On paper: Mahindra TUV300 vs Ford EcoSport

Ford showed the way forward when they launched the EcoSport in 2013. The compact SUV was anxiously anticipated and if the 9-month waiting period was to be believed, wildly successful. A sub-4 metre SUV at an affordable price clearly had the customers lining up. It was a sign not lost on other Indian manufacturers; just look at the number of pseudo-SUVs/crossovers based on hatchbacks available in the market today. Mahindra recently went a step further and announced their ‘authentic’ SUV, the “tough utility vehicle” TUV300, still pronouned with the “double-O” at the end. It’s also under 4m in lenght and has a wide overlap in price with the Ford EcoSport. So which one is better for you? We drill down in the details.

Motivation

The engine options are the first differences you’ll notice on the spec sheets of the EcoSport and the TUV300. The Ford is available in a 1.5 litre petrol, a 1.5 litre diesel and a high-tech 1.0 litre EcoBoost turbo-petrol engine — each in one or more trim levels. Unsurprisingly for this class of vehicle, the diesel is what you tend to see most, but it’s always nice to have the choice. The Mahindra, however, only comes with one engine option — the new mHawk80 three-cylinder diesel, but the range starts at just Rs 6.9 lac, while a diesel EcoSport starts at Rs 7.89 lac, about a lac dearer.

Both motors are in the same performance ballpark. The EcoSport TDCi motor makes slightly more power, while the Mahindra mHawk80 makes the most torque in this class. It won’t win any drag races with the EcoSport however, since it has about 2.2 tonnes of weight to lug around. The EcoSport will also tend to be smoother as the revs rise, being a 4-cylinder motor, while the Mahindra can get a bit noisy. Both vehicles use 5-speed manual transmissions, but Mahindra also provides an automated manual gearbox on the top two trim levels, a claimed segment first. Ford has no such transmission for its diesel models; the decidedly more advanced dual-clutch automatic is reserved for their 1.5 litre petrol model.

On the go, at moderate speed, both vehicles feel refined and smooth, though the three-cylinder thrum tends to creep in on the Mahindra when you start going faster. The EcoSport, a monocoque front-wheel drive platform, handles well and feels car-like (because it is) while the TUV300 feels like an ‘authentic’ SUV — it’s a body-on-frame construction with rear-wheel drive. That said, it’s still quite good and we suspect ride on rougher roads will actually be better on the TUV.

Space

It’s hard to compete with the TUV300 in terms of interior space. Despite being under four metres in length, it is offered as a 5+2 seater, with two jump seats at the back. They may not be practical for large adults, but they’ll do in a pinch. Fold them up and the cargo space liberated is expansive. One can fit a very decent amount of luggage behind those rear seats and once folded down, there’s cavernous cargo room. The EcoSport has a more compact cargo area, but the 60:40 folding seats allow for some more flexibility. Still, gross volume is lower.

Mahindra claims that the TUV300 is the widest vehicle in its segment, allowing for generous shoulder room for three passengers sitting abreast. We certainly didn’t have to adjust ourselves too much to get comfortable, which can be a problem with the EcoSport, where three passengers on the rear seat is a snug fit. Legroom in either vehicle is fine, though the rear seat feels a bit more upright in the TUV than the EcoSport, much like you’d find in a Scorpio (upon which the TUV is based). So there’s a trade-off between shoulder room and the recline of the seats; your comfort may vary on longer drives.

One area where the TUV clearly has the advantage is in the greenhouse. There’s more exposed glass area with the TUV300, making the interior feel airy and spacious. Combined with the well-chosen beige upholstery, the sense of space is palpable. Not so with the Ford EcoSport, which sacrifices an airy cabin for the sleek design.

Design

The TUV300 is a definite departure for Mahindra as far as their recent design efforts go. The XUV500 has more curves, slashes and character lines than it does seats and you would be right if you thought it was a bit overdone. The TUV takes another approach, being all angles and flat metal. The design is inspired by a battle tank, Mahindra claims, and it does look quite chunky in person. The squared-off wheel arches, boxy design and straight lines that tend to converge toward the rear are conservative, with some flair. Mahindra claims Pininfarina provided input in the development of the TUV, but they chose their words carefully, so we’re not sure to what extent. Mahindra have managed to avoid the uniquely awkward look of the Quanto, their other sub-4m vehicle, but there’s only so much you can do within the size constraints, so the TUV does end up looking a bit tall.

In contrast, the Ford EcoSport has no baggage to shed and appears to be designed with less “must-haves” on the list. While it gives up pure volume to the TUV300, it’s a better designed car to look at. This of course, is highly subjective and if you believe the reactions Mahindra is seeing on social media, their machismo is selling briskly. You don’t get pure testosterone in a bottle with each EcoSport.

Safety

To Mahindra’s credit, they’re offering ABS and front airbags even on the base model TUV300 as an option (T4+ trim), something you don’t get in the EcoSport unless you opt for the top two trims (Titanium, Titanium (O)). ABS with EBD is also available, as is CBC (Corner Brake Control) on the top variant. Standard safety features are becoming par for the course and informing manufacturer product strategy, and we’re glad for it. The EcoSport was launched a little before the safety circus starring Max Mosley and GlobalNCAP last year, so you pay more for the priviledge of surviving a crash (you can also get six airbags on one variant). Mahindra also claims that the TUV300 complies with future safety norms to come into effect in India, so you’re buying a vehicle you can safely keep for a while.

Practicality

While the EcoSport and TUV300 are the same length, the configuration of the TUV is such that it feels larger. The wheels are at the very corners, liberating interior space and the width affords more passenger comfort. Additionally there’s the larger boot. Family trips will tend to be more comfortable in the TUV than the EcoSport. That said, the EcoSport makes good use of its space. There are nicely thought out storage areas and ergonomics are good for the front seats. If you’re coming from a Japanese car, things won’t fall to hand quite as readily in the Ford, but it’s a small adjustment to make. Being significantly taller, ingress and egress to/from the TUV is slightly more comfortable than the EcoSport.

One rather glaring issue with the EcoSport is the fact that the rear door opens from the right. This means if you’re parked on the left, as we do in right-hand drive countries and want to load some cargo, you have to walk around the door to do it. The TUV300 opens from the left, so you’re protected from traffic and can load easily. There’s a bit of a lip to the cargo area, so you have to lift your load a bit higher to get it in.

Finally, with all the talk about the toughness and authenticity of the TUV300, you’d think it was built like a mountain goat. Not quite. The TUV300 has 190mm of ground clearance, while the EcoSport trumps it at 200mm. Being front-wheel drive, the EcoSport will also have less bits at the bottom to damage if the going gets really rough. But let’s face it: these are both urban vehicles and you’re unlikely to take them mudplugging without a JCB at hand.

Technology

Mahindra impressed us with the laundry list of features on its XUV500 and new Scorpio models, and the trickle-down effect is visible on the TUV300 as well. There are static-bending headlights on offer, something the EcoSport doesn’t get. There’s a 2DIN entertainment system with Bluetooth, voice commands and connectivity to a smartphone app, which Ford also provides. If you’re comparing checklists, we’d say it’s a mixed bag between vehicles, and both are roughly equivalent.

Value

It’s safe to say that the Ford will tend to be a bit more expensive to maintain in the long run. THe slab-sided TUV bodywork will be easier to repair and Mahindra’s adept local manufacturing should keep spares costs low. The EcoSport diesel models start at Rs 7.89 lac ex-Delhi and go all the way up to Rs 10.2 lac. The TUV starts at a lower Rs 6.9 lac and tops out at Rs 9.12 lac ex-Delhi for the automated manual option. Clearly, Mahindra is making a very strong case for itself in the sub-4m SUV segment.

Prices

Mahindra TUV300
T4 Rs 6.9 lac
T4+ Rs 7.25 lac
T6 Rs 7.55 lac
T6+ Rs 7.8 lac
T8+ Rs 8.4 lac
T6+ AMT Rs 8.52 lac
T8+ AMT Rs 9.12 lac

Ford EcoSport (diesel)
Ambiente Rs 7.89 lac
Trend Rs 8.61 lac
Titanium Rs 9.6 lac
Titanium (O) Rs 10.2 lac