Mahindra XUV 3XO: The Best Enthusiast Car Under 12 Lakhs?
The term “Enthusiast Car” usually brings to mind the Volkswagen Virtus GT or the Skoda Slavia. But those cost Rs 18 Lakhs+. What if you have a budget of Rs 12 Lakhs?
Enter the Mahindra XUV 3XO.
🚀 The Numbers Game
Let’s look at the AX5 variant with the 1.2L mStallion TGDi engine.
- Power: 130 PS
- Torque: 230 Nm
- Price: ~Rs 11-12 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom)
Compare this to the i20 N Line (120 PS / 172 Nm). The Mahindra has a massive 58 Nm torque advantage. In the real world, this means effortless, push-back-in-your-seat acceleration.
⚙️ Handling & Dynamics
It’s not just a drag racer.
- Wide Track: The 3XO is the widest car in its segment. This gives it immense lateral stability. You can throw it into corners, and it grips.
- Steering: It has steering modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport). In Sport, it weighs up decently.
- Braking: All-Wheel Disc Brakes are standard. It stops as well as it goes.
🏁 The Verdict: Yes.
Is it perfect? No. The boot is small, and the manual gearbox throw is a bit long. But for pure Smiles Per Mile, nothing under Rs 15 Lakhs comes close to the raw aggression of the XUV 3XO Turbo.
It is the spiritual successor to the Fiat Punto Abarth/Polo GT TDI.