XUV500

INDIAN car-maker Mahindra launched its first passenger vehicle in Australia in June 2012 with the XUV500 SUV that, at launch, was the cheapest seven-seat SUV on the market.

Available in a single specification in either two- or four-wheel drive guise, the XUV500 came with a six-speed manual transmission, with an auto promised for 2014.

Power came from the same 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine as found in the Mahindra Pik Up ute with power output boosted to 103kW and fuel consumption of 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres for the front-drive and 7.2L/100km for the All-wheel drive.