Mahindra XUV300 AMT: In Pictures

Mahindra’s latest entrant in the sub-4 metre SUV category, the XUV300 was launched four months ago and impressed customers and critics alike with its fun to drive nature. Compared to its rivals, the only thing missing on the XUV300 was an automatic gearbox option.

However, that is all set to change as Mahindra is introducing an AMT gearbox option exclusively for the diesel variant, sourced from Magneti Marelli. We have already driven the new variant and you can read about our first impressions here. And while there is just one change on the outside, here’s a detailed look at what’s changed and what’s not in the Mahindra XUV300 AMT in pictures.

The only difference in the exterior of the Mahindra XUV300 AMT is an ‘AutoShift’ badge to help you spot this automatic variant.

Besides that, the XUV300 AMT retains all the exterior elements of its manual counterparts like the projector headlights, LED taillamps, LED DRLs, dual-tone OVRMs and blacked-out pillars.

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The AMT of the XUV300 will be a 6-speed gearbox that will be sourced from Magneti Marelli. It is expected to be available on all variants except the base-spec W4. Also, this AMT will be limited to the 1.5-litre diesel variants of the XUV300.

This system consists of the same gear ratios as the manual variant with a 12V DC motor to power the actuators and sensors for the 6-speed transmission. It also comes with a creep function for forward and reverse motions which should be useful in parking and traffic situations. What we also liked, was how the gear selector lever works. Where in cars like the Tata Nexon and the Maruti Brezza, the lever is conventional, in the XUV300 AMT, it is quite similar to the one you get on BMWs. It always stays in the centre regardless of the mode you are in, which makes shifting between modes easy.

Surprisingly, the shiny chrome inserts on the gear selector makes it stands out like a sore thumb in an otherwise great cabin. We feel soft touch leather would have blended in with the rest of the cabin better.

The XUV300 AMT also gets a Down Hill Drive system, which keeps the gearbox in a lower gear in downhill or ghat sections to aid engine braking. An anti-roll back system to avoid uphill rollbacks is also on offer.

On the inside, the XUV300 AMT carries over all interior features like the MID, electric roof, 7-inch infotainment system, climate control and all other gizmos and safety features from the manual models.

Under the hood, the Mahindra XUV300 gets both petrol and diesel engines, which will soon be BS6 compliant as well. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre motor which churns out 110PS of power and 200Nm of torque. On the other hand, the diesel engine is powered by a 1.5-litre motor that produces 115PS of power and 300Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission but only the diesel variant will offer the AMT gearbox as an option.The Mahindra XUV300 will also get a more powerful 1.2-litre GDI turbocharged petrol engine alongside the current petrol variant later this year. It will be a BS6-compliant engine which is likely to get the AMT gearbox option too alongside the 6-speed manual unit.

As we had pointed out in our review, the boot space is comparable to that of hatchbacks at best. However, the XUV300 has the longest wheelbase in the segment at 2600mm and also gets 60-40 split for the rear seats.

Despite a 2600mm wheelbase, the space inside isn't all that great. In fact, the legroom at the back is also comparable to that of a hatchback.

Currently, the top-spec XUV300 W8(O) MT is priced at Rs 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). And we expect the AMT version to be priced at a premium over the MT, coming up to around Rs 12.60 lakh. At that price, it can get very close to the Hyundai Creta. Aside from the Creta, the XUV300 also has rivals like the Hyundai Venue and the Ford EcoSport that offer more polished automatic gearboxes (in petrol versions) which will make life even more difficult for the XUV300 AMT.