Mahindra XUV500 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?

Mahindra XUV500

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2018 price

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Subaru Forester

$43,490 - $55,990

2026 price

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Summary

2018 Mahindra XUV500

2026 Subaru Forester

By Andrew Chesterton

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.2L

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Fuel Type

Diesel

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Fuel Efficiency

6.7L/100km (combined)

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Seating

Likes

Cheap way into seven seats
Petrol/auto combination a winner
Hugely spacious third row

Nice interior
Refined on-road
Suitably capable off-road

Dislikes

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

Sluggish acceleration
Needs all-terrain tyres
Intrusive driver alert system

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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2026 Subaru Forester Summary

The sixth-generation of Subaru’s Forester has landed and while the new hybrid versions constitute the biggest news of this batch, the petrol-only variants should not be ignored.

The five-seat mid-size SUV has a 2.5-litre four-cylinder 'boxer' engine, Subaru’s well-regarded 'symmetrical all-wheel drive' system and some new changes inside and out.

So, does the top-spec Touring offer the best value-for-money in the petrol Forester line-up?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2018 Mahindra XUV500 2026 Subaru Forester

Verdict

This petrol-powered and well-priced XUV500 W6 might mark Mahindra's most convincing effort at cracking Australia's congested SUV market, but we're still not completely convinced.

That said, it's certainly cheap, the ownership credentials stack up and it's a very comfortable way to transport seven people.

Verdict

The MY26 Subaru Forester packs plenty of punch in terms of standard features, a roomy and functional interior and overall driveability. Sure, it’s not the most exciting vehicle to drive on- or off-road but to get stuck on that is to miss the point entirely. This is a decent all-rounder with a solid background and an AWD system that long ago set the gold standard for vehicles of this type.

In a tough mid-size SUV market segment aimed more at those intent on driving through car parks rather than adventuring through national parks, the Forester offers greater versatility than most and should not be ignored.

Mahindra XUV500 vs Subaru Forester What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mahindra XUV500 vs Subaru Forester
What's the difference?