Ever since the launch of the new Mahindra XUV300, the compact SUV segment in India which has been dominated by the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and the Ford EcoSport has suddenly been jolted.
Yes, the Mahindra TUV300 is there, but it hasn’t been able to set the cat amongst the pigeons. So, what the ‘cat’ failed to achieve, can the cheetah try to conquer?
The XUV300 does carry a strong feature list as compared to its competitors. But, does that really make it a better bargain or is all of the glitter just a means to lure the customer? Here’s a quick comparison between the Mahindra XUV300 and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza.
Design & Ergonomics
In terms of road presence, the XUV300 touts the Brezza by a mile! Though, the Maruti compact SUV is taller, the overall ergonomics of the XUV300 make it a more imposing figure on terra firma.
The cabin space of the Brezza is quite spacious and can easily seat 3 abreast at the back, but we can’t say the same about the new XUV300. The white upholstery of the XUV300 does give the cabin a very airy look and feel, although it’s not the same when you enter the SUV.
You get a bigger boot with the Brezza, which is 328-litres while the XUV languishes with a small 257-litre boot.
The Brezza looks more proportionate compared to the XUV, which looked a bit chopped off from the rear. What is a bit of a deal breaker on the Brezza top variant is the over use of chrome which the XUV is devoid of. It looks more elegant.
What is also surprising is that the Brezza DOES NOT offer DRLs!
Overall, the cascading roof design of the XUV gives it a sporty look while being taller the Brezza looks a tad boxy. You can’t pick either. In terms of looks, I feel it would vary person to person.
Power & Performance
The top ZDi Plus variant of the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is powered by a 1.3-litre engine, which is capable of pumping out 88.5bhp@4000rpm of maximum power and 200Nm@1,750rpm of peak torque. The Brezza is very peppy, but also noisy. The ride quality is also stiff and the steering feels a bit light. Braking is also on the average side.
The XUV300 W8 top variant comes with a 1.5-litre engine, which has been tuned to deliver good low-end torque performance. The diesel-drinking engine delivers 115bhp@3750rpm of maximum power and 200Nm of peak torque. The SUV is only available in 6-speed manual transmission with no option for automatic.
The slightly bigger engine helps Mahindra race ahead in this department and I feel this might be a game changer for the SUV. Also, in terms of braking the XUV feels more surefooted than the Brezza thanks to disc brakes on all-four wheels, which is a feature missing on the Maruti compact SUV.
The XUV300’s steering offers a meaty grip on the road and the multiple steering modes are the icing on the cake.
Both the cars come with cruise control in the top variant, which puts them shoulder to shoulder as far as this feature is concerned. The Maruti Brezza does get more ground clearance at 198mm which is 18mm more than the XUV300. So, it’s not an ideal off-road vehicle.
What’s Extra?
The XUV300 comes with 7-airbags, a sunroof, front parking sensors, DRLs, electronic brake force distribution, LED colours in the instrument cluster and the list goes on. It is a feature-laden vehicle and perhaps comes with the most value added features in this segment.
The Vitara Brezza comes with ambient lighting which can be changed. It only offers two airbags even in the top variant. The MID (multi information display) also has a torque and power gauge. So, it’s safe to say that it’s not as feature rich as the XUV300.
Which One to Buy?
The XUV300 is a power-packed, feature loaded vehicle that we feel checks all the boxes in terms of being a value-for-money SUV in this segment. Additional features like 7-airbags, steering modes, front parking sensors and sunroof really make things swing Mahindra’s way.
At a price tag of Rs 10.90 lakh for the top-end diesel variant, Mahindra has really made it tough for competitors to offer a better bargain. Of course, what Mahindra does not tell you is that if you want the sunroof and extra airbags, the ‘option’ pack costs Rs 1.19 lakh more.
The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is a tried-and-tested veteran in the Indian market and has already wooed a lot of SUV enthusiasts in India. Two aspects where the Brezza trumps the XUV is a fuel economy of 24 kmpl compared to ARAI claimed 17 kmpl. Also, the Maruti service network is vast in comparison to Mahindra’s, which gives extra points to the Brezza.
It faces tough competition from the XUV300 in terms of features and performance, but at Rs 9.92 lakh for the top-variant, it does steal the thunder away with that gap of Rs 1 lakh.
If you want features and performance, the XUV300 is the way to go. If you’re the kind who’s more interested in the ‘kitna deti hai?”, go for the Brezza.
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