Mahindra NuvoSport N 8 Road Test Review

The vehicle now features a brand new front with re-designed headlamps, front grill, air-ducts and a bonnet scoop. At the rear, the NuvoSport sports new smoked tail lamps, re-designed spare wheel cover and an integrated spoiler. The NuvoSport is built on a brand new chassis which is a body on frame (basically a new generation chassis for better stability). Moving to the inside of the vehicle the NuvoSport essentially remains the same as the Quanto with the addition of a new steering wheel with controls and a new aftermarket infotainment system from Kenwood.

The biggest advantage the NuvoSport provides over any of its competitors is space. The fit and finish of the cabin however is an area which could have been improved. This compact SUV can seat up to 7 people which is definitely an advantage to have over competitors which can seat only 4-5 adults. But the third row of the NuvoSport is no place for an adult. It is best suited for children or luggage. Even though NuvoSport has a large cabin, it does not have the provision for rear ac vents. When you are seating passengers in all three rows it may get a little too hot on a summer day but a provision for butterfly windows has been provided for the third row occupants which definitely comes as a relief.

The NuvoSport is powered by a mHawk 100 diesel mill which produces 100bhp at 3750rpm and 240Nm of torque from 1600-2800rpm. The NuvoSport offers two driving modes Power and Eco. At the push of a button one can choose between fuel efficient driving or a peppy response from the motor. I personally fell in love with this feature while testing out the NuvoSport. In power mode the vehicle zipped through traffic, the power delivery was smooth and the vehicle despite its size and weight picked up speed easily. The two-stage turbo also kicks in early and ensures a minimalistic lag. While I was stuck in heavy traffic I just shifted to Eco mode and the NuvoSport rolled along with ease. The fuel efficiency delivered in Eco mode is 17.4kmpl which is quite good when compared to the size of this vehicle. In the Eco mode the power delivery is a bit slow as the engine gets re-mapped to provide a better driving average but if its saving cost which concerns you then the slight drop in power is not something to worry about. The NuvoSport N8 variant which we drove also comes with cruise control which is a handy feature to have if you travel a lot on highways. The engine comes mated to a manual 5-speed transmission which did the job quite well. This compact SUV is also available with an AMT transmission for the N6 and N8 variants as well.   

The NuvoSport like all Mahindra UVs has a well tuned suspension set up. The car features an independent double wishbone in the front and a five-link coil spring type in the rear. The suspension is on the stiffer side but makes for a solid ride. We tested the vehicle over some really broken patches of road and the NuvoSport took care of the potholes and bumps with ease. One does get tossed around a fair bit in this vehicle but then again its better than bouncing around like a yoyo. There is also a bit of body roll on the vehicle but nothing too troublesome. The steering is slightly heavy so one does need to put in a bit of effort to maneuver this vehicle. The NuvoSport also provides the driver a high point of visibility and a good commanding position of the road.

On the safety front the new NuvoSport comes with airbags for the driver and co-driver, ABS with EBD, a collapsible steering column, side intrusion beams, digital immobiliser, auto door lock and anti-theft warning. While driving the NuvoSport I could not help but notice that while most compact SUVs out there are and feel a lot like overgrown hatch backs this one had the DNA of a blue blooded SUV. Despite some of its shortcomings, I feel the NuvoSport is one of the more likeable compact SUVs out there. The front is very edgy and aggressive looking but the rear could have been designed to look smarter. The top end N8 variant also comes with Mahindra's Micro Hybrid Start/Stop technology which again is a very useful feature to have. The NuvoSport N8 variant which we drove is available for Rs. 9.2 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) the SUV offers loads of practicality and has some handy features as well. If space and safety are what you are looking for in the compact SUV segment then this is one of your safest bets.