By Miles Downard
What is it?
The world of the compact SUV is all the rage right now. Everyone and their dog is trying to get a slice of the pie because of cars like the Ford Ecosport, which flies off the shelves faster than hot cakes. And that includes our friends from India, Mahindra, who’ve given us this, the KUV100.
On the outside
It’s not the sexiest name in the world, nor is it the sexiest car in the world. It’s got the makings of an SUV, with its high roofline and chunky blacked out bumper trim. It even appears to have some ground clearance. But man those wheels are tiny, and they look it. Also the body shell isn’t long enough for its height, giving it an odd set of proportions to my eye, reminding me of the BMW Isetta, just without the retro-coolness.
On the inside
The KUV100 has an interesting interior; more like an old school bakkie than modern day compact SUV. The gear lever is built into the centre console, which in essence could allow for a bench style front seating arrangement, except that there are standard issue front seats. Think seventh generation Honda Civic in fact.
The dashboard along with the rest of the cabin looks decent enough for something this entry level. Plastics aren’t up it the ‘western’ competition of course, but space and practicality is. There are some nice ‘tech’ features like Bluetooth and keyless entry. Â
Behind the wheel
Our test unit had the little 1.2 litre petrol motor, good for 61kW and a handful of torque. Not the most refined power unit I’ve come across, or cabin insulation isn’t very good. Either way it’s a bit noisy. It’s perky enough though and offers decently low fuel consumption at around 6l/100km .
Those small, skinny wheels give the the Mahindra an odd handling characteristic which doesn’t instill confidence when cornering. Even going over uneven road surfaces isn’t the nicest experience (much like how a 29er mountain bike will handle bumps better than a traditional 26 inch).
Pricing
Now as you’d expect this is where the Mahindra starts to claw back some credits. It may not be the most refined, pretty looking vehicle on our roads but it is cheap. Starting at a smidge under R150,000 and ending up less than R200,000 for the top model. Competitors come in the form of the Toyota Etios Cross (R194,300) and Renault Sandero Stepway (R196,300). If I was spending on the upper end of that range, I’d likely go to the Renault or Toyota before the KUV though, despite better features on the Mahindra. The cars themselves, together with brand awareness mean its a more comfortable purchase and will likely lead to better resale values as well.
Verdict
I think Mahindra are going to struggle to shift many KUVs. Despite the attractive pricing, I think the lure of more established competitors and the 2nd hand market will draw customers away regardless of its draw cards.
