Is this car suitable for hilly areas with all 6 persons for daily purpose travel ?

• Cardekho Experts
• on 9 Jun 2020

Mahindra KUV100 NXT 6-seater version gets get integrated headrests at the front. The driver’s seat is adjustable for height and the travel, both in terms of reach and height is enough for the shortest of drivers. However, the seat compound is slightly hard. While this is better over long journeys, you wouldn’t want such a hard compound seat on a daily basis. The seat could’ve definitely done with more cushioning as well as shoulder support. The middle ‘seat’ is usable, but barely just. All three passengers will be jostling for shoulder space at the front. This particularly affects the driver since the gear lever is exactly in front of the middle occupant. Shifting to 2nd/ 4th/ Reverse will see the driver elbowing the middle occupant in the chest. Also, the front row needs to be slid all the way back for the middle passenger to have enough legroom. Else, the passenger’s knees tend to foul with the centre console. When not it use, the middle seat can be flipped down into what possibly is the biggest central armrest known to man. Also, with the six-seater arrangement, you lose out on a lot of storage space. Mahindra say, that the middle seat is for moments when you have an extra guest and do not want to take another car. For strictly occasional use, the arrangement works fine. Do bear in mind that the middle occupant gets no airbag cushion. But, it does get a lap belt and Mahindra say that the centre console has been designed in a manner to reduce any unforeseen injuries to the middle seat occupant. If we talk about rear seat, it is surprisingly spacious. There is generous amount of headroom and legroom. In comparison, it is noticeably better than the Swift/Dzire and more or less on par with the Grand i10. For reference, a 6ft tall person could sit behind a 6 feet tall person without too much of a fuss. Seating three at the rear too is possible, the floor is flat for the middle occupant to rest his feet. Another plus, is that all three occupants get adjustable headrests at the rear - a segment first. If we talk about its performance, it gets a 1.2 litre mFalcon G80 82bhp/114Nm petrol engine. Outright performance simply isn’t the petrol motor’s cup of tea. It will do a 100km/h all day long cruising, but progress beyond that is slow. This engine is best suited to the confines of the city, it does feel strained on the highways. And if we talk about its performance over hilly area when it is fully occupied, it will; do the job but you have to keep it at higher RPM and regular usage on such conditions will hamper car's engine health. So, overall, it is best suited with 5-occupants and city and occasional highway usage. Do take a test drive in order to clear your all doubts. Check out authorised dealership details.