Test drive Mahindra KUV100, XUV500: Indian classics

Two new models from the Mahindra brand, especially popular in the Indian market

In principle, the public of the Old Continent was initially used to treat with some distrust the products of countries that Europeans considered exotic in terms of the cars created in them.

In fact, when this bias is directed against a large number of copies of all kinds of popular models of famous brands, bright, pale, successful or unsuccessful, spewed out by famous and unknown Chinese companies, skepticism seems justified.

However, the expectation that a company that, figuratively speaking, was previously engaged in the production of sockets, plugs or, at best, air conditioners or refrigerators, from today until tomorrow will make an impressive car with its own style, are most naive.

Moreover, when the determining factor in creating a model is only profit, and all the know-how is expressed in copying solutions and forms created by other brands. However, the fact is that many big players in China are learning surprisingly quickly and in many ways are starting to catch up with their South Korean competitors in terms of product quality. So the Celestial Empire has yet to become an increasingly important factor in the automotive world, and there is no doubt about it.

India - Expect the Unexpected

Equally interesting is the case of models made in India, as the automotive industry has a solid tradition in the second most populous country in the world.

Many of the world's most renowned manufacturers have their own manufacturing facilities in India and the quality of many of these companies is top notch. Suffice it to mention the models of the Indian division Honda, or Maruti Suzuki, to illustrate the fact that some of the most reliable cars are actually made in this country.

Local brands also boast a rich past and vibrant present, with Mahindra and Tata standing out among the traditional brands for the Indian market. Well, one cannot fail to mention the cult ambassador of Hindustan, although, unfortunately for many, this is already in the past.

Mahindra is a manufacturer with over 70 years of history

In this case, we will talk about Mahindra. The history of the company has more than 70 years. Founded in 1947, the company has extensive experience in the design and manufacture of SUVs and various types of professional vehicles. An interesting fact in this regard is that Mahindra is currently the world leader in the production of tractors.

Today, the brand has a wide range of models, 13 models in total, including those with a fully electric drive. Two of these models are already available on the European market since last autumn. We are talking about the most affordable crossover - a small KUV100 with a starting price of $ 13.

And the seven-seater off-road model XUV500 with front or all-wheel drive, prices for which, depending on the modification and equipment, range from 24 to 000 USD. In the future, it is expected to expand the range of products in the domestic market of some European countries.