When we reviewed the XUV 300 W6 a few months back, our overall conclusion was that it was a great bang for the buck with a few concessions. Well, the folks at Rancon Autos took notes and brought in the top of the line W8, which addressed all of our criticism and then some.

In case you missed it, the Mahindra XUV 300 is a subcompact 2+3 front-wheel-drive crossover loosely based on the SsangYong Tivoli.

Top of the line

Being the all-optioned out model, the W8 is fitted with a lot shinier stuff. Parts of the front grille that used to be blacked-out plastic are now given a chrome finish, while part of the rear bumper has been painted silver. Alloy wheels are now standard and have been upsized to 17 inches. Updates in the lighting department include the introduction of LED DRL and integrated fog lamps, while the fender turn signals have been relocated to the side mirrors.

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2020 Mahindra XUV 300 W6

Speaking of the mirror, they are now heated—meaning they don't fog up on a rainy day—and close automatically when you lock the car, saving you the trouble of second-guessing yourself every time you park it.

Extra padding with a dash of sunlight

The interior of the W8 has been finished in leatherette and features additional padding on the armrest. The new 17.78cm infotainment system features wired android auto and apple car play, as well as limited voice command functionality. The new dual-zone climate control is automated, though it lacks dedicated vents for the rear passengers. The front row is the place to be on this car, as they have access to the powered sunroof, USB charging ports and illuminated vanity mirrors to look at themselves.

Rear passengers also get some exclusive goodies, such as a dedicated cabin light and an armrest with built-in cup holders. Both row occupants are protected by an array of ten airbags, while front-seat seatbelts are equipped with pretensioner and load limiter. Another feature both rows get to enjoy is the car 4 speaker sound system, which is now backed up with two tweeters.

Driving

Although the mechanical underpinning—and overall driving experience—of the W8 remains largely similar to its W6 brethren, there have been a few quality-of-life upgrades. The steering wheel and the gear lever are now wrapped in stitched leather, making them nice to touch. There is now a sunglass holder to store your foggy glasses while the automatic wipers save you the trouble of fiddling with the wiper control stalk on a rainy day. When it comes to parking, the camera is now built into the infotainment system and is backed up with front and rear parking sensors.

However, the two most important updates of the W8 features over its predecessor is the introduction of the cruise control and hill start assist, the latter of which should help the car navigate our highly sloped ramps more easily.

Verdict

The XUV 300 W8 is a significant step up from the W6 in every conceivable way. If you liked the W6, you will fall in love with this one. The car contains almost all of the modern amenities desired in a family vehicle and it offers it for a price bump equal to that of a well equipped 165cc motorcycle. Our previous verdict stands, any family looking for a cheap to run, well-equipped and safe car on a budget should consider this.

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2020 Mahindra TUV 300

Specs

Engine: 1.5-liter Turbo Diesel (85.8 kW, 300 Nm)

Transmission: Six-Speed-AMT, FWD

Safety: ABS, EBD, hill start assist, 10 airbags, TPMS, parking camera, front and rear sensors, automatic wiper and headlamp.

Features: Cruise control, automatic door locks, multifunction leather steering wheel, 17.78cm infotainment system, front USB Charging port, LED Daytime Running Light, dual-zone climate control, powered sunroof.

Price: 28,50,000 Lakh

Photo: Ayan Rahman Khan

For details, contact Rancon Autos Ltd.