Complete Guide to Buying a Used Mahindra XUV500

Mahindra has always been the go-to brand for rugged, reliable off-road vehicles. But in the early 2000s, Mahindra came up with an SUV that changed the Indian automotive landscape forever. While car buyers had plenty of options for premium SUVs and affordable ones, there was no SUV bridging the gap between these price segments. Mahindra filled this gap in the SUV segment for Indian consumers looking for an upgrade from sedans with its indigenously designed XUV500 (pronounced as the 5-Double-O).

Launched in 2011, the XUV500 added plenty of oomph to Mahindra’s SUV line-up. Selling over 35,000 units in the first year itself, the cheetah-inspired XUV500 was an instant hit. Mahindra priced the iconic SUV in the ranges of Rs. 10.80 Lakh to Rs. 12.88 Lakh. The XUV500 was Mahindra’s first SUV using a monocoque chassis and front-wheel drive. With a seating capacity of 7 people, a unique and aggressive design, packed with loads of features, and the reliable mHawk engine at its heart, the XUV500 offered outstanding value for money.

Mahindra discontinued the XUV500 in 2021 to make way for the new XUV700, but there are still plenty of XUV500s in the pre-owned market space. Here’s the complete guide to buying a used Mahindra XUV500.

Mahindra XUV500 Specifications

Pre-owned Mahindra XUV500 Generations

Mahindra launched the XUV500 in 2011, positioning the mid-size SUV in such a way that it had virtually zero competition in the Indian market. Launched at a starting price of Rs. 10.80 Lakh, the Mahindra XUV500 created an entirely new segment for itself. Even though the XUV500 undercut the premium SUVs available in the market by a substantial amount, it did not fall back when it came to features, safety, and luxury.

1st Generation: 2011-2014 Mahindra XUV500

The first generation Mahindra XUV500 was an instant hit. The XUV500’s cheetah-inspired design gave it an undeniable road presence. From its jaw-like front grille to its paw-like door handles, the XUV500 looked like it was ready to pounce on its competitors, dominating the market for years to come. 

At the heart of Mahindra’s cheetah was the reliable 2.2-litre mHawk 140 diesel engine that produced 142 PS and 330 Nm of torque. Initially, the XUV500 was offered in only two variants, W6 and W8, with AWD (all-wheel drive) on the latter as an option.

The XUV500 wasn’t just for show either. In addition to an undeniable road presence, the XUV500 was loaded with segment-first premium features like a 6-inch LCD touchscreen infotainment system, fully automatic climate control, blue sense technology (Bluetooth tech which enabled you to operate the infotainment system from your phone), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, smart rain and light sensors, reverse parking assist system, and a convenient remote keyless entry.

Mahindra left no stone unturned when it came to safety. The first-gen XUV500 came with disc brakes on all wheels, another segment-first offering, six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP with Rollover Mitigation, Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control, and much more to keep you out of harm’s way.

1st Facelift: 2015-2017 Mahindra XUV500

Mahindra gave the flagship XUV500 a major facelift in 2015. Moreover, Mahindra added a new W9 variant and an optional automatic transmission in addition to the aesthetic changes. While the first-gen offered only a diesel variant, the 2015 XUV500 came with a 2.2-litre petrol version called the G AT and a 1.99-litre diesel engine for NCR markets to comply with the emission norms.

The XUV500 retained its cheetah-inspired front end with subtle changes here and there. The bumper received a slight curve, the grille was given a glossy black finish with chrome accents, and the fog lamps were raised and enclosed in L-shaped frames. The most striking feature was the static bending headlights with S-shaped LED parking lamps that also served as DRLs.

The cabin also got some upgrades, such as a black and beige interior, improved fit and finish, and blue ambient lighting. The highlight was the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system designed by Visteon.

2nd Facelift: 2018-2021 Mahindra XUV500

Mahindra unveiled the second major facelift for the XUV500 in 2018, with a revamped variant line-up and a more powerful, robust diesel engine—the mHawk 155. Mahindra also launched the XUV500 W3 as the new entry-level variant in 2019 to counter the rising competition.

The XUV500 got some cosmetic changes on the exterior, such as a bolder grille with chrome accents, larger projector headlamps with LED DRLs, redesigned front and rear bumpers, and a bigger central air dam. The top-end W11 variant also got 18-inch alloy wheels, while the others got 17-inch wheels.

The interior also received plenty of enhancements, such as a new two-tone black and tan leather upholstery for the seats in the W11 variant and a two-tone grey and black theme for the rest. The dashboard remained the same as before, with the same steering wheel, central console, and air vents.

Why You Should Consider the Mahindra XUV500

Mahindra XUV500 is a great all-around SUV that offers a lot of value for money in the used car market, too. It is spacious, comfortable, feature-rich, and reliable. If you are looking for an SUV that can do it all, the XUV500 is a great option to consider.

Road Presence That’s Second to None

Mahindra’s flagship SUV has been a head-turner over the years. Inspired by the cheetah, the XUV500 features a muscular front grille, sleek headlamps, LED DRLs, and a wide stance. The XUV500 also has a high ground clearance of 200 mm and large 18-inch alloy wheels that give it a dominating presence. Even with the new XUV700 on the roads, the XUV500 still commands attention when it hits the road.

Spacious Interiors

The XUV500 offers a spacious and comfortable cabin for up to seven passengers. The XUV500 has ample legroom and headroom on the first and second rows of seats, while the third row is best suited for children. The seats are upholstered in premium leather and offer lumbar support and height adjustment for the driver.

Luxury Features at an Affordable Price

Even in the used market, the XUV500 stands out from the competition thanks to its long list of good-to-have features. The XUV500 comes with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a sunroof, automatic climate control, cruise control, ambient lighting, smartwatch connectivity, push-button start, keyless entry, and a multi-function steering wheel. The top-end variant of the XUV500 also has a tyre pressure monitoring system, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a smart rain-sensing wiper. 

Reliable Engine

Mahindra’s 2.2-litre mHAWK engine is a time-tested and reliable powerhouse. It is known for its punchy performance and excellent fuel economy, especially on highway drives. Over the years, many users have crossed the 2 lakh km mark with just regular maintenance, and they still perform like new.

Equipped with Modern Safety Features

Despite being a car that was launched over a decade ago, the Mahindra XUV500 comes loaded with modern safety features. The XUV500 has six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP with rollover mitigation, hill hold control, hill descent control, disc brakes on all four wheels, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. 

Why You Should Not Consider the Mahindra XUV500

While the Mahindra XUV500 is undeniably one of the most successful SUVs in India, it has its fair share of flaws and quirks that you should be aware of if you’re contemplating picking one up from the used car market. Here are some of the drawbacks of the XUV500:

Negligible Boot Space

The boot in the Mahindra XUV500 with all seven seats in place is almost non-existent. It’s barely enough for a few handbags, and it can be a major problem if you’re planning to travel long distances with a full load of passengers. You can either opt for a roof carrier or fold down the third row of seats to increase boot space, but this will reduce the seating capacity.

Cramped Third Row

You could solve the above problem by folding down the third row as the XUV500’s third row is only suitable for small children or relatively shorter adults. For a full-size adult, sitting in the third row can be a very uncomfortable experience. There is not enough legroom or headroom, and the seats are not very supportive.

Infotainment System Issues

The infotainment system in the XUV500 has been known to be buggy and unreliable. Common problems include the non-readability of USB drives, GPS not showing location properly or not opening at all, frequent crashes, and so on. Mahindra has released a firmware update to fix these issues, but it’s important to make sure that the used XUV500 you are buying has had the update installed.

Door Rattling and Not Closing

The door panels in the XUV500 are prone to rattling, especially on the second-generation models. This is caused by loose screws and nuts beneath the door panels grinding over each other or other metallic parts. The doors may also not close properly in one go, requiring you to slam them shut. Doors not shutting properly is a major safety hazard that puts the occupants at a high risk, which is why you should make sure you check the doors carefully for any signs of rattling or problems with the locking mechanism.

Iffy Brakes

Early XUV500 models had problems with the brakes. The brakes would often make grinding or screeching noises, and lacked bite and offered wooden feedback. Mahindra is said to have fixed this issue by swapping the existing pedals and pads with Bosch-sourced replacements. Hence, if you’re buying a first-generation model, make sure the brakes don’t make any abnormal grinding noise and offer decent feedback upon actuation.

Premature Clutch Wear

Early XUV500 models also suffered from premature clutch wear, with clutch plates sometimes wearing out as early as 40,000 km. Another common problem reported by first- and second-generation XUV500 owners was an uncomfortably light clutch that offered little feedback. This can be a costly repair, so it’s important to check the clutch condition carefully on any used XUV500 you’re considering buying.

Mahindra XUV500 Variants

The Mahindra XUV500 was a versatile 7-seater SUV that offered a wide array of variants to choose from. The XUV500 is available in five diesel variants—W3, W5, W7, W9, and W11 and one petrol variant—G AT. The W7, W9, and W11 are available with options for both manual and automatic transmission, and the top W11 model has an optional All-wheel Drive alternative too.

A new base variant, W3, was added during its second facelift. Despite its lucrative pricing, it still packed a punch with its 2.2-litre diesel engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Next up is the mid-range W5 variant, which had additional features like a 6” infotainment system and projector headlamps.

The W7 and W9 variants took things up a notch with premium features like a 7” infotainment system, electric sunroof, passive keyless entry, Ecosene, LED DRLs, Tyre-tronics (TMPS), premium tan and black interiors, Cruise control, steering mounted controls, side and curtain airbags, hill hold control, and other advanced safety features.

And for those who demanded the absolute best, the top-end variant, W11 (diesel), offered everything from logo projection lamps, premium leather interiors and brake energy regeneration features to emergency call features and the option of an all-wheel-drive system.

Best Pre-owned Mahindra XUV500 Variant to Buy

The W7 and W9 variants of the Mahindra XUV500 offer the best value for money for Indian car buyers. These variants offer the perfect balance of features and performance, with a powerful mHawk engine, a touchscreen infotainment system with all the latest bells and whistles, an electric sunroof, push-button start, keyless entry, smartwatch connectivity, and smart rain-sensing wipers.

So, if you’re looking for a premium SUV with a lot to offer without breaking the bank, the Mahindra XUV500 W7 and W9 variants are the perfect choice for you.

Summary

In the world of used SUVs, the Mahindra XUV500 stands tall, offering a blend of road presence, comfort, and features that still hold even as it ventures into the pre-owned market. While the XUV500 boasts a spacious and luxurious cabin, modern safety features, and a reliable 2.2-litre mHAWK engine, it’s not without its quirks. Potential buyers should be aware of limitations like a cramped third row, infotainment system issues, and much more, as mentioned above. 

Mahindra XUV500 is definitely still an enticing option for Indian car buyers, especially in the pre-owned market. To make a smart purchase, research diligently and inspect your chosen XUV500 carefully. If you steer clear of the early models and focus on the recommended variants, you’re likely to find a powerful, feature-rich SUV that still commands attention on the road.