Posted by Group1 Mahindra on 26 Aug 2022
Which Mahindra SUV – The XUV500, The XUV700, The Scorpio or the Scorpio-N?
We have the excellent Mahindra XUV500 and the impressive Mahindra Scorpio SUV, to which we will soon add the 7-seat Mahindra XUV700 and the luxurious Mahindra Scorpio-N. Too much of a good thing can make it difficult to decide, so we will do a quick comparison about what is what so you can have an idea of which one is for you.
Let’s start with what we have: the XUV500 and the Scorpio SUV. The first difference between the XUV500 and XUV700 and the two Scorpios is in the body construction. The first two are monocoque construction, which means the body is built in one piece on a chassis like a car. The Scorpios come from the bakkie and are ladder frame construction, a more robust build method, but the monocoque vehicles will drive more like cars, the Scorpios like bakkies. The Scorpios are rear-wheel drive or 4×4, while the XUV500 and XUV700 are front-wheel drives or all-wheel drives.
The 500 and Scorpio both come with the excellent m-hawk 2.2 turbo diesel, and we assume the XUV700 and the N will have the same, but time will tell on launch.
Mahindra XUV500
The XUV500 is currently the most luxurious Mahindra on our showroom floors. It is a five-seater that comes in four trim levels, with M/T and auto options. Luxury and safety features are plenty, with the top trim model equal to or better than anything in its class. This is an urban SUV that is comfortable going onto rougher terrain.
Mahindra Scorpio
The Scorpio SUV is a five-seater, rugged, off-road capable SUV that can be compared to the Jeep Cherokee and similar vehicles. Although more rugged than the XUV500, it is still quite luxurious inside. It comes in three trim levels, a rear-wheel drive and two 4x4s. This is an off-roader that is comfortable in the city, although the drive is not as sophisticated as the XUV500.
Mahindra XUV700
This is very much the big brother, the seven-seat next level iteration of the XUV500. In India, it has garnered the Safest Car accolade and will make a welcome addition to the top-range SUV options in South Africa.
Mahindra Scorpio-N
The Scorpio-N is a rugged 7-seater that will take you anywhere in luxury and safety. It should offer both rear-wheel drive and 4×4 options, and the South African launch is so imminent that you can already pre-book a test drive.
The XUV500 and Scorpio SUV are here right now and you check out the options and their prices and take them for a test. The XUV700 and Scorpio-N will soon be in South Africa. We don’t yet have the prices and other details, so you will have to wait and see – stay tuned to our socials for updates.
The post Mahindra XUV500 vs. XUV700 And Scorpio SUV vs. Scorpio-N appeared first on Group1 Mahindra Blog.
Posted by Group1 Mahindra on 25 Jul 2022
New Mahindra SUV Wins Award For Safer Cars After The XUV300
We all want our cars to be as safe as possible – here, around the world, in India as well, the home of Mahindra. The proof of the pudding is that the Mahindra XUV700 has been awarded the ‘Safer Cars for India’ award, the second of the marque after the Mahindra XUV300 won the same award shortly after its relaunch this year.
The Safer Cars initiative was launched by the Global NCAP in 2014 with the objective of promoting safer cars in that vast country. We in South Africa also benefit from this, for although the XUV700 is not yet sold here, the XUV300 is a very popular compact SUV among SA motorists.
To qualify for this award, a car has to meet the most stringent safety standards.
The car must achieve a 5-star score for adult occupant protection based on the latest test protocols. NCAP ratings get more stringent every year with the rapid strides made in vehicle safety, so a 2010 car will be measured on a different scale than a 2020 car.
Al least 4-stars for child occupant protection must be reached as well.
The car must have ESC which performs to specific United Nations regulations. Where optional, ESC must be available on all model variants, sold separately without bundling with other features, and quite soon will have to be a standard fit for at least 20% of the sales volume.
The car must meet UN pedestrian protection regulations and be validated at a Global NCAP laboratory.
The XUV700’s safety features include 7 airbags, electronic stability, autonomous driver assistance systems like front collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, driver drowsiness detection, 360 degrees surround view, blind view monitoring, electronic parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring and so on.
The XUV300 won the same accolade earlier this year. It comes in six trim levels starting at R234,999 and is available in petrol and diesel. To find out how safe it is, what a good drive and what great value for money it is – book a test drive today to see for yourself.
The post Second Safer Car Award For Mahindra SUVs appeared first on Group1 Mahindra Blog.
Posted by Group1 Mahindra on 29 Apr 2022
Mahindra is unveiling three electric SUVs soon!
Does the thought of ladder-frame electric off-roading SUVs seem like something out of a science-fiction dreamscape? It might sound like it, but the good news is that this wonderful concept will become a reality fairly soon thanks to the design acumen of the R&D team at Mahindra & Mahindra.
The Indian automaker’s new design team led by Pratap Bose is following in the slipstream of its ‘Born Electric’ vision to create three all-new electric vehicle concepts underpinned by a revolutionary Born Electric EV platform. The fruits of this labour are likely to be unveiled in July 2023, and it is being suggested that we are looking at body-on-frame electric SUVs!
Anish Shah, MD and CEO at Mahindra Group, recently shared with delegates at the Pune Alternate Fuel Conclave conference that their company is placing a very firm focus on their electric mobility plans, and that body-on-frame electric SUVs are a top priority at the moment. Currently, various feasibility studies are underway to craft viable e-alternatives for popular Mahindra SUVs such as the Bolero, Thar and Scorpio.
At the moment, body-on-frame architecture is not the norm for vehicles with an electric powertrain due to variety of engineering challenges in this regard. This is why leading e-manufacturers like Tata mainly build their electric cars on monocoque frames with front-wheel-drive configurations. This includes the Nexon EV and Tigor EV, as well as the upcoming Tata Sierra EV.
As such, the notion of ladder-frame electric off-roading SUVs rolling off the manufacturing line at a Mahindra & Mahindra factory as soon as 2023 is very good news for environmentally conscious SUV enthusiasts who want to drive a great car while still treading lightly on the earth. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions the Mahindra engineers come up with to address the challenges of this design conundrum. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all!
Exciting times! While the launch of these Mahindra e-SUVs is still a while off, you can find out more about the current vehicles we have in stock by getting in touch with our team at Group1 Mahindra. The passionate teams at our branches in Midrand and Kuilsriver are waiting in the wings to get you behind the wheel of the ideal Mahindra to suit your lifestyle and budget to a T.
The post Electric Off-Roading SUVs In The Pipeline For Mahindra appeared first on Group1 Mahindra Blog.
Posted by Group1 Mahindra on 14 Mar 2022
Mahindra XUV300 – Officially the safest car in Africa!
Mahindra has been in South Africa for a couple of decades, offering tough-as-nails work vehicles. Then it started offering classy and quality SUVs at very good prices – and these were immediately successful. But now it has released its most appealing car yet with the launch of the stunning 2022 Mahindra XUV300. The reason it is so attractive is not just because it is a stunning car – which it is – or all the luxury features – which it has. The reason we first took notice is that it comes with a 5-star Global NCAP rating, the first car from India to do so and the only one in Africa to carry that title.
The XUV300 comes in three trim levels, the W4, W6 and the W8. All three are loaded with safety features, but let’s look at the W8’s safety pedigree. First in segment 7 airbags and disc brakes on all four wheels, hill-start assist, heated mirrors for chilly mornings, electronic stability control, fog lamps, front parking sensor and rear parking assist and even a tyre position indicator. ISOFIX anchors will keep the kiddies safe too.
Each trim level comes with the choice of a 1.2-litre turbo petrol or 1.5-litre turbo diesel, both engines with a 6-speed manual transmission. The petrol will give you 81 kW and 200 Nm, while the impressive diesel will give you 85.8 kW and class-leading 300 Nm of torque. The petrol uses 6.33-litres per 100km, while the frugal diesel sips only 4.84-litres per 100km.
The exterior is stunning, nicely balanced with a floating roof design, dual-tone roof rails and 16 – 17-inch alloy wheels. Then you get good ground clearance, high-profile tyres and a sturdy body for when you want to go on the road less travelled. Projector headlights with DRL (daytime running lights), LED taillights and – a nice touch – LED indicators on the side mirrors all add wonderfully to the general good looks.
The cabin is also trim level-dependent, but the top model gives you great leatherette seats, dual-zone climate control with 3 memory settings, three steering modes and a sunroof. Think about the dual-zone climate control for a moment. You know when the aircon is just right for you, but your passenger complains that it is too cold. So: dual-zone, one for each of you – marvellous!
You also get a 17.8cm touchscreen with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay ability, Bluetooth, USB and AUX. Push to start and keyless entry feels very James Bond, as does the eco app that can talk to your smartphone and smartwatch.
The Mahindra XUV300 not only gives you the safest drive in its class, but it also gives you all the luxury features you would want, and all this is wrapped in a very good-looking car. But how is the drive? The only way to find out is to book a test drive.
The post Best In Class 5-Star GNCAP For The New Mahindra XUV300 appeared first on Group1 Mahindra Blog.
Posted by Group1 Mahindra on 08 Feb 2022
1000 Mahindra cars sold in January 2022!
January 2022 has seen the most Mahindra vehicles sold in South Africa since it launched in South Africa 18-years ago, according to figures released by NAAMSA. This is a massive 77% increase over the same month in 2021. And although the early ’21 sales were subdued by COVID, this January’s sales shine because they beat the excellent pre-pandemic years of 2018 and ’19.
What makes these sales even more significant is that they happened despite the worldwide supply chain disruptions and lingering COVID storms in the Northern Hemisphere hampering stock and parts availability in South Africa.
The locally-manufactured Pik Up range is still the company’s best-seller – 618 units sold in Jan. This keeps it in the list of South Africa’s three fastest-growing bakkies. Top trim models such as the Pik Up Karoo Dusk and the new Pik Up S6 DC AT were primary drivers of sales in this model.
The KUV100 NXT also recorded excellent sales, proving the demand for an affordable, economical, yet highly capable compact SUV. The evergreen Scorpio, especially the Adventure model, was very popular as a versatile family car.
The expected South African launch of the new Mahindra XUV700 model later this year is expected to build on the excellent sales so far.
Mahindra’s achievements are the results of a serious commitment and hard work over a long time. It first entered the South African market in 2004 with the intention of making this country it’s second home outside of India. Since then it has invested steadily in its dealer network and customer service to make sure its growth was matched by its service and support capacity.
Over the last four years, the company has expanded its South African footprint significantly with several major investments. These included a new assembly facility in Durban, and a large new training centre for technical and sales staff, as well as a specialised vehicle fitment centre in Gauteng.
At the same time, the company has supported its dealer network to expand to larger and more modern facilities with greater floor space and a bigger staff complement.
“The past two years have been tough, but our dealer network and the team kept their morale and momentum high and it has borne fruit,” said Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa. He attributed the new sales record to the hard work of team Mahindra SA and its 72 dealers, as well as the South African motoring public’s fondness for well-built, well-priced vehicles.
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