Tata Nexon vs Mahindra XUV 3XO: Diesel Performance Showdown

Are you tired of looking for the perfect SUV delivering loads of punch with a diesel engine?

We’ve put the Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO to the test to see which one rules the road. Both vehicles pack a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox, but numbers alone don’t tell the full story.

Let's move to in-depth analysis for further details.

Under the Hood: Engine Specs Made Easy

Both the Nexon and XUV 3XO sport a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. Here’s what they bring to the table:

Tata Nexon: 115 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque.

Mahindra XUV 3XO: 117 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque.

The XUV 3XO has a slight edge with 2 extra horsepower and a solid 40 Nm more torque. Torque is like the muscle that gets you moving, while horsepower keeps you going fast.

But all it comes with a twist, the Nexon is lighter, weighing 1,357 kg compared to the XUV 3XO’s 1,469 kg. That’s 112 kg less, or about the weight of an extra passenger.

This weight difference affects two key ratios:

Power-to-weight: Nexon has 84.75 hp per tonne, beating the XUV 3XO’s 79.65 hp/tonne. This means the Nexon uses its power more efficiently as speeds climb.

Torque-to-weight: XUV 3XO leads with 204.22 Nm/tonne against Nexon’s 191.59 Nm/tonne. More torque per kg gives it better kick-off strength.

In short, the XUV 3XO might feel stronger starting out, but the Nexon’s lighter build could shine when you push the pedal harder.

0-100 km/h: The Speed Test

We floored both SUVs from a standstill to 100 km/h. Here’s how they stacked up:

• Nexon: 12.22 seconds.

• XUV 3XO: 12.40 seconds.

The Nexon wins by a whisker—0.18 seconds faster. Let’s zoom in on the details:

The Nexon jumps ahead at 20 km/h, but the XUV 3XO takes the lead from 20 to 80 km/h, thanks to its torque advantage. After 80 km/h, the Nexon’s lighter weight pulls it back in front, stretching its lead to 0.42 seconds by 120 km/h.

So, if you’re merging onto a highway, the Nexon gets you there a tad quicker.

In-Gear Action: Overtaking Power

What about passing slower traffic?

We tested in-gear acceleration—how fast they go without shifting gears:

• 20-80 km/h (3rd gear):

• Nexon: 9.00 seconds.

• XUV 3XO: 10.72 seconds.

• Winner: Nexon, by 1.72 seconds.

• 40-100 km/h (4th gear):

• Nexon: 10.30 seconds.

• XUV 3XO: 12.33 seconds.

• Winner: Nexon, by 2.03 seconds.

The Nexon smokes the XUV 3XO here. Whether you’re zipping past a truck in third gear or powering up to highway speed in fourth, the Nexon’s mid-range punch makes overtaking smoother and faster.

How We Tested

We kept things fair and square. Both SUVs had full fuel tanks, tyre pressures set to factory specs, and two people on board. Using precise GPS-based gear, we ran the tests in a controlled setting to nail down accurate times.

Price Check: What’s the Cost?

Performance is great, but your wallet matters too.

Here’s the price range for their diesel-manual variants:

• Tata Nexon: Rs 10.00 lakh to Rs 14.10 lakh.

• Mahindra XUV 3XO: Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 14.99 lakh.

The XUV 3XO starts a hair cheaper, but its top-end price climbs higher. Pretty close overall, so it’s more about what you get for the money.

Overall, After crunching the numbers, the Tata Nexon comes out on top. It’s faster to 100 km/h (12.22 vs 12.40 seconds) and dominates in-gear acceleration, making it the champ for quick getaways and overtaking. Its lighter weight seems to outweigh the XUV 3XO’s torque edge in real-world driving.

That said, the gaps are small. The XUV 3XO’s extra torque might feel better in stop-and-go traffic or if you’re hauling a load. Both are solid picks, so it boils down to what you value—raw speed or low-end grunt. A test drive could seal the deal.

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