It was at the 2020 Auto Expo when Mahindra first showcased the XUV300 Sportz and although it was slated for a launch last year itself, it got deferred due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Since then, we haven't heard much about the Mahindra XUV300 Sportz. However, a test mule of the XUV300 was recently spied testing in Chennai, which leaves us to speculate if this could be the upcoming Sportz variant and if the launch could be around the corner.
The biggest highlight of the XUV300 Sportz
is what lies under its hood. It employs Mahindra's 1.2-litre mStallion
turbocharged direct injection three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 130 hp
at 5,000 rpm and 230 Nm of torque at 1,500-3,750 rpm. With this, the XUV300
will dethrone the Ford EcoSport (with 123 hp 1.5L petrol engine) to become the
new most powerful sub-4 metre SUV in India. It will be offered with both
6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions.
This spied test mule can be seen wearing
partial camouflage, hiding most design details. However, from the model
showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo, we know the XUV300 Sportz will look almost
identical to the regular model. It, however, did flaunt its
performance-oriented character with sporty decals on the bonnet and the door
panels. It even came with red brake calipers. The rest of the design, including
the 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, is absolutely identical to the regular
model.
On the inside, the cabin of the XUV300
Sportz is differentiated by all-black interior theme as opposed to the
dual-tone black and beige theme on the regular model. It also came with red
highlights on the dashboard and steering wheel and contrast red stitching on
the upholstery. The XUV300 Sportz will likely be based on the top-spec trims
and, therefore, will come with all the bells and whistles as in the standard
XUV300. Some highlights include auto headlamps, dual-zone climate control,
keyless entry and go, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay, 7 airbags, ESC, hill-start assist, a rear view camera and more.
