A left-of-field dagger aimed at the Chinese small SUV triumvirate of MG ZS, Haval Jolion and Cherry Tiggo 4 Pro has landed in Australia in the form of the Mahindra XUV3XO – now Australia’s cheapest SUV.
Starting from $23,490 drive-away, it undercuts the Chery Tiggo4 Pro Urban and the (runout) MG ZST Vibe.
Measuring 3990mm long, 1821mm wide and 1647mm tall, with a 2600mm wheelbase, the XUV 3XO is shorter than its key rivals, but features a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, generating 82kW at 5000rpm and a solid 200Nm from 1500-3500rpm.
Instead of a CVT, an Aisin six-speed torque converter automatic should keep things smooth. Consumption of 6.5L/100km (ADR81/02) should see reasonable range from the 42-litre tank. While not quoting 0-100km/h times, the company says it will dispatch 0-60km/h in 4.6 seconds. According to our Vbox database, cars that achieve 0-60km/h in 4.6 seconds can do 0-100km/h in around 9.5-10.5 seconds.
A seven year/ 150,000km warranty trails most rivals, while a capped-price service scheme totals $1994 over 6 years or 85,000km (whichever comes first).
Two variants will be available initially; the $23,490 AX5L and the $26,490 AX7L. Both will rise in price from September, 2025.
Both feature twin 10.25-inch infotainment and instrument screens, wireless phone projection, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, leather steering wheel and gear shifter, level 2 ADAS, and six airbags. Impressively, it even has a sunroof, cooled glovebox, 360-degree camera and rear armrest.
The AX7L adds 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a Harman Kardon seven-speaker stereo with subwoofer, full panoramic sunroof, illuminated glovebox, 65W USB-C fast charging and front parking sensors, as well as soft-touch dash materials not found in the AX5L.
How safe is the 2025 Mahindra XUV3XO? With six airbags, the 3XO is unlikely to score a full 5-star ANCAP rating, but a four-star rating would not be out of the question by our estimation.
