Xylo Vs Innova. Review on Mahindra Xylo

Lets get it straight as to hasMahindra got its Xylo placed rightly to scare the competition? Test ride wasnot available and may be available after couple of days or more so watch for anupdate on my review. It was easy for meto compare Xylo and Innova as I own and ride an Innova for past 3 years soto compare it to Xylo was a cake walk, though without driving.Looks: Xylo has a hint of butchlook and has something missing in terms of looks at least on nose and face. Itsnot attractive as Scorpio. As we go rear and try to have a larger picture itlooks more like a mini van may be probably due to its height. The rear endreminds me of Maruti Suzuki Versa! Innova is love-it-hate-it looks and Ipersonally love the Innova as compared to Xylo. The looks of Xylo is somthing in between cute and aggresive hence the result is pretty confusing though personally speaking.

Fit and Finish: The total fit-n-finishof Xylo is good but pales in comparision with Innova. Its not in the same classand lacks the neatness that the world leader has end-to-end for the entirepackage. But having said this there are more than few areas where Xylo scores.Paint job is better in Xylo and so are the colour ranges that are offered.Innova sports the worst paint job in history of India and even a human skin rubdamages it! The engine placement and fitment inside the bonnet is more neaterin Xylo than in Innova and there are few similar areas in the entire package.To sum it up Xylo looks good than Innova in fit-n-finish but when one trie’s toget the feel of goodness we know where the substance is and Innova wins handsdown. Try this for closing the bonnet or operation of seats, or steeringrecline operation, seat flips and any routine functions.

Space: It was no wonder that Xylobenchmarked Innova for creation of space and their efforts has to beappreciated. The front seats of Xylo are horizontally adjustable forflexibility, the second or the mid-row seat is fixed which is a sad part butnevertheless the space is enormous so no complains while the same for rear mostseats. It has the best rear-most seat leg space of similar vehicle(MPV for jargonsake) till date. So the million dollar question, is it more spacious thenInnova? Lets compare….first row Innova scores and has more space and is lesscluttered both for driver and adjacent. Mid-row its more or less the same whilerear seats, Xylo wins hands down and it is due to this that Xylo has literally no luggage space to offer maybe some space for plastic carry bags while Innova still has loads of it withall the seats in their original seating position. The folding of seats in Xyloand Innova differes substantially. Xylo flexibility is less in comparision toInnvoa, the reason being the way rear-most seats folds which obstructs lots ofspace. To be more specific, the rear-most seat of Innova can be removed andhung at sides while the mid row can be made flat without any obstruction thereby creating almost a double bed like space though the same can be done of Xylofor mid row seat but the rear-most seat remains static while only back-rest ofthe same can flip which results in not so encouraging configuration though maybe adequate to a large extent.

Value addition: Xylo has loads ofvalue addition like rear sensors for parking and reversing, glove compartmentillumination, sun shade mirror with illumination, audio player as standardfitment…the list is pretty good and all these are outrightly missing in Innova so Xylo wins here.

Value for Money: Xylo offers morevalue for money and retails 852000/- on road at Thane for E-6 model and topendmodel comes for 895000/- while cheapest is E-2 which is close to 800000/-. Allthese prices are on-road prices and not ex-showroom prices. It offers goodpackage and has loads of value addition as compared to Innova.

Final Verdit: Its too early togive final verdict especially if the vehicle is not test driven to ascertainthe engine, handling, braking, fuel economy and other factors. But what can nowbe told is that except for the rear most seat’s leg space…space wise its nowhere near Innova. Innova is more roomier and bigger and feels the same whileXylo inspite of having good leg space appears little cramped or claustrophobicmay be due to the dark interior on the model that I observed. Innova has morespace and is more flexible to give good configuration for most of the Indianfamilies and is more practical and functional. But come what may, the value formoney that Xylo gives is unbeaten and its on road prices are sure to givesleepless nights to Toyota in India and that too in this so called globaleconomic slump even if reliability, quality and other ciritical factors gountested at this point in time. One more thing to add, dont expect Scoprio like visibility when driving the Xylo. Xylo has lots of blind spot and here both Innova and Xylo matches each other!

I will post the handling and other aspects later when I myself drive and test Xylo.

This section is post test drive.at last after close to a month! I will be specific and precise and in direct comparison to Innova.

Acceleration: Hands down winner is Innova, Xylo's pickup is not in the same class and it has definite lag unlike Innova. In comparison, It takes ages to come and hit a speed of 80 Kmph and above, irrespective of gear changes you make.

Engine refinement: As compared to mine Innova, Xylo is far smoother with lesser noise and this was pretty surprising for me. I loved the whining refinement of Xylo.

Body Roll and Pitch: I tested at speed between 60-80 Kmph at various turns both short and long and this was again surprising that comapred to Innova it was having far lesser roll.

Brakes: Personally speaking I am not an admirer of Innova's brakes but if I compare Xylo and Innova's braking, I appreciate the braking of Innova. Xylo has to improve in this area though the bite is sufficient at lower speed.