At Rs 4.42 lakh, can KUV100 create a dent in car market?

Mahindra marks an entry in the compact SUV segment with the launch of the KUV100 at a starting price of Rs 4.42 lakh
Mahindra launched the KUV100 at a starting price of Rs 4.42 lakh. The car will be sold in 7 variants. The top-end petrol trim carries a sticker price of Rs 5.91 lakh while the top-of-the-line diesel is priced at Rs 6.76 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Pune).

In terms of looks, the Mahindra KUV100 looks like a scaled down version of the popular XUV500. Its bonnet has similar looking creases and it also carries the trademark Mahindra grille that we have already seen on the Scorpio and the XUV500. On the inside the KUV100 has given the conventional 2+3 seating a boot and has instead opted for a 3+3 arrangement much like the Datsun Go+. The 6 seat layout comes as standard in the lower K2 and the K2+ variant while the rest of the trims can opt for a 5 seat arrangement as well.

For the first time ever, Mahindra has introduced a petrol unit in the KUV100. It sports a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder mill that makes 83PS and 115Nm. Needless to say it comes with a diesel unit too. In oil burning trim, it churns out 78PS and 190Nm.

Taking a step towards safety, Mahindra has offered ABS as standard across all its variants and two airbags will be offered as optional extras. In the Indian market, the KUV100 will not only compete against the Ford EcoSport but Mahindra also intends to target some of the premium hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Hyundai Elite i20.