Should You Buy a Used Mahindra XUV500

The XUV500 was a pivotal car for Mahindra. While the Scorpio and the Bolero beefed up the company’s balance sheet, the XUV500 built Mahindra’s reputation as a car manufacturer of repute. For instance, it was the first Mahindra SUV to use a car-like monocoque chassis and front-wheel drive. With a design inspired by the cheetah, it was also aimed at a global market, marking another first for Mahindra. 

What made the XUV500 click with Indian buyers though was its VFM quotient. It could seat 7 people, packed in loads of features, was available with four-wheel drive, offered two competent powertrains, and looked great. Those are also precisely the reasons why the XUV500 is popular in the used market. If you’re looking to buy one, here’s everything you need to know about the XUV500. 

Why you should consider the Mahindra XUV500?

While the XUV500 was discontinued with the XUV700’s launch, it was doing decent sales numbers right till the end thanks to its looks, powertrains, features, and reliability. Despite price increases over the years, the XUV500 still offered decent value for one’s money, a fact that got even greater attention after the car was officially discontinued. Here are some reasons why that’s the case.  

Mahindra XUV500 Specifications

Stylish Design

Throughout its lifecycle, the XUV500 retained the same design, save for minor flourishes as part of facelifts and new versions. And despite being on the market for over a decade, the XUV still looks stylish and avoids the datedness that similarly old car designs suffer from. The XUV500’s overall sporty and ready-to-sprint stance is reminiscent of its design inspiration, a cheetah. Balancing out that sleek stance are more traditional SUV design elements such as the massive grille, muscular hood, pronounced wheel arches, large projector headlamps, and high-profile 18-inch tyres. 

Modern Cabin

One of the XUV500’s biggest talking points in its heyday was the premium interior. While it can’t be called contemporary in 2023, the XUV500’s interior has aged well and qualifies as modern even today. And though it’s dominated by black, there are silver and gloss black accents that break the monotony. In terms of comfort, the XUV500 leaves no room for complaint as the seats are nice and supportive with adequate room all around. However, the last row is more suited for kids or small adults as headroom is restricted because of the XUV500’s sloping roofline. Even boot space is paltry though you can extend it to over 400 litres by folding the last seat. 

Feature Loaded

The XUV500 was known to offer features beyond its pricing such as an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, electric sunroof, climate control, adjustable headrest for all occupants, and a 7-inch infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While no longer groundbreaking, the XUV’s feature set is still competent, especially when you consider its overall proposition and price in the used car market. 

Impressive Performance

Mahindra offered the XUV500 with two powertrains, petrol and diesel, paired with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission. Both the mHawk engines displace 2.2 litres and are known for their reliability, affordable maintenance, and brisk performance. For instance, the slowest XUV500 – the diesel automatic – does 0-100 kmph in roughly 12 seconds with a top speed of over 175 kmph. Combine that outright power with the XUV500’s monocoque-derived agility and you’ve got a car that can be equally fun on straights and twisties. And lest we forget, the XUV500 did spawn a rally car that was quite successful back in the day.

How old should a pre-owned Mahindra XUV500 be?

While Mahindra has a reputation for being bold with its bets, it also has a history of dithering with these bets in the initial year or two. This is why you’re better off avoiding first-generation XUV500s. But if it’s a very attractive bargain on a pre-2015 model, check if the car was recalled for a defective vacuum pump replacement in 2014 and then again for a side curtain airbag software upgrade in 2015. 

Mahindra also did a silent recall for XUV500s in 2015 to replace alloy wheels from a faulty batch as they were prone to breakage. The XUV500 also got an infotainment system with the 2015 facelift, which is another reason why you might want to stick to 2015 and later year XUV500s. Doing so will also widen your options to petrol variants as the XUV500 was only available with a diesel engine until 2017.

What to look out for when buying a used Mahindra XUV500?

The Mahindra XUV500 is an affordable and reliable car to own. However, there are a few areas of concern with the SUV that you need to be mindful of before buying.

Lookout for Rusting

The XUV500’s troubles with rusting are well-known. While surface-level rust will be easy to spot and rectify, with some XUV500s the rust went deeper into the panels, fenders, door channels, and even the footwell and floor. Fixing rust from the inside out can be expensive so if you see signs of rust in these areas or hear creaking metal noises, avoid the car. However, this issue was largely fixed with the third-generation XUV500, meaning you can safely go for MY2018 and later cars. 

Door Rattling Issues

As robust as the XUV500 is, it also suffered from fit and finish issues right up until the 2018 version was launched. In the second-generation model, especially, this manifested in the form of rattling doors because of the panels getting loose over time from vibrations. Another common issue was doors that wouldn’t shut properly in the first go, requiring a second and firmer attempt for a proper lock. This issue is caused by a defective locking mechanism and you can check if the car you’re interested in suffers this problem. 

Iffy Brakes

A grinding or screeching noise while braking was quite common in the first-generation XUV500. This issue also affected the stopping performance as the brakes 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. 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. While you can check during a test drive if the clutch feel is weighted enough for you, it’s better to seek a mechanic’s services while evaluating the clutch’s overall condition. 

How much should a pre-owned Mahindra XUV500 cost?

The Mahindra XUV500 fetches a good price in the resale market, especially for well-maintained cars from later generations. The first-generation XUV500 (2012-2015) can be found for around Rs 4-6 lakh while the second-generation XUV500 (2015-2018) can go for Rs 6-9 lakh. The last generation XUV500 (2018 onwards) is available in the Rs 8-15 lakh range, depending upon its condition and mileage.

Is a used Mahindra XUV500 worth buying in 2023?

Even though it’s discontinued, the XUV500 is a Mahindra product at the end of the day, which means service and spare parts availability will never be an issue. Even in terms of XUV500 service costs, you’ll typically pay between Rs 5,000 – 7,000 per service, making it quite affordable to maintain. Mahindra also has excellent reach across India which ensures you’re never stranded with your XUV500. But given how reliable a workhorse it is, the XUV500 will serve you well for years with its time-tested package of looks, performance, features, and VFM quotient. In other words, buying a used Mahindra XUV500 makes eminent sense.