Tips to Buy Used Mahindra XUV500

Thinking of buying an Indian-made SUV and not thinking of Mahindra is something impossible as Mahindra has an SUV up its product lineup to matchup every taste, with Scorpio, Alturas, XUV, TUV, and KUV. While rugged products from the Mahindra stable are targeted at the rural market and lack the finesse to cater to the international market, XUV500 (Read: X-U-V-Double-Oh) turned up to the masses as the first indigenously manufactured global SUV.

What actually is Mahindra XUV500?

India’s first indigenously manufactured monocoque SUV by Mahindra, the XUV500 launched in 2011. The 7-seater SUV was modern enough to cater to any right-hand-drive market in the world without any significant changes to the India-spec model.

2018 Mahindra XUV500

The XUV500 fascinated many SUV buyers in the country, as the car gave the Indian automotive scene a new dimension to watch upon. Back in 2011, the car had unique crossover styling, and a feature list so long that it could go through the homologation process of any right-hand-drive country without any changes. The initial batches of the car had a few niggles on the electronics front but the car was put together so well, that Mahindra tuned one example to a rally-spec competition car, and went on to win many titles in its name.

Also Read - Mahindra XUV500 2018 Review India.

How many generations are out there in the market?

The XUV500 was launched for the very first time in 2011.

Launched in 2011 with loud and busy styling elements all-around, the first iteration of the XUV created a space for itself and garnered huge booking figures, to an extent that Mahindra has to come up with lottery system to allot the cars to the buyers. But the car had many issues related to the automatic features car possessed and ironing them completely out took Mahindra a long duration.

Mahindra XUV500 got its first facelift in 2015, and from here the niggles started to iron out completely.

So a new facelifted version of the XUV arrived in the year 2015. The styling on the car got sorted out with a premium touch to its face and was not as loud as its older sibling. The features list also got revamped with a 4th variant (W9) joining the trim levels and it now it also got an option of automatic transmission. While, the XUV already had a lot of mechanical checkboxes to full fill the requirement of automobile enthusiasts with optional AWD, traction control, hill descent control, and likes. This time Mahindra went on to offer an option of a petrol engine, with just one trim level, G-AT. And this isn’t a full stop yet, for a shorter course of time, Mahindra even introduced a 1.99L diesel engine for the NCR region, since the sales of diesel engines with cubic capacity more than 2000cc were banned.

The latest iteration of the XUV500 was launched in 2018, we believe it to be the final facelift for its life-cycle.

In the year 2018, Mahindra launched a new refreshed version of the XUV, not a completely new product, just a facelift. Though this time, Mahindra revamped the power figures to 156bhp alongside the styling. The car went through with a cosmetic job for a new face at front and rear, making it a first-ever sheet metal reform for the XUV’s tail. With 3 generations so far since 2011, but with the same platform translates that XUV has achieved a lot of success in its favor with just cosmetical changes, and also has a huge customer base.

Also Read - Tata Harrier Vs Mahindra XUV500 Vs Renault Duster: Which One Is The Best Off-Roader?

Why should XUV500 be considered as a potential purchase?

XUV was designed to take on the customers who were looking to invest in the comfort and convenience of a C or D-segment sedan, but with all the advantages of a full-fledged SUV. All the generations of the XUV had distinctive styling and feature list so long; it could surpass your grocery requirement sheet in length. The car comes equipped with LED DRLs, cornering lamps, auto headlamps and wiper, LED tail lamps, cornering lamps, ambient mood lighting, hill-hold assist, optional AWD, touchscreen music system with voice commands, cruise control, sunroof, automatic climate control, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD and more. The trusted 2.2L m-Hawk engine, churning out 156bhp of peak power, adds more thirst to the potential buyers.

The cabin space is immense till the second row, while third row is hardly usable for adults.

The XUV has proven to be a reliable machine till date and thus is an anticipated purchase in the used market too. To add more to it is Mahindra’s vast service network, as the XUV can be repaired even in Tier-II markets with ease in case of a breakdown. While, the first two rows of the XUV has immense comfort up their sleeves, that people are making a move from C-segment sedans to the XUV. But with so much to offer, the XUV has some minor niggles associated with it.

Also Read - Mahindra XUV500 W3 vs Tata Harrier XE: Which Base Variant Is Better?

What should have been improved on XUV?

The thought, that XUV is a proven car and does not come with any issues should not be considered true, even if it keeps echoing in the surrounding. The XUV had its share of niggles, starting from the interior, the space on the inside is acceptable till the 2nd row, but the 3rd row of seats are cramped, and with 3rd row of seats up, the boot is negligible. Hardly a couple of shoulder bags can be stowed in it.

XUV500 offers just 93L of bootspace with all seats in place.

Apart from it, XUV also suffers from squeaks and rattles, from the body parts and suspension. The suspension is also a weak affair and requires overhauling quite fast.

Also Read - Senior doctor of Pune coated his Mahindra XUV500 with cow dung.

Planning to buy a used Mahindra XUV500?

What to check

The very first check should be a Visual inspection of the car along with the RC. Try avoiding the first batch of the XUV. Opt for cars manufactured after the year 2015. The first facelift of the XUV can be a decent choice, as it was largely improved on the electronics front.

The XUV owners have reported about the ITM failures in the AWD models of the car, and thus a clear inspection to that should be made, as fixing it might set one back by at least 40,000 rupees.

The suspension wear on the car is another major issue, the overhaul costs anywhere between 35,000-40,000 rupees. Though checking the condition of suspension wear on a used car is simple, a keen inspection on the abnormal noise and damping while going through an undulation will do the job. Another issue that has been largely reported by XUV owners is the front brake noise. While it is easy to inspect, sorting the issues isn’t easy for sure. It needs a few visits to the service center and if the discs are due for replacement, that’s another hole in the pocket for some 40,000 rupees.

The TPMS issues are an easy and cheap fix, so a car with a faulty TPMS sensor can surely be considered. Mahindra offered a 3-year warranty with the car, while also offered extended warranty of up to 5 years, which can be transferred to the new owner. So a car with an extended warranty should on the primary list. As the ITM can be replaced under warranty and many other electronic sensors can be replaced for free under warranty.

Also Read - Mahindra XUV500 Vs Tata Harrier - Acceleration Comparison.

Cost of service and spares

The cost of regular periodic service on this Mahindra revolves around 10 grands, which can be complained of being on an expensive side. This includes the scheduled oil and fluid changes. But then Mahindra does not ask the XUV owners to visit the workshop often as the Innova owners do. The service interval for the XUV is rated at 10,000kms which exactly double in comparison to 5000kms on Innova. Going through the ownership experience of the owners, the cost of maintaining an XUV including the spares is just 1.2Rs a Km. No, not expensive it is if compared to any D-segment sedan of the same price.

However, one can always take assistance from the organized workshop players once the warranty period is over. With ease to source OES, the vehicle can be worked upon with quality and genuine parts. Are you still wondering what is OES? No do not google it, OES stands for Original Equipment Spares.

Also Read - The Officially Modified Mahindra XUV500 Looks Sweet!

Real-world fuel economy

The Mahindra SUVs are known for their frugal nature, and that is the reason Scorpio outsold Tata Safari year by year. The credit goes to the pocket-friendly 2.2L mHawk unit. With an ARAI certified FE figure of 16kmpl, the XUV is not a guzzler at all. Taking into consideration the experiences from the owners, the XUV keeps a figure of 11kmpl intact in the city runabouts with air-conditioning always on. While on the highways the long overdrive 6th gear proves itself beneficial by returning a mindboggling 16-17kmpl figure for this size of SUV if cruising around 100kmph mark.

What should be avoided

Let’s be clear about it, the first batches of the XUV should be avoided at any given cost if reliability is your first concern. The first batches of the XUV came with tethering issues and many electronics niggles, which can cost almost as much the cost of the used car itself to sort them out with new parts from an authorize Mahindra service center. Like time and money, you will invest in such a car would all go in vain.

If possible avoid a car which has already surpassed its warranty period.

Also Read - 2020 Mahindra XUV500 To Launch With Whole New Architecture.

What should be bought then

The XUV was sold in good numbers and is still keeping the trend on for it. And the most SUVs sold in the country are higher variants, like W8, W9, and W10. So finding a loaded XUV500 with reasonable price, with not much on the odo is unarguably easy. But it’s better to go for a car that is 2-3 years old, since a check, over its service record, can be done, to make sure that it still retains its warranty, and is not void yet.

The 2015 or the second-gen of the XUV with not more than 40,000kms can be had for as low as 8.5-9 lacs, with 2-3 years of operation on the road. While a year-old top-end trim with 30,000kms or so can be had for around 11lacs. But if you do not plan on shedding something big, a 2015 facelift in W7 trim can be an easy find for 6.5-7 lacs.

Our Recommendations

• 2018 Mahindra XUV 500 W11 O Diesel MT for sale at 18.9 lacs.
• 2018 Mahindra XUV 500 MT for sale at 19 lacs.
• Used 2016 Mahindra XUV 500 AT for sale at 11.25 lacs.
• 2016 Mahindra XUV 500 W10 Diesel MT for sale at 13.25 lacs.
• 2012 Mahindra XUV 500 MT for sale at 5.00 lacs.

To find more Mahindra XUV500, Click Here.

Also Read - Next-gen Mahindra Scorpio, Thar, and XUV500 To Get a 2.0L Diesel Engine.

Alternatives to XUV500

Mahindra XUV500 was pitted against the likes of Toyota Innova and Tata Aria(now sold as Tata Hexa), and these can be a good substitute if you cannot find a used XUV according to your requirements.

The Innova is the powerhouse of reliability and it might sound rude, but the car will last your age. And due to this attribute, the Innova has retained its resale value and cheaper examples are hard to find. Toyota has also loaded even the base-spec Innova with basic essential features like, AC vents on all row and alloys wheels, which are mostly seen on the top-spec variants only. With reliability and the ride comfort that can put any SUV or even Sedans of this price to shame fetches Innova a couple of lacs more in comparison to a similar spcec XUV with identical years on RC and kms on odo.

The Aria, on the other hand, is a discontinued affair, and thus the resale value is exorbitantly low. Though Aria holds the ground well with its build quality, feature list, and spacious third-row, thus the resale value is almost identical to an XUV.

There are other cars in the market, which indirectly competed to the XUV or competes to XUV now due to their sheer depreciation in the used car market. For example Force One or Isuzu MU-7. We would suggest you refrain yourself from such cars unless you fantasize owning them once. Rather, we would suggest you to look for the older generation of the Ford Endeavour.