Two years ago, Mahindra blew the socks off its rivals when it launched the XUV500 crossover. The game changer was the Rs. 10.8 lakh price tag of the Mahindra XUV500. Though introductory, this price tag catapulted the XUV500 into becoming a hot seller right from the word go. A similar price tag might be revisited by Mahindra in the next few days when it plans to launch the de-contented version of the XUV500, called the W4 variant. The technical specifications and the feature list of the XUV500′s W4 version has already hit the Internet, suggesting that the launch is just around the corner.


Fewer features, but still quite rich

So, what does the Mahindra XUV500′s W4 variant skip in order to allow Mahindra to price it very competitively?
Before we get to that, we’ll first give you a round up of what you’ll get in the crossover. The 2.2 liter mHawk turbo diesel engine is carried over unchanged and so is the 6-speed manual gearbox. The 140 Bhp-330 Nm diesel unit powers the front wheels of this crossover. The idle-stop system, known as the micro-hybrid in Mahindra-speak, is also retained on the XUV500 W4 variant. Driver and co-passenger airbags, ABS and EBD, and all-round disc brakes are the vital safety features that have also been included considering the XUV500′s heft and performance on top. It also gets rear defogger and wiper as standard.



Coming to the various feature deletions on the W4 XUV500, the list is fairly long, but despite the deletions, it is still fairly loaded. Cosmetically, one will have to live without body cladding, static bending lamps and the twin exhaust tips integrated into the rear bumper. The absence of the front fog lamps may irk some, but the projector headlamps and LED parking lamps have been retained. On the inside, the 6-inch touchscreen infotainment display and DVD player make way for a lower-priced double-DIN stereo. The steering loses audio controls and telescopic function, as well as cruise control and voice command functions.
Other functional deletions include the tyre pressure monitoring system, parking sensors, rain sensing wipers, power folding outside mirrors, although they remain power adjustable, automatic headlamps, automatic climate control and puddle lamps. Premium upholstery, illuminated key ring and the camping lamp have also been omitted on the W4 variant, while power windows lose the auto-down function.
With so many features deleted from the W4 variant, expect a cracker of a price tag from Mahindra. It also makes for a very practical buy without too many fancy gizmos, while it retains key safety and functional features. An ex-showroom price of just under Rs. 10.5 lakh is what we expect. This might allow the XUV500′s W4 trim to slay new upstarts like the Renault Duster and the Nissan Terrano.
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