After its launch in 2011, the XUV500 has made a big impact on the Indian and Nepalese car markets. With its large bulky looks and offering better practicality than a sedan, this model was one of the most sold cars on the market. The XUV is a great value-for-money vehicle with a wide range of optional features. XUV has everything an SUV wants, from an automatic transmission to an all-wheel drive. But recently Mahindra has decided to discontinue the XUV 500 for the time being.

It seems like the current Mahindra XUV500 will be replaced by the XUV700 (W601) in the near future, leaving us wondering what will happen to the XUV500 badge. Since the latest XUV700 is about to enter the Indian market, Mahindra has formally announced that the original XUV500 will be phased out. According to previous news, the XUV500 will be reintroduced as a 5-seater variant of the XUV700. According to a recent media story, the new Mahindra XUV500 will be launched as a mid-size SUV to compete with the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. According to reports, the latest model will be about 4.3 meters long and will compete with mid-sized SUVs of comparable dimensions.

The XUV700 will be bigger and much better designed than the car it replaces (the existing XUV500), as well as more expensive, making it a good match for the newly created seven-seater market. This will provide a significant void between it and the XUV300, which is where this all-new SUV (codename: S301) will fill. Mahindra will build the new SUV on an expanded version of the XUV300’s platform. The XUV300 is built on the X100 architecture, which also underpins the Tivoli SUV from SsangYong. There is no word on the styling of the 5-seater XUV500, but we expect it to share design elements with existing Mahindra models, like the XUV300 and XUV700.

The upcoming 5-seater XUV500 is expected to have features such as a panoramic sunroof, a completely digital instrument cluster, a power-adjustable driver seat, an electronic parking brake (with auto-hold), dual-zone climate control, smart car technology, and more. Level-1 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, that will be available on the XUV700, may also be available here. To cut costs, Mahindra engineers would have to focus on reducing the platform’s weight. The Mahindra XUV500 or S301 can be equipped with an updated version of the XUV300’s 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is consistent with the BS6 Phase II emission requirements, which are set to take effect in 2023. The 1.5-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine, which can output up to 163bhp, will also be installed in the SUV. The vehicle is expected to launch in India in early 2024.