2026 Mahindra XUV 3XO Review

The Small SUV is one of the most popular car segments in Australia, and Indian manufacturer, Mahindra, are looking to establish themselves at the budget end of a market. 

However, this is currently the territory of the Chery Tiggo 4. 

The Tiggo 4 – and the pre-facelift Tiggo 4 Pro – offers a comfortable, well-equipped package with a very competitive price tag. 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is not, in fact, C-3PO’s new set of wheels as its name would suggest, but it is the Indian-marques latest offering with budget and value conscious customers in mind, lining up the Tiggo 4 squarely in its crosshair. 

However, the small SUV space is as competitive as it is abundant, and the 3XO will not only go toe-to-toe with the Tiggo 4, but also its rivals including the likes of the MG ZS, GWM Haval Jolion and Hyundai Venue. 

But can the new Mahindra find its feet in its segment? And can it take on the Tiggo 4? 

How much does the 2026 Mahindra XUV 3XO cost? 

In order to take the fight to the Tiggo 4 and other value offerings in the small SUV segment, Mahindra had to get the price of the XUV 3XO right. 

They did. 

With prices starting from $23,990 drive away for the entry-level AX5L trim level, The Mahindra XUV 3XO arrives as one of the most competitively priced offerings in the segment. Its price tag matches that of the entry-level Tiggo 4 to the dollar, and it’s the same story when you go one level up to the AX7L model, priced at $26,990 drive away. 

Until August 31st, 2025, both 3XO trim levels will be discounted by $500 for introductory pricing, temporarily undercutting the Tiggo-4 as a result. 

Not only is the Mahindra XUV 3XO the joint cheapest small SUVs, it’s now also one of the cheapest new cars in Australia. 

2026 Mahindra XUV 3XO Pricing:

AX5L: $23,990 drive away

AX7L:  $26,990 drive away

Options

Metallic Paint (on all colours except white): $495

Diamonds are Mahindra

Despite wrapping a platform that’s over a decade old, the Mahindra XUV 3XO arrives with a trendy, contemporary exterior design. It stands out in Mahindra’s Australian range as the most modern-looking vehicle on offer and sets itself apart in what is becoming an increasingly uniform segment. 

The styling is angular and striking, sporting a diamond theme most evident in the headlight design, the accents placed on the exterior trim including on the tail lights, roof rails and rear bumper, and the diamond cut alloy wheels. Additional touches such as the rear light bar and the two tone roof featured on some specs further aid in its effectiveness. 

Somehow, the proportions resulting from the short wheelbase and little overhang have been supremely managed too, with the 3XO appearing tightly packaged and robust. 

Mahindra wanted something bold for the 3XO, and in my view, what they’ve come up with is memorable for all the right reasons. 

Dated But Functional

Aesthetically at least, the front row of the Mahindra XUV 3XO doesn’t innovate quite as much as the exterior does. Some of the switchgear on the dashboard as well as the air conditioning LCD screen look a generation or two behind, and the touchscreen stuck above the air vents almost looks like an afterthought. 

Having said that, everything is functional and easily accessible. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is responsive and reasonably easy to use and can be partially operated using some of the physical buttons on the dashboard. Functionality on the 10.25-inch instrument cluster can also be managed using buttons on the multi-function steering wheel. 

The AX7L trim that we were provided with adds black leatherette seats, door trim and dashboard material over the standard car. As a result, the seats, as well as being easily adjustable via the manual controls, are soft and comfortable, and the soft touch surfaces are pleasant to interact with. The piano black plastic featured on the dash, while almost certainly soon to be covered with dust and fingerprints, also elevates the cabin to a slightly-more premium feel. 

Storage is adequate, with space in front of the gear shifter for storing phones and other small items, cup holders, a centre storage compartment and, in the case of the AX7L, a cooled, illuminated glove compartment. 

Charging amenities are also available in the front of the AX7L in-particular, with USB-A, 65W USB-C Fast charging, and wireless phone charging on offer. 

While not as outwardly modern as some of its rivals, the front row of the Mahindra XUV 3XO is still functional and comfortable. 

It’s a TARDIS

Despite being a small car, there’s still plenty of space in the back of the Mahindra XUV 3XO, with plenty of headroom and legroom. It certainly doesn’t feel cramped by any means.

Rear seat passengers also have access to a folding centre armrest with cupholders, as well as useful phone storage below the airvents, a USB-C port and a 12V socket.

With some decent amenities and enough space, the Mahindra XUV 3XO will transport its rear-seat passengers comfortably. 

Modest boot if you can find it

The Mahindra XUV 3XO has 364 litres of boot space, slightly down on the Chery Tiggo 4’s 380 litres. Once you find the release button for the lid – which can be difficult to find – the boot opens to reveal a modest space but quite a high lip that might make loading heavy objects more difficult. 

Still, while not exactly a delivery van, the boot has room for most every day use cases, and the space increases with the rear seats folded. 

Fuel Proficiency  

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 82kW and 200Nm, paired with a 6-speed automatic, sending power to the front wheels. 

While this is 26kW and 10Nm down on the Tiggo 4 – which has an engine some 300cc larger – the 3XO beats its rival when it comes to fuel economy, achieving a claimed 6.5L/100km combined compared to 7.4. 

Good for weekdays but no weekender

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is well-mannered in normal driving, with a quiet cabin and soft suspension tune, benefitting from a rebound stopper in the top mount of the MacPherson Strut independent front suspension.

The turbo three-cylinder is far from the most potent powertrain in the world and can be a little laggy at times – especially when you catch the gearbox off-guard – but it’s still capable as a sensible means of propulsion. The manual transmission offered elsewhere may have made the engine more enjoyable to interact with, but sadly won’t be offered in Australia. It becomes more responsive when you cycle between the 3XO’s hilariously-named Zip (eco), Zap (normal) and Zoom (sport) drive modes into its sportiest calibration. 

Personally, I found the steering to be the strangest part of the driving experience. At slow speeds it is extremely light, but up the pace to around 60km/h and beyond and the weight increases – as many modern power steering systems do – but this does so in a way that feels unnaturally stiff on-center while significantly lighter off-centre. As a result, it never feels entirely natural or smooth and often feels disconnected. This becomes most notable when the roads become fast and flowing, as making slight steering adjustments can become off-putting. The reality, however, is that the majority of people buying one of these are unlikely to be devout driving enthusiasts, so this won’t be a problem for most. 

It’s around town where this car really begins to make sense. It’s maneuverable and easy to park, especially with the 360-degree camera with blind view monitoring, and features like the adaptive cruise control are useful in everyday driving. 

While far from an enthusiast's prospect, the Mahindra XUV 3XO offers comfortable, efficient and intuitive daily driving. 

ADAS Safety Suite not currently enough for 5-Star ANCAP

The Mahindra XUV 3XO range is equipped with a Level 2 ADAS safety suite. These safety features include: 

• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Smart Pilot Assist
• Automatic Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detect
• Forward Collision Warning
• High Beam Assist

While the 3XO comes with six airbags, it does not come with a centre airbag. That, coupled with the lack of rear cross traffic alert and blindsport assist, means the Mahindra XUV 3XO is unlikely to achieve a 5-star ANCAP safety rating under the current standards. It is understood that Mahindra will be bringing safety updates to the 3XO to meet more stringent ANCAP requirements being introduced, which may result in a price increase.  

How much does the 2026 Mahindra XUV 3XO cost to live with? 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is offered with a seven-year or 150,000km warranty and seven-years roadside assist. While the 7-year / 105,000km capped-price servicing program offered with the Chery Tiggo 4 is arguably better for money, the 3XO’s, six years or 85,000km arrangement comes in at $1,994 – working out at $0.02 per kilometre – and is 17 per cent cheaper than the average cost for the small SUV segment.  

What do you get with the 2026 Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L comes as standard with: 

• Auto Headlights and Auto Window Wipers
• Rear defogger
• 10.25-inch instrument cluster and infotainment system
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple carPlay
• 6-speaker sound system
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Roof Rails
• Rear spoiler
• Dual Zone Climate Control
• Black cloth seats w/ height adjustable driver’s seat
• Rear view camera
• Keyless Entry
• Push button start
• Leather steering wheel and shifter
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Electrically folding wing mirrors
• Rear armrest w/ cup holder 
• Adjustable headrest for rear middle seat
• Driver’s Single-Touch-Up Power Window

The AX7L trim level adds or replaces:

• Black Leatherette Seats, dashboard and door trim 
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Harman Kardon Premium Audio sound system w/ amplifier and subwoofer
• Auto dimming rear view mirror
• LED front fog lights
• Front parking assist
• 360-degree camera w/ blind spot view
• Cooled and illuminated glove box
• 65W USB-C Fast Charging, 

Final Thoughts

The Mahindra XUV 3XO’s low price tag and handsome exterior aesthetics help it stand out in the highly competitive and value-sensitive small SUV market. Coupled with an extensive equipment list for both of its trim levels and a comfortable daily driving experience, the 3XO will certainly be an appealing choice for many of the segment’s buyers. 

It’s not without its faults however. While it matches rivals like the Tiggo 4 in many areas and even exceeds it in the case of fuel economy, it falls short in others such as interior design, boot space and engine output. 

While for most buyers it won’t be a problem, an improved steering tune and importing the manual transmission from overseas could’ve differentiated the 3XO in a valuable way as a budget compact SUV that’s genuinely fun to drive. 

Having said that, if both value and aesthetics are important factors in your purchasing decision, I’d definitely consider giving the 3XO a chance.