Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet: The Loaded Cars

Both are sub-compact SUVs, loaded with features and have engine options with generous outputs. Both are in their facelifted avatars. That said, Mahindra renamed the XUV 300 to XUV 3XO, plus it now boasts a long list of features. 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO’s price starts at Rs 7.49 lakh and goes up to Rs 15.49 lakh. On the other hand, the Kia Sonet’s price starts at Rs 7.99 lakh and goes up to Rs 15.75 lakh. Both are ex-showroom figures. As the figures indicate, the Sonet commands more premium than its counterpart. 

Before we list the offerings of these two rivals, we would say that these sub-compact SUVs are now at par with each other.

Specifications

In terms of powertrains, both homegrown vehicles are available in petrol and diesel, plus the petrol version can be had in a naturally-aspirated or turbocharged version. 

As for the Kia Sonet, this Korean vehicle has three engine options: a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated (NA) petrol, a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, and a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel unit.

The naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol unit (Smartstream G1.2) is tuned to churn out 81.8bhp at 6000rpm and 115Nm of peak torque at 4200rpm. 

In parallel, the turbo-petrol unit (Smartstream G1.0 TGDi) produces 118bhp at 6000rpm and 172Nm of peak torque between 1500-4000rpm. 

Lastly, the 1.5-litre, turbo-diesel engine (CRDi VGT) generates 114bhp at 4000rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1500-2750rpm. 

The Sonet is available in both manual and automatic. 

On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV 3XO has two types of turbo-petrol engines: a new  1.2-litre mStallion (TCMPFi) and the tried-tested 1.2-litre mStallion (TGDi) unit. The former has an output of 109.96bhp at 5000rpm and 200Nm of torque between 1500-3500rpm, while the latter has 128.73bhp at 5000rpm and 230Nm of torque between 1500-3750rpm. 

Lastly, there is a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel (Turbo with CRDe) engine with an output of 109.96bhp at 3750rpm and 300N of peak torque between 1500-3750rpm. 

The 3XO SUV is also available in manual and automatic transmissions. 

In the fuel economy department, the Kia Sonet’s mileage ranges between 18.6 kmpl and 22.3 kmpl. On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV 3XO’s mileage ranges between 17.96 kmpl and 21.2 kmpl. These mileage figures can vary with the engine and transmission combination. Additionally, they are ARAI-claimed figures and can vary in real-life driving conditions. 

Brakes, Tyres and Suspension

Besides that, the top variant of the 3XO has disc brakes on either side, while the Sonet’s top variant has the disc-drum setup. 

Since disc brakes have better performance, it should be safe to say that the 3XO has a better braking performance than its counterpart. 

Further, both sit on alloy wheels but have different tyre profiles. The Kia Sonet has a tyre profile of 215/60 R16, while the 3XO has 215/55 R17. 

As for suspension setups, this Mahindra car has a McPherson Strut with an anti-roll bar at the front and a twist-beam suspension with a coil spring at the rear. 

The Sonet, on the other hand, has a McPherson Strut with a coil spring at the front and a coupled torsion beam axle with a coil spring at the rear. 

Both vehicles will have similar drivability, but one can expect a slightly stiffer ride from the XUV 3XO. However, it is recommended to take a test drive of these two and draw your personal conclusion, as far as the driving experience is concerned. 

Dimensions   

It is worth noting that these two vehicles are under the sub-4m category, which is why these two vehicles have more or less the same dimensions. 

The Mahindra XUV 3XO has a length of 3990mm, a width of 1821mm, a height of 1647mm, and a wheelbase of 2600mm. 

In contrast, the Kia Sonet is 3995mm long, 1790mm wide, and 1642mm tall, and sits on a wheelbase of 2500mm. 

Comparing the figures, the Kia Sonet is 5mm longer, but the Mahindra XUV 3XO is bigger in all aspects. The 3XO has a 100mm longer wheelbase, which translates to more legroom than the Kia Sonet. 

Besides that, the Mahindra 3XO has a boot space of 364 litres, while its counterpart has a capacity of 385 litres. 

Features

In terms of features, both vehicles are fully loaded. The most notable highlight is the presence of the ADAS suite in these two aggressively priced SUVs. 

But there are two ADAS features that are not there in the Kia Sonet, comprising blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic assist. They are there in the XUV 3XO. 

The rest of the shared ADAS features include lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, high-beam assist, and lane departure prevention. 

The exclusive features of the 3XO, which the Kia Sonet doesn’t get include a rear middle headrest, electric parking brake with auto-hold, dual-zone auto HVAC, vanity mirror on sun-visor, remote sunroof open/close, a cooled glove box, etc. Further, this vehicle has a panoramic sunroof, LED projector headlights, a dedicated rear lamp, an adjustable cluster brightness, and a fully digital instrument cluster. 

In parallel, the Sonet’s exclusive features include front and rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable driver seat, front ventilated seats (cooling function only), font and rear cupholders, a sunglass holder, factory-fitted manually-adjustable sun blinds (rear), an electric tailgate release, and a single-pane sunroof. It also has ambient lighting and a JBL-sourced audio system. 

However, the common features include a wireless charger, a fully digital instrument cluster, GPS, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voice command, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, a headlight height adjuster, LED headlamps and taillamps, LED foglamps, automatic headlights, etc. 

They also have rear wipers, electrically adjustable ORVMs, anti-pinch driver’s window (up/down), powered windows (front and rear), driver armrest with storage, a leatherette upholstery, and 60:40 split seats.

Safety  

Both offerings are equipped with connected car technology, ABS with EBD, child-safety lock, engine immobiliser, central locking, speed-sensing door lock, traction control, ESP, brake assist, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and six airbags. 

In addition, the Mahindra XUV 3XO has a superior build quality to the Kia Sonet, since the former boasts a five-star safety rating, while the latter secured a three-star safety rating at the Global NCAP’s crash test. 

Which one should you buy? 

Well, both vehicles have a long list of features, have good engines and are locally produced. Both brands have reliable aftersales.  

If we consider the past record of the Kia Sonet’s driveability, you can expect the same from the facelifted 2024 Sonet, which usually revolves around comfort. There is one thing that the Sonet boasts- ventilated seats (cooling function) that come in handy during hot days. But giving a premium for that feature is something one can re-consider.   

On the other hand, if you are looking for an all-rounder sub-four-metre SUV at a better price, which has an edge over safety features, build quality, performance, and other party offerings, you can consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO.