Quick drive: Mahindra NuvoSport N8 AMT
Mahindra is on a roll these days, releasing vehicles at a rapid clip and we don’t mean slap-dash sticker jobs on existing models. In this past year, we’ve seen the TUV300, the KUV100 and now this: the NuvoSport, who’s name flies in the face of all that Mahindra holds holy. There’s an ‘O’ in there though.
The NuvoSport joins the previously-mentioned SUVs (we use this term rather flexibly these days) in the sub-4m category. This means that coupled with motors of 1.5 litres or less, the vehicles attract lower government taxes and can be priced favourably for consumers. We reviewed the TUV300 in October last year and came away impressed by the value proposition. The NuvoSport as we tested it, takes things to another level, this time with an automated manual transmission, or AMT.
Visually, the all-new front face of the NuvoSport has transformed the frankly fugly Quanto. From the windshield back, it’s still the same shape, but the face makes it. We had numerous rubber-necking spectators in our week with the vehicle. The LED DRLs (almost mandatory these days) are also honest and well-integrated, unlike some luxury cars we could mention if we were being catty. Mahindra claims the NuvoSport is based on the new-generation Scorpio platform, unlike the Quanto.
The star of the show for us is the mHawk100 engine. It’s a three-cylinder diesel that puts out 100bhp and 240Nm of torque and despite propelling this porky compact SUV, manages to remain responsive and comfortable to drive. Comparatively, the that we drove in the TUV300 feels pedestrian and just about adequate. Mahindra has also done a good job with the 5-speed AMT in our test vehicle. The transmission seems to always be in the right gear for a given situation and the engine always seems to be on boost. Of course, in heavy traffic when you need to point and squirt, there will be times where you wish for a proper manual, but one could say that about any automatic. Manually downshifting helps, but gear changes are leisurely and won’t help you get a move on immediately.
Mahindra’s gate layout for the shifter is also convenient, with up and downshifts along the vertical axis and auto/manual toggle, neutral and reverse along the horizontal. You never have to guess which slot you’re in at a long signal. Just slap the stick to the right and you’re in neutral. Ergonomics are a bit of a mixed bag. We like the armrests, that are a bit more evenly placed to the ones on the doors, but the infotainment screen is a bit too vertical for comfortable viewing. The TUV300 was better in this regard, but didn’t have a Kenwood colour touchscreen like the NuvoSport. AUX, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity is present and all works well.
Interestingly, the that we tested comes off looking a bit sparse compared to other feature-laden Mahindras we’ve tested. No cornering headlamps, no driving modes or micro-hybrid. The latter two are available in the manual transmission-equipped variants, however.
Comfort is good for a vehicle of this size. Rear knee room is at a premium, but is offset somewhat by the relatively upright bench. The rear seat is adjustable for recline as long as the jump seats at the back are flipped down. Accommodations for the driver and passenger are generous, with lots of shoulder room and legroom. Want to meet a writing deadline en route? Cross your legs on the seat and perch your laptop on them. One would think that a vehicle as tall as this would simplify ingress and egress for seniors, but this is not the case. The footboard is almost necessary to get in, as is grabbing the roof handle. This leads us nicely to the one serious concern we have about the NuvoSport.
Mahindra pitches this vehicle as an outdoor activity platform and we’d agree for the most part, as long as it’ should and your partner sitting up front. On the second row, things can get violently unsettling thanks to the alarming body roll the NuvoSport suffers from. The generous width of the vehicle becomes a disadvantage for passengers, as they’re thrown from side to side as the SUV traverses rough stuff. It doesn’t even need to be particularly rough. We’d advise riders at the back to keep their seatbelts on for comfort as well as safety. We’re not sure what to make of this behaviour, as the vehicle doesn’t feel particularly hairy through long sweepers when you’re pushing some lateral Gs. It’s also something that’s endemic to this vehicle; the TUV300 did not suffer from this peculiarity. Highway manners are adequate. Triple-digit cruising is possible and feels relaxed. A high point is the brilliant refinement and silence of the cabin. You can have quiet conversations at high speed, despite a three-cylinder Diesel motor up front. A job most certainly well done. The N8 variant we tested came with cruise control, which is another nice feature. Lighting from the new headlamps combined with the front fog lamps is excellent, with an even spread.
Rounding off the practicality of the NuvoSport — if you do choose to go kitesurfing at some point — is the decent boot. As expected, it’s far taller than deep, but it’s no shallow sliver of space you’d get if you were to buy a compact three-row MUV, for instance. With the jump seats folded, there’s enough space for a weekend’s worth of luggage, a cat carrier while the dog lounges in the second row. Have more dogs? The rear seats flip and tumble, liberating over 800 litres.
Mahindra continues to impress with their genuine strides away from the agricultural toward the contemporary. They appear to be following the Maruti mantra of offering a vehicle at every price range. Unlike Maruti, however, they seem to be throwing all manner of designs at the wall to see what sticks. The NuvoSport, in our opinion, sticks well.
Price as tested: Rs 9,76,000
TOD Rating: 3.5/5
Originally published at ThrillOfDriving.com on April 22, 2016.
