Mahindra TUV500 (TUV300 XL) spied by an IAB Reader

Will be a true seven seater.

A Mahindra TUV500 (name unconfirmed) test mule has been spied up close in the outskirts of Chennai by reader Gautham S. The extended TUV300 could arrive in showrooms across India this fiscal, but a specific timeline isn't reported yet.

To be sold alongside the monocoque U321 7-seat MPV, the Mahindra TUV500 will be pitched as a more rugged, tougher SUV with 7 seats. Unlike the jump seats in the third row of the TUV300, the TUV500 is reported to feature regular front-facing seats that can folded down to liberate storage volume.

According to reports, the TUV500 will pack a more potent 2.2-litre mHawk 120 4-cylinder diesel engine from the Mahindra Scorpio paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, instead of the TUV300's 1.5L mHawk100 3-cyl motor. It's unlikely that the TUV300's 5-speed AMT will be offered in the TUV500, so the TUV500 may remain manual only. M&M could also consider the 1.99L mHawk engine for the 7-seater.

Also Read: Mahindra Scorpio Automatic variants discontinued in India

The TUV300 is one of Mahindra's best-selling new launches with figures at par with the Mahindra KUV100 and higher than the XUV500. In the months between Nov '16 and April '17, the TUV300 maintained an average of 2,057 units. So we expect the TUV brand to build on this, with the 7-seat variant's increased practicality and more powerful motor.