LOOKS AND STYLING The immensely successful Bolero from the Mahindra line-up was flat and boxy , and took considerable time for its looks to grow on you . A utilitarian vehicle need not sport a design as classy as BMW as its purpose is not that . It needs to ferry you around town and over long distances in comfort . Regardless of all that , the XYLO does look a little out of proportion . The high ground clearance coupled with the long wheelbase didn ’ t go down well with me . The bean shaped bonnet and large wells proved to be an eye sore . With design penned down by a team of Indian designers with some help from the Italians at the initial stages , its shape has been drafted to make it aerodynamically favourable , which helps the stability and fuel economy departments . The grille looks to have been inspired by the one on the Scorpio but doesn ’ t blend with the tall front profile . The chunky rear looks pleasing when compared to the rest of the car .
INTERIORS From the moment you step into the car till you exit , you ’ ll find how much Mahindra has worked on getting three things right- Space , Comfort , and Convenience . The XYLO offers acres of space , so much so that you could conduct a golf tournament in there . Ingress and egress will take little muscle flexing , the large doors , entry area and aptly positioned seats aiding the cause . The driver ’ s seat and steering can be adjusted for height , which will please shorter drivers . A notable debutant on the XYLO is the DDAS ( Dynamic Drive Assist System ) which mounts centrally on the dashboard and displays all kinds of information including cabin and outside temperatures , average speed , fuel average and direction which keeps passengers informed . The middle row seats offer a comfortable vehicle for the cost-conscious Indian buyer . Rather than hosting a conventional bench , it makes use of two bucket seats whose tall and wide dimensions offer ample comfort to a 6-footer like me . Behind the front seats , flight trays are offered which come in handy if you ’ re a car-diner . What ’ s even better is the option of flat bed front seats-You can fold the front seat and connect it to the one behind it to form a bed ; a boon during long distance travelling . The third row seats don ’ t offer the same space or comfort understandably as it is meant only for the kids in the family . The good thing is the ease with which you can transport yourself there .
BEHIND THE WHEEL Once you get behind the wheel , you feel much like you are piloting an SUV- You sit higher up and have perfect road clearance . The rear view mirrors incorporate the Intelli- park reverse assist makes reversing easier by displaying the distance of the car from an obstruction . The steering wheel seems to be the perfect size and the square gear knob is easy to reach . The addition of a dead pedal will nurse your left leg on a long distance journey . ENGINE AND GEARBOX Turn the keys and you bring to life a brand new 2.5- liter CRDe mEagle engine . This engine is from the Mahindra ’ s NEF line of engines and boasts of a battery of technological lineaments . The hydraulic lash adjusters , Auto Belt tensioners and a larger capacity air filter smoothens operation and promises lower service costs . A 5-speed gearbox complements the engine which is muted during idling ; Though there ’ s not much cabin noise , the engine gets a little noisy when you try and play Schumacher .
THE DRIVE After a brief couple of laps around Mahindra ’ s test facility , surprisingly , I felt I was driving a car of much smaller dimensions . You understand what Mahindra has attempted , cruising at 60 kmph- MPV size , sedan characteristics . I felt the engine has been tuned to strike the best balance between city and highway driving . The engine does not set your heart racing as it coaxes out 112bhp and 240 Nm of torque . Those stats for a vehicle tipping the scales at close to 3 tonnes are just about adequate . Perfect to ferry you back and forth from work .
RIDE AND HANDLING The XYLO scores high on handling and ride quality . The steering gives quality feedback and body roll at high speeds is much lesser compared to its competition . The Independent Coil spring setup at the front and the multi-link suspension at the rear perform mighty well in keeping road shocks and vibration at bay . The ride in the third row felt quite bumpy , as is the case with any other vehicle of this size .
VERDICT I tested the top of the line XYLO with all the bells and whistles which costs approximately 8.6 lakh INR ( On road Chennai ) At that price you get features which are not available with the rest of the competition . The base version come at around 7.10 lakh INR equipped with power steering , power windows , central locking , flat bed front seats and immobilizer .
The XYLO offer an option for buyers looking at cars like the SX4 , Fiesta and Verna with more space , comfort and features . The era of sedans might in all probability be over . wheels
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