Meet the Mahindra XUV3XO, a thoroughly updated version of the XUV300. An honourable mention is that the XUV 3XO crossover took the crown as the ‘Motor Enthusiast’s award winner, which was voted for by the public at the 2025 Car of the Year competition. It was also a finalist for the Car of The Year category. “This compact SUV ticked all the right boxes with its bold looks, feature-packed interior, great fuel efficiency and unbeatable value for money,” said the South African Guild of Mobility Journalists.
Mahindra Eswatini has officially placed the new XUV 3XO on sale in the local market. The 3XO is positioned as the brand’s new entry-level model with a starting price of E254 999. Customers can now visit the local dealership in Matsapha to test-drive and order the crossover.
Engine
All eight derivatives in the 3XO line-up are powered by the same 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine. This gives the crossover an output of 82kW and a ‘best-in-class’ torque figure of 200Nm, according to the automaker.
Furthermore, the drivetrain features a new vehicle management system with intelligent turbocharging, which allows the Mahindra to accelerate from 0-60km/h in just 4.6 seconds.
As for gearbox options, buyers have a choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The automatic models bring Zip, Zap and Zoom drive modes which are designed to enhance the driving dynamics on varying terrains by adjusting the vehicle’s performance characteristics.
Features
Starting with its design, the 3X0 features an all-new piano-black grille, LED taillamps including a horizontal light bar, and a rear spoiler.
It also comes with LED headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs) and a portfolio of new wheel designs ranging between 16 and 17 inches in diameter, depending on the variant. The crossover itself is 3 990mm in length, 1 821mm in width and 1 647mm in height (with roof rails), making it almost identical in size to the XUV300.
However, despite the similar proportions, the 3XO boasts a much better boot size of 364 litres compared to its predecessor’s 259 litres.
The crossover’s specifications
Moving onto its equipment, the crossover is available in five specifications – MX2, MX3, AX5, AX5L and AX7L.
- MX2: Kicking things off is the MX2, which comes standard with bi-halogen headlights, LED signature lights, 16-inch steel wheels, electronically adjustable side mirrors with indicators, all-electric windows, engine auto start/stop, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic aircon with rear vents, front and rear USB ports, a 12V socket and a 9-inch infotainment screen with four speakers. Also included are six airbags, electronic stability control, Isofix child-seat anchors and rear parking sensors.
- MX3: The MX3 units then add cruise control, a single-pane sunroof, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto and a wireless charging pad.
- AX5: Upgrading to the AX5 will additionally throw in automatic LED headlights, LED DRLs that double as indicators, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy rims, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, auto-folding side mirrors, keyless entry and start, a leather steering wheel and gearstick, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, six speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay, online navigation, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera and tyre-pressure monitoring.
- AX5L: The AX5L improves on this with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an electronic parking brake and a cooled glove box.
- AX7L: At the top of the range is the AX7L, which offers larger 17-inch alloys, LED fog lamps, a panoramic sunroof, a Harman Kardon stereo with an amplifier and sub-woofer, soft-touch leatherette for the seats, dashboard and door trim, front parking sensors and a 65W USB Type-C fast charger.
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