Mahindra NuvoSport : Detailed Review

Given the typical Indian buyer’s penchant for wanting more for less, car makers are always creating niches within niches to offer something different. It isn’t surprising to see different products from the same manufacturer jostle for space alongside their own siblings, especially in the sub ten lakh rupee space. Take for instance Mahindra, who has a range of products in the space. And the latest addition to its sub 4-metre SUV line-up is the NuvoSport. The NuvoSport is essentially a replacement to the erstwhile Quanto and slots in between the KUV100 and TUV300. The Quanto is what started the sub 4-metre craze, and was launched even before the much hyped Ford EcoSport, but didn’t quite set sales charts on fire. The NuvoSport, Mahindra hopes will do precisely that.

Interestingly, the NuvoSport isn’t just a restyled Quanto, but boasts extensive changes inside out. Mahindra says there’s only a few body panels and some parts shared while the engine and chassis are completely different. Ostensibly, one might think why the NuvoSport when Mahindra has the TUV300, but the manufacturer is clear about both products catering to different sets of buyers despite both being sub 4-metre, seven seater SUVs. 

Styling is what sets the two apart primarily – the TUV300 is conventional and more butch looking, while the NuvoSport looks very unique and modern, especially from the front. Its front looks very distinctive thanks to the split headlights with LED daytime running lamps above the headlamp unit. Wide, vertical grille slats add to the muscular stance and so does the air scoop on the hood. The sides and rear fail to keep up with the appealing design of the front, as they look softer and in fact the rear is where the NuvoSport shares its design with the Quanto. The tail light housing, slightly curved rear, spare wheel mount and cover are all from the Quanto. Wheel size is up to 16 inches from 15 inches on the Quanto, and the larger wheels look more proportional to the rest of the SUV now. On the whole, the NuvoSport looks a lot more appealing and SUV-like than the Quanto which looked identical to the Xylo, something that was a turn off for buyers wanting a compact SUV. 

Interiors are similar to the Quanto, especially the air-conditioning vents, though interiors aren’t exactly identical. Subtle differences give the NuvoSport’s insides a fresher appearance. The steering wheel looks a bit large, and could have been smaller in diameter. The display screen from the Xylo/Quanto at the top of the centre console has been retained, and offers information like temperature, gear indication and the like. Clocks are large and easy to read. Seats too are the same as the Quanto and are comfortable, while interior space Mahindra claims is highest in the sub 4-metre category thanks to the wheels at either end being pushed as far apart as possible from each other. 

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The driving position is tall and the NuvoSport needs you to climb into it. The driver’s seat get height adjustment as well, and typical of Mahindra’s SUVs there’s plenty of cubbyholes and 1-litre bottle holders in each door pocket. Front and second row occupants get armrests. The jump seats at the back can be folded down to push the seatback of the second row seats further behind to make them more comfortable. The second row seats can also be flipped forward and jump seats folded up to maximise boot space. The arrangement in fact allows you to effectively double the boot space from 412 litres to 850 litres! Quality of plastics could have been better but they do have a built to last feel, while the leatherette seats look appealing apart from offering good comfort. 

The NuvoSport gets the usual set of features inside, height adjustable seat belts, cruise control, electrically adjustable ORVMs and a 6.2-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that offers navigation, iPod, USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity. There’s the Power/Eco mode switch as well to let you maximise fuel efficiency along with the start/stop micro hybrid and an eco-mode for the AC as well. The display for the infotainment system though is at an angle perpendicular to the floor, and the screen would have been more legible had it been angled upwards. The digital display for the odo/tripmeter also tells you the duration for which the vehicle has been run with the air-conditioner on and should help those who use a chauffeur to be driven around. 

Powering the NuvoSport is the 1.5-litre mHAWK 100 engine which essentially is the same as the TUV300 but is in a higher state of tune here, offering 101PS of power at just 3750rpm. Its torque rating of 240Nm is best in class claims Mahindra, and with peak torque produced at just 1600rpm, the NuvoSport offers plenty of shove at low revs. We only got to drive it for a really short while around the test track at Mahindra’s Nashik plant, which essentially is a small, tight oval, but engine response at low revs was commendable. The NuvoSport is quick to gather momentum and should be adept as a city SUV. It is on offer with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed AMT. The clutch on the manual feels light, which should further enhance drivability in city, aided by its well-spaced ratios. 

The AMT should make city driving more convenient too. The only irritant about most AMTs on offer currently is the lag between shifts, should you try to accelerate suddenly. But it certainly is a boon for stop and go traffic, and the NuvoSport should feel perfectly at ease even in bumper to bumper traffic. Gathering speeds is easy with the nifty bottom end performance of the engine which feels smooth, while NVH levels inside are well controlled.  

Underpinning the NuvoSport is Mahindra’s 3rd generation chassis, from the current Scorpio and is a body on frame unit. This is huge leap forward compared to the Quanto’s chassis and changes in handling were visible even on our rather short time drive. Body roll is a lot more controlled, and the NuvoSport feels confident changing direction quickly, which wasn’t the case with the Quanto. The double wishbone and coil spring suspension upfront and multilink suspension with coil springs have been tuned by Cayman, and the balance between ride and handling was instantly noticeable. 

What’s more, the NuvoSport will be on offer with dual airbags and ABS with EBD as an option on the base variant, the N4, while the N6 and top of the line N8 will get the same as standard. Mahindra is claiming an ARAI certified fuel efficiency figure of 17.45kmpl, which the manufacturer further claims should allow it to do a Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai trip on a tankful given the capacity of 60 litres. That’s quite a claim, and only a full road test should help us assess that and the NuvoSport on the whole. Pricing ranges between Rs 7.35 lakh ex-showroom Thane for the base N4 and Rs 9.76 lakh for the N8 AMT which is expensive. That said, Mahindra’s newest offering does look promising given its ease of driving, space, smooth engine and the likeable design.