand brake. It's the old school pull and twist to release type handbrake. In the six-seater version this fouls with the middle passenger's legs and is difficult to use. Also even in the five-seater variant if the driver's knee knocks the handbrake it tends to release on its own. There's a 12 volt charging point there, buy you will have to have a fairly long charging cable as your phone would be in the storage bin between the seats (or on the middle seat in the six-seater). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9496[/ATTACH] The switch gear is the conventional type - the same as the Mahindra Scorpio, with headlight and fog light controls on the right stalk and wipers on the left stalk. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9497[/ATTACH] A quick look at the blue lounge lighting operated by the switch next to the sunglass holder. All the door handles in the car light up with this blue backlighting. Looks pretty cool at night. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9498[/ATTACH] The infotainment system is a bit fiddly. That joystick control to switch on and shift stations or settings is not really easy to use. The system can play USB, Aux, Bluetooth and AM/FM radio, but no CD player. It has a range of equalizer settings, but sound quality is not great. It definitely needs a speaker upgrade. There are four speakers, in all four doors and two tweeters on the A-pillars. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9502[/ATTACH] The system also displays fuel efficiency information. It only shows the range and not instant fuel economy. It also shows alerts if the driver's seat belt is not worn (in addition to the light on the instrument panel and the beeping) or doors are open. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9503[/ATTACH] The doors auto lock when the vehicle crosses 20 kmph. This is also the speed at which the seat belt warning gets displayed on the system. Another safety feature - if the vehicle is in gear and you try to crank it, it won't start. It will only start in neutral or if the clutch is pressed. Airbag on the passenger's side. Note the tweeter on the A-pillar as well. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9504[/ATTACH] Interior gets a single central LED light that has that theatre-dimming effect. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9505[/ATTACH] And here's a view from the driver's seat. This is the point of view that a 5-foot 6-inch driver (Nikil SJ) would get from the driver's seat, with the seat at max height. One has to drive by intuition as the bonnet is not visible. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9506[/ATTACH] [B]Mahindra KUV100 K8 diesel Performance and Handling[/B] The Mahindra KUV100 is powered by a three-cylinder 1.2 litre diesel engine that puts out 77PS of power at 4000 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 1750 rpm. It comes mated to a slick, five-speed gearbox that powers the front wheels. Steering is electronically assisted. This new mFalcon unit is a new development by Mahindra - the D75 in this vehicle is the diesel, while the petrol gets G80 (84PS power) badging. There is insulation under the bonnet that helps with sound deadening, but you can still hear this motor. It's pretty gruff. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9524[/ATTACH] The ECU is also placed in the engine bay, just behind the battery. The air intake is rather unique, sucking in air from the left fender area. The entire set up is pretty tightly packed. You can't see the ground from the engine bay, as there's a full shield underneath. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9525[/ATTACH] Start up the KUV100 and you are greeted with a distinct diesel clatter. You will know it's a three cylinder given the vibrations that come out of this unit. The clutch is fairly light, but clutch travel is quite deep. The gearbox though is a gem. Just flick it into first gear and roar out. It has an anti-stall feature, so it will pull away at idle as well. I first tried driving it with Eco Mode switched on. The engine was pretty sluggish. It would pull very linearly and take its time building revs. But the moment I put it into "Power" mode it just livens up. You can actually feel the engine rev much more easily. Take it past 3000 rpm and upshift and you should be flying along pretty nicely. The sweet spot of this motor is at the 2,000 rpm mark. At that rpm in fifth gear it's cruising along steadily at 80 kmph, with enough power left for overtaking. It revs pretty easily to 4000 rpm and is quite eager to please. Given the compact dimensions of this micro-SUV and the rev-happy diesel motor with lots of torque coming in at lower rpm, I found myself pulling away pretty quickly from traffic signals in city traffic. It's only when you get past 100 kmph that it begins to lose some of its flamboyance. At 130 kmph, things have pretty much settled down and there's not much more steam left. Given the road, I'm sure it will do more, but the point of this SUV is not speed. It's the city drivability that matters and on that front it delivers beautifully. The gearbox is slick and easy to use. I found myself using it more than necessary just because it was within easy reach. That said, after a while your arm can tire as you have to keep raising it to shift gears. The six-seater one has a convenient drop down armrest (when you drop down the seat back) on which you can rest your left arm and keep shifting gears. The steering is electronically assisted. It has a decent amount of heft to it and does not require too much effort. However, at higher speeds, there's not much feedback from it and it feels a bit vague. It's best used at city speeds. The suspension is pretty good. We took the KUV100 on a pretty bad patch of road in which my Scorpio usually throws me about. But the KUV100 handled it quite nicely keeping occupants in comfort. Cornering in the KUV100 can get a bit hairy. It is top heavy and the small sized wheels don't inspire much confidence for sharp turns. My advice would be to just drive it sanely and you won't have a problem with it. It has 170 mm of ground clearance which is more than adequate for most roads. [B]A quick competition check: [/B] [IMG]http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=2872&d=1453195381&type=full[/IMG] [B]What I think[/B] The Mahindra KUV100 ticks all the right boxes for a buyer who wants SUV like feel in a hatchback. It is creating a segment of its own and will be a hit with buyers who have to especially negotiate bad roads. It's the ideal car for someone who wants a sporty little vehicle, that is both utilitarian and stylish enough to run about town.

The boot opening is fairly narrow, which is mainly because of the large tail lamps that eat into the space. It is also fairly deep. There is a sturdy, well contoured parcel tray on top. The boot lid is held up by two pneumatic struts. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9482[/ATTACH] There's a 12 volt charging point at the rear, located on the right hand side for rear seat passengers to charge their phones. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9483[/ATTACH] A conveniently located boot lamp on the left side lights up the boot. The parcel tray is fitted quite firmly and does not rattle. It can be easily removed if you want to fold the rear seats. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9484[/ATTACH] Folding the single piece rear seat back and pulling up the seat base so that the seat back and sit flat on the floor frees up 473 litres of luggage space. This is useful if you have to haul quite a bit of luggage in this micro-SUV. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9485[/ATTACH] The spare tyre is not an alloy, but is a steel wheel. I like the way Mahindra has neatly integrated all the tools into a tray that sits in the middle of the spare tyre. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9486[/ATTACH] More storage space in the rear doors. One-litre water bottles comfortably fit in the door pockets. The fabric on the arm rest though was beginning to show signs of wear already. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9487[/ATTACH] Features, Performance and Handling, Variants and Comparison in the following posts.

[B]Mahindra KUV100 Design and Styling[/B] [I][B]Interiors[/B][/I] Step into the Mahindra KUV100 and you will be pleasantly surprised by what this little Mahindra has to offer. Sure, the designers have gone a little overboard here too, with the use of various textures and materials. I can well imagine a design meeting at Mahindra's design studios going like this: [I]Chief Designer: I want beige interiors with a granular texture Designer 1: Done Chief Designer: Or how about silver accents Designer 1: Let's add that too, around the dash Chief Designer: Maybe the top of the dash should have a fabric like chequered plastic texture? Designer 1: Added that too. How about some piano black strips around the centre of the dash, extending to the door panels? Chief Designer: Awesome, add that. Wait, we need matt black too! Designer 1: Chief, let's put that in the centre console and around the instrument panel. Let's use a different texture for the lower portion of the dash. Chief Designer: Yes, sounds good. [/I] And after all that, what do you get? This. Grey chequered top. Check. Piano black inserts. Check. Silver accents. Check. Beige granular texture. Check. Wow. They left nothing to chance here. But, it has all come together in a good way. The dash does look unique, of course, because of that slick dash-mounted gear lever. The centre of the dash though is a bit too high and hampers forward visibility. Plastic quality is pretty decent - this is an area that Mahindra has significantly improved itself in recent times. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9455[/ATTACH] The front doors open wide in three stages allowing you to easily get into this spacious cabin, with well contoured fabric seats that have good support and cushioning all around. Considering the price segment that the KUV100 is operating in, it has really good fit and finish to the plastics. Notice the double beading - one on the frame and on the door (below), which try to keep wind noise out. The B-pillars have black out tape that is of even better quality than what Mahindra puts on the Scorpio. :confused: The steering is height adjustable and is at its max setting in the photo. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9456[/ATTACH] The door is pretty chunky and closes with a hefty thud, befitting of an SUV. Both front doors get deep one-litre bottle holders and door pockets that are fairly easily accessible. Notice the fabric insert on the arm rest to keep your elbows happy. Door handles of the KUV100 are of good quality and don't feel flimsy (again, why am I being shortchanged on the Scorpio?). Power window switches are average. Don't have auto up/down function. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9457[/ATTACH] There's an LED puddle lamp under each of the four doors in the K8 variant. The rubber beading on the door does a good job of sound insulation. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9458[/ATTACH] The driver's foot well is nicely spaced out. There's also a dead pedal, but it's not very useable, because the driver's knee will foul with the dashboard if you place it there. See photo below. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9459[/ATTACH] Notice how a 6-foot driver's left knee hits the centre console if he tries keeping his foot on the dead pedal? Some ergonomic issues like this need to be sorted out. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9460[/ATTACH] Driver's seat on the K8 variant is height adjustable. This is a boon for shorter drivers as they need to keep it at max height to see over that high set dashboard. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9462[/ATTACH] The boot opening and fuel lid levers are on the floor next to the driver's seat. The fit and finish could have been better though as it looks a little crude. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9463[/ATTACH] The extreme right console near the driver has the power mirror adjustment control, the headlamp levelling control, the ESS (Start-Stop system, what Mahindra calls Micro-Hybrid in other vehicles), and the Power / Eco mode button in the diesel variant. When the ESS system is turned on, if you come to a standstill, put the car in neutral and take your foot off the clutch, it switches off in about four seconds, with a yellow "A" light on the instrument console blinking to indicate the system is functional. To move off, just press the clutch again and it will start. The Power / Eco mode switch helps conserve fuel - especially if you are driving in bumper to bumper traffic. Switching to Power mode makes a huge difference to performance. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9461[/ATTACH] A nice little utility drawer that sits under the switch console on the right and can hold toll tickets, change or other stuff. The KUV100 has lots of little spaces to store stuff. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9464[/ATTACH] Case in point being this large bin in the five-seat variant. The six-seater gets a removable tray under the passenger seat. The KUV100 has far more storage space inside than the Mahindra Scorpio (again, a reason I should be asking for a refund). Two cupholders here, a mobile holding slot behind that, a large storage tray behind that and a bottle holder behind that! [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9465[/ATTACH] Illuminated key ring allows you to find the slot in the dark. A good point to note is that the power windows in the KUV100 operate in the accessory position itself, you don't have to switch the ignition on for it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9466[/ATTACH] More storage space. The sunglass holder in the roof of the KUV100 (again, Scorpio not looking good here) has a soft backing inside to prevent your glasses from rattling about. The switch next to the Bluetooth microphone controls the lounge lighting in the car. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9467[/ATTACH] Inside rear view mirror is the flipping day-night type, but has limited field of view because of the small rear windshield. No vanity mirror in the KUV100 though - was that an oversight? [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9468[/ATTACH] More storage space. The glove box is deep and has a pen holder and card holder built in. It has an opening and closing flap (top right) that allows chilled AC air to circulate through it to keep your drinks and chocolates cold. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9469[/ATTACH] Visibility out of the rear window is restricted, especially when the headrests are raised (for all three passengers at the rear). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9470[/ATTACH] And the limited view from the outside rear-view mirrors (ORVMs) don't help matters much. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9471[/ATTACH] In fact, rear seat passengers - although comfortable with the space the car has - will feel a bit claustrophobic given the small size of the rear window. It does roll down all the way though. That quarter glass space has been taken up by the door handle mechanism. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9472[/ATTACH] The rear is wide enough to seat three abreast. Shoulder room is good for three average sized adults - in this case Jijo, Praveen and I. (Big shout out to Nikil SJ for the photos, before I forget). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9473[/ATTACH] Legroom is fairly decent for even a six-footer like Jijo. Headroom is a bit scarce though at the rear. Here the front seat has been pushed all the way back and yet there is enough legroom. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9474[/ATTACH] And if you push the seats forward to a comfortable position, rear seat legroom is not a problem at all. There's a nice tumble down armrest with cup holders for the rear seat passengers too. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9475[/ATTACH] The floor at the rear is absolutely flat allowing even the middle passenger to sit comfortably. And here's one of the KUV100's unique features - an underfloor storage compartment (which Mahindra says is for your shoes!) that can be put to plenty of uses! [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9476[/ATTACH] However, when you head towards the boot you will notice a couple of problem areas. The KUV100 offers 243 litres of boot space, but it does not seem entirely useable. Getting luggage into the boot is a bit of a task because of the large loading lip.

[B]Mahindra KUV100 Design and Styling[/B] [I][B]Exteriors[/B][/I] As I said before, the design and styling of the Mahindra KUV100 is pretty quirky. The front looks like it has some inspiration from the Ford EcoSport (See this [B][URL="http://www.zigcdn.com/forum/filedata/fetch?id=2825&d=1453104750&type=full"]MEME[/URL][/B]), but it does carry off that aggressive look pretty well with the muscular bonnet, chunky fenders and headlamps that look like they stretch all the way back to the A-pillar - what Mahindra calls "sunglass style", just to add to that "Kool" factor. The rear of the KUV100 also looks quite decent with those twin barrel tail-lamps really standing out. The rear bumper gets dual fog lamps with a chrome surround, similar to the style of the front fog lamps. But look at the KUV100 from the side and you fill find it kind of odd looking. While the front has that SUVish stance, with a muscular bonnet, the cabin area is rounded off, more like the old Korean tallboy hatchback (the Santro). There are just too many design elements involved. The slash and curve that starts from the rear door and goes across to the boot. Another indent on the lower portion of the door. The bonnet line carries on into the front door. And then an inconsistency in design - the rear door handle is where the quarter glass should have been (like the Chevrolet Beat), while the front door has a conventional pull-type handle. Then you have the high-set "pumping fist" rear view mirrors, that are a bit narrow. Because of the tall-boy design, the 14-inch wheels seem a little small for it. But that's just my opinion. Most people seem content with the way it looks - it's not a deal breaker for sure. The front has a mean look. The large bumper and dual-tone cladding adds to that aggressive stance. Mahindra has its trademark grille with the claws outlined in chrome. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9423[/ATTACH] The sunglass style headlamps stretch all the way to the A-pillar. The left hand fender has the Engine badging - "Powered by mFalcon" in it. At the end of the strip is the turn indicator and the engine type badging is on the fender. In this case, it's the D75 mFalcon - the 1.2 litre, three-cylinder diesel that puts out 77PS of power and 190 Nm of torque. (Notice the drooping left wiper - it was not working on our test car). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9424[/ATTACH] The headlights are large conventional type H4 headlamps. The beam throw from these are decent enough, but could do with an upgrade. The LED daytime running lights (DRLs) are pretty bright and remain on always. They dim a bit when you turn the switch to the pilot lamp/parking lamp position. Notice the colour coded strip that runs through the headlamp, matching the body colour. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9425[/ATTACH] The right hand side fender has the KUV100 badging in the plastic strip that extends from the headlamp. Those wiper arms look a little out of place in the overall design. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9437[/ATTACH] The KUV100 comes with 170 mm of ground clearance. The front gets a faux skid plate. Again, I'm a little suspicious of overall quality, as that plastic air deflector just below the skid plate had come loose. It could just be a one-off case of this media car being badly driven. The top part of the grille has the intercooler, while air to the radiator is served by the lower portion of the grille. It gets a full engine guard. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9438[/ATTACH] A look at the chrome-lined vertically stacked foglamp that has a 35-watt H11 bulb in it. Fog lamps are just about adequate. Buyers could do with a headlamp bulb upgrade for a better throw of light. The matt-black cladding across the lower body is a nice "SUV" touch, which will help prevent scratches on rough roads. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9439[/ATTACH] The rear of the KUV100 is pretty appealing. Those double-barrel rectangular tail-lamps. The outer lamps have dual filament bulbs, and are the brake lamps. Below them is a thin strip that has the turn indicators and reverse lamps. In the lower, matt-black portion of the bumper are the trapezoidal rear fog lamps. Not many cars in this segment have them. For that matter, not many cars in a few segments above also have rear fog lamps - a key safety feature, especially in foggy winters. The rear stop lamp should have been in the spoiler instead of eating into the already tiny rear windshield. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9440[/ATTACH] The rear wiper is a bit out of place. Most cars these days have the wiper fixed on the rear windshield. This one stretches across from the hatch lid, almost covering the Mahindra badge. Notice how that muscular crease that starts on the side wraps on to the hatch lid. The issue with this design though is that the amount of loading space you get is quite low, as the tail-lamps are single-piece and eat into the boot opening. Plus it has a pretty high loading lip. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9441[/ATTACH] Viewed from the rear three quarter angle, you can see how this curvy design all comes together. See that crease line - really prominent. I personally think it was uncalled for. Did Mahindra want to make it seem like a two door? Why shift the door handle to the quarter glass area? [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9442[/ATTACH] The side profile is not really the vehicle's best view. The 14-inch alloys look at little too small given the vehicle's height. The rear looks too chopped short, again possibly because of the small rear window on the rear door of this KUV100. It would have looked better if the handle was in the conventional spot, but then it wouldn't have been "Kool", would it? [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9443[/ATTACH] The "clenched pumping fist" rear view mirrors may look "Kool" but their field of view is pretty narrow. They are power adjustable and yes, they do fold forward in case a biker knocks them. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9444[/ATTACH] The 14-inch spider web design alloy wheels look nice, but seem a tad too small given the overall dimensions of the vehicle. The wheel arch is neither round nor rectangular. The KUV100 rides on 185/65 R14 tyres. Mud flaps are integrated into the cladding, front and rear. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9445[/ATTACH] There's no cladding inside the rear wheel wells, leaving a lot of stuff exposed. It's also probably one of the reasons for the road noise you hear in the cabin. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9446[/ATTACH] The KUV100 gets a semi-independent twist beam rear suspension. This set up is commendable and does a good job of flattening out undulations on the road. Ride quality is surprisingly good at speeds of up to 100 kmph. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9447[/ATTACH] Fuel filler cap is on the left, as it should be. It is remotely openable via a lever on the floor near the driver's seat. Diesel labelling very prominent - as the KUV100 comes in both petrol and diesel models, and it's difficult to immediately spot the difference. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9448[/ATTACH] Interior Detailing, Performance and Handling, Variants and Comparisons in the following posts.

[B]Mahindra KUV100 K8 Diesel Test Drive and Review[/B] If I were ever to drive into uncharted territory, I would most likely be driving a Mahindra vehicle, as most of them are known for their tough, go anywhere, rugged appeal. So it doesn't really come as a surprise that Mahindra wants to take this SUV appeal further down the price ladder, appealing to an entirely new set of buyers - buyers who would previously be considering utilitarian hatchbacks - with a vehicle that essentially carves up a new segment for itself, that of micro-SUVs. Meet the [B][URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/1048-mahindra-s101-spied-edit-kuv100-announced"]Mahindra KUV100[/URL][/B]. (Kool Utility Vehicle One Double Oh!) :rolleyes: We have been following this vehicles development over the years with plenty of spy shots showing up, but we didn't quite expect it would turn out the way it has. This vehicle gets mixed reactions. Some like it for being bold and in-your-face. Some, not so much. Personally, I think it makes a strong case for itself, design quirks aside. The Mahindra KUV100, you shouldn't forget, is priced between [URL="http://www.zigwheels.com/mahindra-cars/KUV100"][B]Rs. 4.42 lakh and Rs. 6.76 lakh[/B][/URL] - a price point that just blows many hatchbacks and premium hatchbacks out of the water with the kind of features and utility it offers. And many first in segment features! The booking numbers and the number of KUVs seen on the road We recently had the Mahindra KUV100 K8 Diesel for a detailed road test and review. This is the five-seater variant, not the six seater. We did drive the six-seater Mahindra KUV100 K8 1.2 litre petrol variant as well a couple of months back and I'm including a driving impression of that later in this thread. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n9400[/ATTACH] [B]What I like about the Mahindra KUV100[/B] * A hatchback with SUV appeal, it has road presence * Neat gear lever mounted on the dash frees up floor space and is very slick to use. * Spacious interiors can easily seat five. * Diesel engine is pretty quick when driven in "Power" mode. Comes with two drive modes "Power" and "Eco" for those who want better fuel efficiency * Very nice suspension set up - good ride quality at city speeds and on bad roads. * Plenty of storage spaces and cubby holes - under seat (in 6 seater), centre console, space even under the rear floor! * Features - lounge lighting, follow-me home lamps, daytime running lamps, puddle lamps, powered mirrors, Bluetooth with BlueSense app, chilled glove box, child seat mounting points, rear fog lamps. Heck, I feel short-changed now with my Scorpios, they don't have half these features - Mahindra, I want a refund! * Apparently meets 2017 crash test norms and all variants come standard with ABS. Airbags are an option on lower variants and standard on the top. Good move! [B]What I don't like about the Mahindra KUV100[/B] * The vehicle looks quirky - the styling is way overdone, too many cuts and curves just because it had to have that "SUV" touch * The vibrations of the three-cylinder diesel are pretty evident at idle, even the petrol motor sounds rough. * Road noise creeps into the cabin - you get a droning sound at higher speeds * The ergonomics could be better - the dashboard is too high, hampering visibility, rear-view mirrors have restricted field of view, rear window is too small because of the high-set door handle and rear windshield is too small. * Some quality issues - our test car at just 4,100 km had its front left wiper come loose and a loose contact with one of the DRLs. * It feels too heavy compared to other hatchbacks. (Kerb weight is apparently 1150 Kg making it heavier than most other hatchbacks. Mahindra isn't giving out the official figure). [B]Standout features of the KUV100[/B] * The number of features it offers at the price point - DRLs, lounge lighting, puddle lamps etc. * Safety features are given priority - ABS on all variants, meets future crash test norms [B]Who should consider buying the KUV100[/B] The Mahindra KUV100 is a micro-SUV, creating a new segment for itself. It competes with hatchbacks and premium hatchbacks on price. Those who want a vehicle that has sporty appeal, has a slightly taller driving position and can handle rough roads pretty easily should consider the KUV100. On the value for money front it checks all the right boxes.