Mahindra TUV300 variants explained

The Mahindra TUV300 has been launched in India at an introductory price of Rs 6.90 lakh (ex-showroom Pune) and is available in seven variants with one engine option and two transmission options. It is a compact SUV with seven seats, though the people in row three would have to be either kids or quite tiny to fit comfortably.
It is the first vehicle in the segment to get an AMT and this is expected to be a major selling point for Mahindra with regard to promoting the USP of the vehicle. We dug around the brochures and manuals to give you an idea of what is the best value proposition. 
There is only a single engine option which is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder mill that produces 84bhp/230Nm of torque in the MT variants and 81bhp/230Nm in the AMT variants.

Mahindra TUV300 T8 variant
T8 MT- Rs 8.40 lakh
T8 AMT- Rs 9.12 lakh
This is the top-spec variant of the compact SUV and gets all the bells and whistles. Exterior elements include a chrome package for the fascia as well as body-coloured paint for the ORVMS, door handles and bumpers. Completing the external package are alloy wheels and a moulded cover for the tailgate mounted spare.

The cabin gets a black and beige trim combination with fabric seats and chrome mouldings for dashboard and chrome rings for the instrument cluster. Standard features include an infotainment system, park assist, manual AC, electrically adjustable ORVMS, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, armrests and lumbar support for both the front seats, mobile charging point for the second row and a fully foldable second row. This is one of the two variants offered with the AMT and so they have omitted the micro hybrid and Eco mode to keep costs in check.  On the safety front, this top-spec variant gets dual airbags and ABS+EBD. The micro-hybrid technology is only available for the TUV300 in the T8 MT variant.

Mahindra TUV300 T6 variant
T6 MT- Rs 7.55 lakh
T6+ MT- Rs 7.80 lakh
T6+ AMT- Rs 8.52 lakh
These are the second-level variants for the compact SUV in equivalent terms to their T8 variants they are Rs 85,000 and Rs 60,000 lesser. However, it must be noted that the T6 is also offered with a ‘+’ variant in manual and that the AMT spec car is also a ‘+’ variant.
Comparing the prices of the T8 AMT and T6+ AMT, we can see a difference of Rs 60,000 which Mahindra has managed to achieve by reducing a large number of items on the feature list. The most noticeable cost cut is the fact that the whole chrome packages for the outside and inside have been omitted. They have also removed the alloy wheels and blacked out C-pillars as well as the moulded cover for the spare wheel. The follow-me-home and lead-me-to-the car lamps have also been left out. 

The cabin trim is a combination of fabric and vinyl rather than just the former as is the case with the T8 variants. Out have gone the arm rests, height adjustment and lumbar support for the front the row as well as the tray under the driver’s seat.
Among the T6 variants themselves there is nothing to separate the T6+ and T6+ AMT save for the automated manual transmission which has added Rs 72,000 to the cost of the vehicle. However, between the T6+ and the T6 there is a difference of Rs 25,000 and the only things omitted are the front airbags.

Mahindra TUV300 T4 variant
T4 : Rs 6.90 lakh
T4+ : Rs 7.25 lakh
These are the entry-level  variants of the compact SUV and cost Rs 65,000 and Rs 55,000 lesser than their equivalent T6 variants. At this price you lose out on the chrome grille, fog lamps, wheel caps and body-coloured ORVMs. In the cabin, there is no music system, rear defogger or wiper or even the lamp for the second row. They have also omitted the keyless entry, charging point for the second row and the anti-theft warning system.
Considering the T4 and T4+, Mahindra have removed the body-coloured bumpers and the rear footstep. Since this is the most basic variant it does not even get airbags or ABS+EBD. The difference of Rs 35,000 in the prices of the T4 and T4+ is down to the cost of these items.  
Which one is the most value for money?
We feel that the T6+ variant is the most value for money as it offers enough creature comforts and most importantly does not skimp on safety features as you get ABS+EBD as well as dual front airbags.