Mahindra S101 compact SUV spied again

Mahindra’s much-awaited S101 compact SUV has been spied on test yet again, this time in Chennai, by a Motorbeam reader. As before, the vehicle is seen wearing heavy camouflage but with the pictures being clearer than before, there is more for us to gauge. 

Based on a brand new monocoque platform jointly developed by Mahindra and Ssangyong, the S101 will be introduced as a sub-four metre compact SUV, slotting in between the Quanto compact MPV and the Scorpio SUV. When launched, the car will be seen competing against the hugely popular Ford EcoSport.

Going by the spy shots, the S101 clearly takes its design inspiration from Mahindra’s homegrown flagship offering – the XUV 500. The latter, however, will have a much smaller footprint to attract lower taxes for sub-4 metre vehicles. Powering this new model will be a brand new pair of petrol and diesel engines – 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel units with 5-speed manual gearbox.

With the launch of this upcoming model sometime early next year, Mahindra will have entered the rapidly expanding compact SUV segment. While the car may not have the ultimate ride and handling finesse of an EcoSport or the rugged build quality of a Renault Duster, knowing Mahindra, the S101is expected to attract a lot of buyers to the showrooms with its spacious interior and a competitive price.

Source: Motorbeam