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Mahindra’s tough and stylish SUV, TUV 300, manufactured at Mahindra’s world-class production facility in Chakan, Maharashtra, India, was on Monday launched into the South African market. Easily conquering the road less travelled, yet offering a singular combination of comfort, convenience, performance and value, the new Mahindra TUV3OO, according to the CEO, Mahindra South Africa, Sanjoy Gupta, “ is an authentic off-roader that combines arresting, aggressive looks with a rugged chassis and a willing drivetrain.”
Gupta said : “ The TUV300 has been designed and developed to tackle challenging conditions around the globe, including South Africa. We believe it will be popular amongst buyers seeking something more than just another soft-roader. In fact, they will also benefit from the vehicle’s inherent build integrity, economical running costs and its go-anywhere capability.”
Arresting design
The new Mahindra TUV300 has been inspired by the design of a battle tank. It is available in South Africa in top-spec T8 M/T form, has a bold, rugged appearance and toughened high strength steel body that allows it to tackle any challenge thrown at it. Its clean, chiselled lines are distinctive and purposeful, creating a shape that highlights its prominent shoulders, an elevated front end, short overhangs, raised ground clearance, and an angular, purposeful silhouette.
The result is both bold and confident, while also unmistakably Mahindra. Aesthetic highlights include powerful bumpers front and rear, chrome-framed fog lamps, stylish roof rails, economical 15-inch alloy wheels shod with soft and low road noise SUV tyres, and a tailgate-mounted, full size spare wheel.
The spacious seven-seat interior offers stylish and comfortable accommodation, with durable fabric upholstery for the front bucket seats and rear bench seat. The fascia features piano gloss black detailing and brushed chrome-look surrounds.
The clearly legible, circular instruments for speed and rev count are housed in a binnacle directly ahead of the driver, while the digital display for the trip computer is located between the two dials.
A multifunction steering wheel offers audio and hands-free bluetooth controls, while the centre stack is also home to a double-DIN infotainment system, as well as the controls for standard air conditioning.
The infotainment system includes Bluetooth connectivity for convenient, safe hands-free drive, as well as music streaming and also offers easily accessible USB and analogue AUX inputs.
Uncompromising safety
The new TUV300 bristles with safety technology. The rigid, high-tensile steel body shell offers a strong, integrated safety cell, protected by crumple zones in the front and rear, as well as side impact protection beams.
Dual airbags further enhance occupant safety in the case of a collision, while the braking system is fitted with ABS anti-lock control, incorporating electronic brake force distribution (EBD). Automatic door locking is also standard.
Efficient turbodiesel drivetrain
The Mahindra TUV300 is powered by a 1,5-litre turbodiesel engine featuring twin-stage turbocharging. The mHawk100 four-cylinder unit has a rated maximum power output of 73,5 kW at 3 750 r/min coupled with a class-leading peak torque of 240 Nm, sustained between 1600 and 2800 r/min.
Two-stage turbocharging addresses turbo lag at low engine speeds and smoothes out the torque curve to enhance responsiveness and tractability, while also boosting engine refinement.
The default gearbox is a five-speed manual unit. An Eco Mode, as well as Mahindra’s Micro-Hybrid Technology, ensure that the new TUV300 is economical and fuel efficient too.
Suspension, ride and handling
The new TUV300 features a suspension set-up aimed at offering confident handling and positive steering, combined with a smooth, pliant ride on and off the road.
Mahindra’s Cushion Suspension Technology, linked to the enhanced torsional stiffness of the third-generation chassis (derived from the latest Mahindra Scorpio) ensures exceptional ride refinement and sure-footed handling.
The independent system up front employs dual wish- bone, coil springs and an anti-roll bar, while the rear system comprises a multilink design with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The power-assisted steering achieves a turning circle of 10,7 metres.
Advanced technology
The new Mahindra TUV300 features a raft of advanced technology features. These include static cornering lights which illuminate automatically when cornering to improve after-dark vision through bends.
Additional lighting-related features include follow-me-home and lead-me-to headlight operation when the TUV300 is locked or unlocked respectively.
Brake energy regeneration helps to further economical fuel efficiency, while Intellipark reverse assistance makes reversing into even tight spaces an easy and intuitive process.
Mahindra’s BlueSense app is another high-tech feature. It allows control of the infotainment system, including volume adjustment, track selection, play/pause control, and more. The app can even track selected vehicle parameters.
The new Mahindra TUV300 goes on sale through Mahindra South Africa’s national dealer network, and will be offered in a choice of four colours: Molten Orange Majestic Silver Glacier White Dynamo Red.
The recommended retail price of the Mahindra TUV300 T8 Manual is R229 995 The price includes a three-year/100 000 km warranty, and a three-year/ 90 000km service plan with first service at 10 000km followed by intervals of 20 000km
