What's the difference?
Mahindra has long been known as a tractor brand and a maker of rugged utes and SUVs, but it’s now dipping its toe into Australia's light SUV segment.
The MY25 Mahindra XUV 3XO marks a further shift in the Indian brand’s local focus from rural and regional to metropolitan.
This tiny SUV goes up against some stiff competition including the Chery Tiggo 4, Hyundai Venue and Kia Stonic, among others. However, the Indian-made SUV holds a specific title that’ll make it stand out among the crowd.
The first two things any new starter who arrives in the design department of Jeep’s headquarters in Ohio is told are, 1) The bathrooms are here and, 2) Don’t change the Wrangler.
Okay, I made that up, but it’s probably not far from the truth, because the Wrangler isn’t just iconic for Jeep, but iconic for the entire car world in a similar way to the Porsche 911 and the Ford Mustang.
The Jeep Wrangler is the equivalent of a Hollywood superstar - the Clint Eastwood of the car world - with its design that stretches all the way back to the iconic little off-roader purpose-built for the US Army in World War II.
So, how do you make changes without changing the recipe? Well, the Wrangler has been updated and we went to the Aussie launch to see what’s changed.
The fact this is Australia’s cheapest SUV is a massive feat for the Indian brand. It also has so much standard kit so this is even more surprising.
In many ways the XUV 3XO is better to drive than its rivals. The three-cylinder turbo engine has plenty of charm and moves this car along with ease, the car feels confident and composed out on the open road, and there aren’t any bings and bongs from intrusive safety systems.
However, things aren’t perfect. I wish the steering column offered reach adjustment, the steering feel wasn’t so inconsistent and the lane-keep assist wasn’t so hands-on.
If you can overlook these quibbles, this tiny Mahindra is an outstanding value buy if you’re considering a first new car.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
The changes to this updated Jeep Wrangler are small but meaningful. The inclusion of airbags, the updated media screen, and a feisty engine which suits the plucky nature of this off-roader make it a better Wrangler than ever. Â
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.