The Mahindra XUV500 is one of the most hotly spoken about Indian cars after the Tata Nano. Built as a global SUV, the left hand drive version of the XUV500 was recently spotted by me in India, undergoing routine tests. Mahindra plans to launch the XUV500 in Europe (Spain will be the first country to receive it) next year, South Africa and the U.S.A are going to get the XUV by 2014. However it is Australia which will see the XUV500 go on sale next month.Before the launch, Mahindra had to get the XUV500 crash tested by ANCAP. Mahindra was expecting a 5-star rating but it received 4-stars. The XUV500’s competitors too have received 4-stars, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mini Countryan, Great Wall X200 and X240. Some key issues the XUV500 faced during the crash test included excessive rearward movement of the brake pedal, fuel line rupture, opened tailgate and loss of structural integrity in the frontal test. The XUV500 scored 26/37 in the crash test, including 10/16 in frontal offset crash test and 16/16 in side impact test. This makes the XUV500 the safest Indian car till date. Mahindra has previously received 2-star ANCAP rating for its Pik-Up dual-cab UTE in 2010, and the upgraded Pik-Up received a 3-star rating in 2011.
Faisal Ali Khan is the owner/operator of MotorBeam.com, a website covering the auto industry of India.
Mahindra has been coming to the US in the next couple of years for about the last 10 years. If they are really going to do it this time, we ought to start seeing some concrete signs pretty soon.
Love the plastic quarter panels. I didn’t see the tailgate open.
I think it unlocks but did not open completely. But still there is the risk for occupants in the last row.
every 7 row SUV has the same issue
its occasional transport… try not to put your children there
It is still an ugly vehicle. looks better all crumpled up.