Could This Be The Most Powerful Sub-4 Metre SUV Ever?

• Mahindra XUV300 Sportz to be powered by an updated 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine.
• The engine now features direct injection, which the standard petrol model lacks.
• It will develop 130PS and 230Nm, making it the most powerful sub-4m SUV yet.
• Will initially be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission, automatic likely to come later.
• Shown at the 2020 Auto Expo, the XUV300 Sportz will get red accents inside-out for distinction.
• It’s likely to launch later this year.

A Mahindra XUV300 test mule has been spotted testing, raising speculation it could be the Sportz variant. Shown off at the Auto Expo 2020, the XUV300 Sportz was expected to launch in April last year, but has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also clinch the crown of the ‘most powerful sub-4 metre SUV’ once it goes on sale.  

The XUV300 Sportz will come with the updated 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine developing 130PS of power and 230Nm of torque, making it 20PS and 30Nm more powerful than the standard model. The jump in power can be attributed to the new engine’s direct injection, which the standard petrol model lacks. It will initially come with a 6-speed manual transmission, but we expect an automatic to be provided later. The standard XUV300 petrol was recently provided with an AMT. 

Here’s how the new turbo-petrol engine compare against the standard petrol and diesel models:

Along with the engine update, Mahindra will provide the XUV300 Sportz a host of cosmetic enhancements. The simplest way to tell this new variant apart are the red brake callipers and body decals. Even the interior gets a dose of red on the steering wheel and seat upholstery along with a black dashboard.  

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Mahindra is yet to give us a definite timeline regarding the XUV300 Sportz’s launch, but we expect it to happen later this year. And when it does, it will become the most powerful sub-4 metre SUV in the market. The XUV300 Sportz will lock horns with the Kia Sonet Turbo, Hyundai Venue Turbo, Tata Nexon, and the Ford EcoSport.

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