Facelifted Mahindra XUV500 arriving May

MAHINDRA'S facelifted XUV500 mid-sized SUV has touched down on Australian soil, priced from an unchanged $29,900 driveaway, but automatic versions and a more kit-heavy W10 are on the way.

The Indian-made SUV has previously only been available in W8 specification and with a manual gearbox, but the company is optimistic an imminent auto and more luxurious W10 will lift local sales.

When they arrive, automatic versions will share the updated XUV500 features, including a restyled look, revitalised interior that features more comfort equipment and a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive transmissions.

For now the six-speed manual XUV500 driveaway pricing is unaltered with entry level versions kicking off from $29,900 or $32,900 for the all-paw equivalent.

Mahindra Automotive Australia public relations and marketing manager James Halliwell told GoAuto the company was looking forward to offering an automatic version of its mid-sized SUV alongside the updated manual.

“New car licences in Australia well over 70 per cent are automatic and that drives what people buy when they purchase a medium SUV,” he said.

Timing, specification and pricing for the more comprehensively equipped W10 version is yet to be finalised, but Mr Halliwell said the variant would be available from launch “in limited quantities initially”.

“We will have some at the launch in May and we will be able to announce it at the launch when stocks are arriving.”Like the previous version, the 2016 base W8 manual XUV500 offers a combination of 2.2-litre turbo-diesel kicking out 103kW and 330Nm of torque, but thanks to a regenerative system and idle-stop, W10 versions can use as little as 6.7 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres.

Mahindra refers to the feature as Micro Hybrid Technology, which uses a mild hybrid system to recapture energy under braking.

As part of the interior update, the 2016 XUV500 has a reversing camera with assistance and navigation displayed on a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, USB and iPod connectivity, cruise control, climate control, tyre pressure monitoring, rain-sensing wipers and light-sensing headlights.

Mahindra's Blue Sense system allows passengers to control the sound system with a smartphone.

The black leather upholstered cabin has room for seven occupants, Icy Blue Lounge Lighting, aluminium pedal covers and illuminated scuff plates.

Unlike some other affordable SUV and ute brands, the Mahindra has a monocoque construction instead of a ladder chassis, which gives the XUV500 a more car like manner, and its McPherson/multi-link suspension “offers a lot of room for fun”, according to the car-maker.

Safety tech includes six airbags with curtain type, Bosch-programmed electronic stability control, hill-hold and descent assistance, ABS and EBD.

2016 Mahindra XUV500 driveaway pricing*

2WD	$29,900
AWD	$32,900