The Mahindra TUV 300 combines power and comfort

Mahindra & Mahindra is the only automobile company in the country that has a diverse portfolio of vehicles, which comprises scooters, motorcycles, cars, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), light commercial vehicles (LCVs), electric cars and tractors. Regularly churning out new and successful models in each of these segments is not an easy proposition for any company. To be fair to Mahindra & Mahindra, it has managed to do a rather good job in India's extremely competitive passenger vehicle segment. Much of that credit needs to be given to its clutch of SUVs.

SUVs such as the Bolero, Thar, Scorpio and XUV500 have been well accepted in the country. But it's the compact SUV segment where Mahindra really needs to make an impact. The company recently launched the Mahindra TUV300 (pronounced three double O, as in the alphabet O). The design of the TUV300 has been inspired by a battle tank.

Like all Mahindra vehicles, this one too is extremely practical. It is tough, both on the looks front and in build quality, has decent enough cabin comfort, is fitted with the mHawk 1.5 litre diesel engine and comes with some decent features on its dashboard. As for safety, the vehicle offers much more than some of the other vehicles around.

Some of the technology features that stand out in this vehicle include the static-bending headlamps, brake energy regeneration, Intellipark reverse assist, steering mounted audio and phone controls, voice messaging system, driver infotainment system, follow me home and lead to vehicle headlamps, micro hybrid technology and the Mahindra BlueSense mobile app.

The engine powering the TUV300 is the 1.5 litre mHawk 80 diesel engine with a two-stage turbocharger. This two stage turbocharger does wonders to the engine and you can experience it the moment you step on the accelerator pedal. Theoretically speaking, in a two-stage turbocharger system, high-pressure and low-pressure turbos work together, and thus, at rpms up to 1,500 it provides enhanced responsiveness and increased torque.

Between 1,500 rpm and 2,000 rpm, the turbos again work in tandem but with a different set of functions that result in better optimisation of fuel efficiency and performance at higher engine speeds.

Mahindra has always built vehicles that have been tough and rugged. They also offer a decent level of luxury and comfort. The TUV300 compact SUV is being offered in several variants - T4, T4+, T6, T6+, T6+AMT, T8 and T8 AMT. When the engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, it delivers a peak 84bhp@3,750rpm. With the AMT (automated manual transmission called autoShift) it produces 81bhp@3750rpm. The torque is a decent 230Nm@1,500-2,250rpm.

I got the T8 model with a manual transmission for a test drive. The dynamite red colour got a lot of attention. The TUV300 does have a bold design. The chunky grille, the imposing bumpers, the alloy wheels, the tailgate mounted spare wheel - they are all impressively-styled with a bold theme.

The interiors are not overtly done up with too many distracting gizmos and features. The dual tone black and beige interiors look good with a dash of chrome and metal finish around it. The hexagon-shaped centre bezel looks chic. The infotainment system comprises 2-DIN audio, Bluetooth, USB and AUX . It has a neat and stylish steering wheel with audio and phone controls mounted on it. It also has a sporty twin-pod instrument cluster. There are lot of storage spaces provided inside, especially on every inside door panel to keep bottles and other knick knacks.

It is taken for granted that every car drives well on smooth roads. But when it comes to broken roads, the suspensions are tested to the hilt. The TUV300 is a clear winner when it is driven on potholed roads. It is not a rocket or a missile: it's a solid vehicle that can touch speeds of 100kmph plus real quick. Owing to the great suspension, (cushion suspension technology with anti-roll bars), a third-generation chassis for superior ride and handling, and micro-hybrid technology, the TUV300 rides like a breeze over rough patches and broken tarmac.

The car is made of toughened high-strength steel body shell for all-round impact protection. Its crash-worthy chassis can endure low and high speed crashes, front crash sensors and automatic door locking to prevent doors from opening accidently. The company also maintains that the vehicle has hydro-formed crush tips that collapse in case of impact and help protect the passengers. It's built strong like a tank and looks like one too.