200NM! That 22 nm more than the “Sporty” Virtus 1.0. Mahindra has given three engine choices with the 3XO. You get a couple of 1.2-liter three cylinder turbocharged engines with 110hp/200nm and 130hp/230nm paired to a 6-speed manual or an Aisin sourced 6 speed automatic.

The third option, which we really wanted to drive is the 1.5 L 4 cylinder diesel with 117 hp and 300 NM of torque. 

Regardless, the performance of 3XO is off the charts and th engine forms an integral part of the whole 3XO experience. Our 6 Speed Torque Converter was buttery smooth across the entire rev range and the TGDi engine woke up after 2000 RPM. The unit is very eager to gain illegal amounts of speed in a very short time, you need to be very careful with your right foot. 

Despite being a three-cylinder, the NVH is appreciably kept in check and we assume the 4-cylinder Diesel to be even more refined. 

This performance comes at a cost thorough. The single digit mileage we saw during city runs was expected but still disappointing. Our 8 kmpl city average and 13 kmpl highway is nothing to brag about. Surprisingly, the Taigun 1.0, despite being marginally slower on paper, manages about 30 percent more fuel economy, Mahindra needs to tune the engine/gearbox a bit more, I guess.

Ride and Handling

At all speeds we never felt we had pushed the 3X0 to its limit. The long wheelbase and wide track mean excellent stability and that's what we got. The steering was a bit light during 100 km/h highway runs and could use some additional weight and a quicker ratio. 

Mahindra worked a lot on suspension and it shows. The clunks, thumps and bumps are pretty taut in 3XO. Combine that with its large Ceat 205 tires and 200 mm of ground clearance and you have got a Thar Rival, at least when it comes to clearing speed breakers.

The Zip, Zap and Zoom modes alter the throttle and steering response a touch but do not make a huge difference. We suggest you get used to the very short engine cut off time during auto start/stop and jerky starts from auto hold if you're planning on driving this car. 

Mahindra has clearly done a lot of work to make sure the XUV 300's looks fresh and a departure from the XUV300's outdated interior. Our unit came with all black seats and white color door cards and dashboards. The AX7 gets all white interior option, we recommend you stay away from the latter unless you own a dry cleaning shop. 

The build quality is solid and the ergonomics are pretty good. The seats were comfortable and height adjustable, but did not come with a ventilation option, which in the upcoming 45 degree Gurgaon summer will be missed, a lot! The cupholders are pretty shallow and only fit for loose change while the cooled glovebox can barely maintain the temperature.

The AX5L variant we drove also came with a single pane sunroof as opposed to the full panoramic system on the AX7 variant. It felt okay-sih, but I would rather have ventilated seats besides, it felt hot to touch on occasion when parked in direct sunlight for a couple of hours, meaning the AC had to work all the way harder to cool the cabin.

Th Dual Zone system works well but sadly there is no air filter, which again seemed like an unjustifiable omission given our county’s hazardous AQI for a better part of the year.

The rear seats can comfortably accommodate 3 average-sized persons, I am 5’7 " for reference. Mahindra’s generosity with rear occupant space meant the boot space took a hit, more on that later.

So for the uninitiated, the 3XO is broadly divided into MX and AX variants. The former doesn’t have Adrenox connected tech, while the latter has it. Our unit came with a couple of vibrant HD screens with wireless Android Auto and Apple carplay. 

Mahindra’s implementation of Google Maps is one of the best there is, as you get smaller areas on the cluster in front of you, while a larger portion of the area is visible on the media screen. 

The 6 speaker system is pretty average for something that costs 15 lakhs, you can fiddle around in EQ, but most of us can’t make heads or tails of it.

Our Automatic variant also came with AC pre-condition and remote engine start options via AdrenoX app. They are pretty useful as you can warm up the engine or heat the cabin in case you are to depart in a hurry.

Boot Space

Again you can’t have everything, no matter the car and price point. With the 3XO due to its massive rear occupant space, the boot space is hilariously small and only good for tools, stepney, and occasional shopping bags. You NEED to fold the 60:40 seats to get all the space you can.

The Mahindra 3XO We drove came in a rather classy Dune (brown) with a contrasting black painted roof. The 3X0 is a thoroughly redesigned version of Mahindra XUV300 and comes with a massive flanking C-Shaped LEDs on either side with projector lamps in between. Along with a big all black grille with the new Mahindra logo. It looks like a proper SUV and doesn’t confuse itself with anything else like Renault Kwid or Fronx with their crossover-esque styling.

We drove the AX5L variant, which came with a 6-speed automatic and TGDI engine and 16-inch wheels(17-inch on AX7). The integrated spoiler also added a sport touch with a big infinity LED light bar underneath. The front and rear skidplate are colored silver, which doesn’t vibe with the domination brown/black combination, but looks are personal, you may dig it.

Mahindra sadly went with the old school stick antenna instead of a more modern sharkfin approach, which looks completely off on a car that costs 15.5 Lakhs on road! In Delhi-NCR

Mahindra recently got an awesome 5 star rating in Bharat NCAP. As standard it comes with 6 airbags, ESC and all-wheel disc brakes. The lattermost is my favorite, those pesky drums are useless after a splash of rain and pick up rust like it owes them rent. 

The ADAS features are available in AX5L and AX7L variants. It has limited hands-free driving functionality that we found to be a bit hit and miss. The blind spot assist works well, but the autonomous driving wants your hands on the steering every 10 seconds, and only works with crystal clear lane markings. We never got to test the auto braking feature, thankfully

The 360-degree camera lags a bit but offers a very clear view at all times.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO 2025 steps into a ring packed with heavy hitters, and we’ve sized up its rivals to see how it stacks up. The Tata Nexon (₹8.00 lakh-₹15.80 lakh, ex-showroom) remains a titan with its 5-star GNCAP rating, offering a 1.2L turbo petrol (120 PS) and a 1.5L diesel (115 PS) with mileage up to 24.08 kmpl—stellar for efficiency buffs—though its cabin feels less premium than the 3XO’s. 

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza (₹8.34 lakh-₹14.14 lakh) leans on its unbeatable fuel economy (up to 20.1 kmpl petrol, plus a CNG option) and Maruti’s service network, but its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine (103 PS) lacks the 3XO’s punch and its tech lags behind.

Hyundai’s Venue (₹7.94 lakh-₹13.48 lakh) brings a sleek design and a refined 1.0L turbo petrol (120 PS) or 1.5L diesel (100 PS), with a plush ride and features like a sunroof, though its smaller 350-litre boot and 3-star GNCAP rating don’t match the 3XO’s 364-litre space or 5-star Bharat NCAP edge. 

The Kia Sonet (₹7.99 lakh-₹15.77 lakh), a close cousin to the Venue, ups the ante with sharper styling, a 1.0L turbo (120 PS) or 1.5L diesel (116 PS), and a 6-speed iMT option, but its tighter rear legroom and higher pricing on top trims give the 3XO an edge for families.

Then there’s the Renault Kiger (₹6.00 lakh-₹11.23 lakh) and Nissan Magnite (₹6.00 lakh-₹11.11 lakh), budget champs with 1.0L turbo petrols (100 PS) and CVT options, offering great value and funky looks, but their 405-litre boots aside, they skimp on premium features and safety heft compared to the 3XO’s Level 2 ADAS and panoramic sunroof. 

The Skoda Kylaq (expected ₹8.50 lakh-₹14.00 lakh, launching late 2025) promises European flair with a 1.0L TSI (115 PS) and solid build, but its late entry and untested service network might leave buyers hesitant.

 We see the 3XO shining with its power-packed engines (up to 130 PS petrol), segment-first tech, and safety cred, though its smaller boot and Mahindra’s patchy service reputation could nudge some toward rivals with better mileage or lower costs.

The Mahindra 3XO sacrifices a bit of efficiency for Taigun rivaling performance. It has a healthy list of standard features and a 5-star safety rating, The only reason you will not consider 3X0 is if you already own one.