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Mahindra XUV500 vs Holden Captiva

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Mahindra XUV500
Mahindra XUV500

2018 price

Holden Captiva
Holden Captiva

$9,400 - $25,990

2017 price

Summary

2018 Mahindra XUV500
2017 Holden Captiva
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Diesel Turbo 4, 2.2L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.2L
Fuel Type
Diesel

Diesel
Fuel Efficiency
6.7L/100km (combined)

8.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
7

5
Dislikes
  • Underwhelming safety
  • Steering that requires plenty of guesswork
  • Cheap-feeling interior

  • It's old
  • It's a bit noisy
  • Lacks the finesse of the competition
2018 Mahindra XUV500 Summary

Just in case attacking Australia's crowded SUV market with a virtually unheard of Indian brand wasn't a high enough hurdle to leap over, Mahindra had made its task even harder - think a Bollywood version of Mission Impossible - by launching its XUV500 SUV here with a diesel engine (which nobody wanted) and a manual gearbox (which few could even remember how to use). 

Fortunately, it fixed one of those issues late in 2016, finally adding an automatic transmission to the line-up. And now, at long last, it's fixed the other.

This, then, is the petrol-powered XUV500 SUV. And, on paper at least, it's the most sense-making Mahindra to date. 

For one, it's a ferociously cheap way into a new seven-seat SUV. For another, it's pretty well equipped, even from the base level. There's a long warranty, an equally long roadside assistance offering, and there's capped-price servicing, too. 

So, should the mainstream SUV players be looking over their shoulders?

Spoiler alert: no.

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2017 Holden Captiva Summary

Holden wasn't the first manufacturer to find itself bereft of a big SUV when the fuse was lit by BMW and Mercedes as the last millennium came to a close. Ford responded with the Territory while Holden jacked-up a V8 Commodore and slapped the Adventra badge on it. Sadly, it didn't work, and so the Captiva was the next best option, procured from what was then called Daewoo.

As a result of that that little blip on the economic radar, the GFC, and an on-going re-organisation of General Motors, the Korean-built Captiva has lasted rather longer than anyone expected.

It first launched with two bodystyles, but is now down to one, the bigger and more practical seven seat body shell.







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Deep dive comparison

2018 Mahindra XUV500 2017 Holden Captiva

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