This has been a really sad week. After Skoda pulled the plug on the Skoda Rapid, now Mahindra has decided to end the decade long supremacy of the XUV500. Now, it is obvious that Mahindra did this to make space and scope for the phenomenal XUV700. The XUV700 is not destined to be the prodigal vehicle for Mahindra in India.
Mahindra XUV500 (2011-2021)
The Mahindra XUV500 was launched back in the year 2011 and was designed and developed at Mahindra’s vehicle build centre in Nashik and Chennai. Mahindra’s Nashik and Chakan plant overtook the production of the XUV500.
Fun Fact! The Mahindra XUV500 was the first monocoque chassis-based vehicle by Mahindra. During its initial stage of development, the XUV500 was codenamed ‘W201’
During its entire prevalence in India, the XUV500 went through three major reworks;
Pre-Facelift (2011 to 2015)
Initially launched with just two variants; the W6 and the W8 (W4 was later on added in 2013). The original Mahindra XUV500 was launched with a single-engine option; a 2.2L In-line four, Turbo Diesel mHawk140 which produced 140bhp and 320Nm at the wheels.
The top-end W8 variant was also available in All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) configuration.
First Facelift (2015)
The SUV segment was still developing in 2011 when the XUV500 was introduced. It was the only premium SUV available at the price range to please budget-conscious customers who wanted to upgrade their vehicle but were obliged to opt for a sedan. M&M identified a possibility to offer an SUV with global appeal positioned between the Scorpio priced at about 10 lakh rupees and Toyota’s Fortuner priced above the Rs 20 lakh price range.
From the beginning, the Mahindra XUV500 has consistently been recognized for its cheetah-like front end that looks intimidating and aggressive. The 2015 model got a new bumper, which has been slightly curled for a modern appearance. The grille was updated as a shiny black piece adorned with chrome. The position for the fog lamps got altered, and now they were set slightly higher and came with L-shaped enclosures. Another striking feature is the static bending headlights with S-shaped LED parking lamps that double as DRLs.
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There were plenty of new things inside the cabin, too. The interior became black and beige, and the fit and finish got better than before. A sleek aluminium pedal with blue lighting (instead of earlier red) contributes to improving the ambient. The most notable change was the Visteon-designed 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
There were no mechanical modifications implemented to 2015’s Mahindra XUV500. It continues to be driven using the exact 2.2-litre MHAwk engine that produces 140 BHP of power at 3750 RPM and 335 Nm of torque from 1400 until 1800 RPM.
Second Facelift (2018)
To bring the shine back again before a new generation took over in 2020. Mahindra offered a bit of sparkle on the exterior and also added some more grunt to the XUV500. Along with numerous improvements to the interior and exterior, The SUV comes with a more robust diesel engine which generated 155 bhp, while the output for the gasoline engine remained unaltered.
Mahindra XUV700 Plastic Tailgate: Not the Plastic You Think!
The exterior modifications of the Mahindra XUV500 facelift mainly incorporated new front and rear sections that have been restyled. The SUV’s front featured a more prominent grille, with chrome surrounds and chrome inserts on the centre, with a pair of larger projector headlamps with built-in LEDs for daytime run lights. Front bumpers got changed and highlighted an enormous central air dam and chrome accents on the tear-duct-shaped foglamps. The XUV500 became available with 18-inch alloy wheels with the most expensive W11 trim, and the rest got 17-inch wheels by default.
The cabin also got upgraded, and the top-end model featured a revised seating arrangement that was upholstered with new two-tone black and quilted tan leather. In addition, the interior came with a two-tone grey and black design. However, the dashboard’s design remained identical to the model before the facelift with a similar steering wheel, central console, and air conditioning vents.
