Mahindra XUV 3XO Enters CNG Market to Battle Nexon and Brezza

Mahindra has launched its first non-commercial car with a factory-fitted CNG kit, bringing the XUV 3XO into direct competition with the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG in select trim levels.

Dimensions and Design

In terms of physical size, the XUV 3XO measures 3,990 millimetres in length, 1,821 millimetres in width, and 1,647 millimetres in height, with a 2,600 millimetre wheelbase and 16-inch alloy wheels. While it is slightly shorter than the Nexon and Brezza at 3,995 millimetres each, the Mahindra model is the widest compact SUV in this group and has the longest wheelbase. However, its boot space lags behind at 270 litres despite using a twin-cylinder setup similar to the Nexon's 321-litre boot, whereas the Brezza leads the category with 328 litres due to its underbody CNG tank layout.

Performance and Mileage

Unlike most CNG vehicles that lose power in CNG mode, the XUV 3XO delivers identical power and torque output in both petrol and CNG modes thanks to optimized turbocharger calibration and ECU mapping. It features a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine with 3 cylinders, producing 111 horsepower and 200 Newton-metres of torque paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, making it the most powerful compact SUV here. It beats the Nexon CNG by 11 horsepower and 30 Newton-metres, and outpaces the 4-cylinder, 1.5-litre Brezza CNG—which outputs 88 horsepower and 121.5 Newton-metres—by a significant margin. Meanwhile, the Brezza claims a segment-best fuel efficiency of 26.9 kilometres per kilogram, followed by the XUV 3XO at 24.7 kilometres per kilogram, and the Nexon CNG at 24.

Pricing

Prices for the XUV 3XO CNG range from Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 12.27 lakh, giving it the highest starting price among the three. The Nexon CNG undercuts it by Rs 1.54 lakh with a starting price of Rs 8.35 lakh, while the Brezza CNG starts at Rs 9.40 lakh, which is Rs 59,000 cheaper than the Mahindra. At the top end, however, the Nexon CNG commands up to Rs 13.42 lakh due to a wider spread of variants, making it Rs 1.15 lakh pricier than the top XUV 3XO CNG and Rs 1.82 lakh more expensive than the top Brezza CNG, which peaks at Rs 11.60 lakh.

Context

Factory-fitted CNG kits have become increasingly popular in the Indian passenger vehicle market as buyers look for lower running costs without losing out on manufacturer warranties. Automakers are adopting advanced engineering solutions like twin-cylinder setups and optimized engine tuning to overcome traditional drawbacks like reduced boot space and lower power delivery.