Mahindra XUV 3XO CNG: 3 reasons to buy and 3 to skip

The Mahindra XUV 3XO CNG goes up against the Tata Nexon iCNG and the Maruti Brezza CNG. It costs Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 12.27 lakh (ex-showroom). That is Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.2 lakh more than the corresponding petrol-only variants. Before you book one, here is what it does well and where it falls short.

Reasons to buy
1. Strong performance on CNG
The XUV 3XO CNG uses a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with multi-point fuel injection. Mahindra also uses this engine in the lower and mid-spec petrol trims. It makes 111hp and 200Nm on both petrol and CNG. You feel some turbo lag below 2,000rpm. After that, the engine pulls hard. The engine is also smooth and flexible. You rarely need first gear, even for speed breakers. Switching between petrol and CNG feels seamless. Most people won’t know which fuel the car is running on. Mahindra claims a mileage of 24.7km/kg on CNG.

2. Ride and handling
The CNG kit adds about 100kg to the kerb weight. Most of it sits over the rear axle. Mahindra reworked the suspension to handle the extra load. The ride feels a bit firm, but the car copes well with bad roads. The 16-inch wheels with high-profile tyres soften sharp bumps. The XUV 3XO CNG rides better than most cars in its segment. The comfort doesn’t make the handling sloppy. The SUV feels tight and planted in corners. The steering is direct and light.

3. Cabin and features
The cabin matches the non-CNG versions, apart from a CNG switch next to the steering wheel. You can’t get the CNG in the very top trims. Still, it offers a dual-tone dashboard, gloss black accents and leatherette seats. The cabin feels well-built and premium. The rear seat is roomy for this class and fits three adults without a fuss. The top RevX A trim has twin 10.25-inch screens, a panoramic sunroof and a 6-speaker Dolby Atmos system. Standard safety kit includes 6 airbags, stability control, ISOFIX anchors and a reversing camera.

Reasons not to buy
1. Small boot
The regular XUV 3XO has a 295-litre boot, the smallest in its segment. The CNG makes it worse. Mahindra moved the spare wheel under the body and put twin cylinders under the boot floor. You get just 270 litres. The boot is wide, though. It can still hold up to four cabin-sized bags.

2. Cabin niggles
The black leatherette seats look sporty, but they have no ventilation. They heat up fast on a sunny day. If you have a larger build, the front seats may feel tight. The steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach, so finding a good driving position is harder. The driver footwell is cramped, and there is no dead pedal.

3. Lack of features
CNG is available in just four trims. All of them sit in the middle of the range. So you miss out on a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats and a wireless charging pad. The Nexon iCNG has all three. The XUV 3XO CNG also has no fog lamps.