KUV100 launched by Mahindra at 4.42 lakhs (ex-Pune)

Mahindra & Mahindra launched the KUV100 at the M&M factory in Pune today with prices starting from 4.42 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). This is Mahindra’s smallest car on sale right now and will take on the likes of the Tata Bolt, Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10.

With the KUV100, the company introduces the mFalcon series of engines. The KUV100 gets a 82bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and 77bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder diesel engine, both mated to an all-new five-speed manual transmission. An automatic is not on the cards for now.. The diesel car is a micro-hybrid and gets Power-Eco mode.

It’s the second monocoque chassis SUV by M&M after the XUV500, and uses a similar transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The suspension setup is conventional with MacPherson struts up front and a twist-beam axle in the rear.

On the interiors, it gets a bench seat for the front row making it a six-seater. The KUV100’s +1 in the centre also comes with a lap belt. It also gets plenty of boot space — 243 litres, which can be expanded to 473 litres. The top-of-the-line variant comes equipped with plenty of features including an mood lighting, an infotainment system, puddle lamps, alloy wheels, storage under the co-driver’s seat and 3+3 seating.

Visually, the SUV-like stance of this car should bode will with our SUV-crazy nation. The car gets modern looking headlamps flanked with black trims stretching nearly all the way back to the A-Pillar. It gets the rear door handles on the window pane like the Chevy Beat, Mahindra’s signature vertical chrome strips on the grill, black cladding around the car and roof-rails. The nose and pinched grille seems to be inspired by the the Range Rover Evoque.

Four variants of the KUV100 will be available — K2, K4, K6 and K8 with ABS and airbags standard across the entire range. They are also offering dual airbags as an option on the K2, K4 and K6 variants while it comes standard on the K8, making the KUV ready to meet safety norms that will be intercede in 2017.

The KUV100 will be a direct competition to hatchbacks like the Tata Bolt, Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10. With competitive pricing, a host of features and SUV styling, this car should go down well with the Indian buyer. Mahindra say they will eb using E-commerce and the power of smartphones for sales and service of the KUV100. Stay tuned for our first drive impressions.

Petrol
K2 – 4.42 lakh
K2+ – 4.64 lakh
K4 – 4.77 lakh
K4+ – 4.99 lakh
K6 – 5.36 lakh
K6+ – 5.58 lakh
K8 – 5.91 lakh

Diesel
K2 – 5.22 lakh
K2+ – 5.44 lakh
K4 – 5.57 lakh
K4+ – 5.79 lakh
K6 – 6.21 lakh
K6+ – 6.43 lakh
K8 – 6.76 lakh

All prices ex-showroom Pune