Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger comparison review: Premium Play
The last time we put a bunch of compact SUVs together, the Renault Kiger came out on top given how much it gave you for less money than the competition. But in the couple of years since, this segment has matured quite a bit. To a point where a vast features list and a premium image are a must to stand out. So how do the two newest contenders in this space, the Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV 3XO, fare then?
See these three cars together and it's clear that a tighter budget doesn't need to look restrained on the road. All of these cars use every trick in the book to make you stand out in a crowd. The Renault Kiger is the narrowest and shortest car here and it does show in its more compact stance. But it is probably the most cohesively styled, packing a good deal of aggression into its footprint. The big grille and split lighting are a common theme now, but this is paired well with the high window line, sculpted bodywork and the quite smart rear with its small windscreen, compact lighting and bulged sections.
In contrast, the Mahindra XUV 3XO stands out with its size. Its origins as a C-segment SUV are clear with its wide and flat stance. While much of the bodywork has been carried over from the last car, the new face breaks from the norm with its big gloss black panel and the large vertically arranged light clusters. The 3XO slightly abrupt side profile still hasn't been fully rectified, but the segment-leading 17-inch wheels help somewhat in this regard. Further, the reworked boot with the full-width lighting has brought a good deal of style to this Mahindra.
The Kia Sonet is quite a polished-looking car for its size, especially when paired with the rich paint options and differentiated front styling you can have with the various editions. The wider new lighting and grille add a good deal of mass to the Sonet and the general quality of these adornments seem better than the other two cars here. It's otherwise got the simplest bodywork which can feel a bit out of place at times but like the Mahindra, the rear with a similar full-width light arrangement compensates for it.
Despite being the most compact, the Kiger has the largest boot volume at 405L. Renault seems to have managed this with quite a high lip and a low floor. The Sonet's at 385L is the more practical space. It doesn't have a high lip, the opening is wider and it's much easier to pack large bags lengthwise. Mahindra has worked on this, but at 295L, the XUV 3XO still asks for the most compromise. You don't have as high a lip as the Kiger, but large suitcases don't fit lengthwise. Otherwise, all three give you 60:40 splits and hooks to hold small items.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger interiors, space, practicalityThat premium sense of the Kia Sonet is best on display on the inside. The vertical vents and compact centre console set it apart from most cars in this segment. The overarching black theme in this version is significantly enhanced by the various colours and textures used in the stitching, switchgear and seats. But most satisfying is the sense of quality that's on offer here. There's a heft and dampness to all the switchgear that makes you feel you are in something more luxurious.
The Mahindra, on the other hand, is a bright space with dual-tone upholstery and white seats. But this car has been around in one form or another for a while. It's a simpler flowing look, but Mahindra has done some work to uplift this. The soft surface on the dash and doors feel great and the newly reworked centre console may not look and feel as sharp as the Sonet, but is as convenient to live with.
The Kiger looks as contemporary on the inside as the Sonet at first glance with its angular themes and simple but stylish details like the wide central tunnel and shelved space. But you also realize quite quickly that it's built to a price. So while the fit is about at par with the Mahindra, the plastics are of a notable lesser grade. The controls too have a tinny feel to them that stands out here.
But the Kiger also goes to show that large screens and tech may not often count for all that much in the day-to-day. You have the smallest touchscreen of the lot here at 8 inches but it is the only one with wireless phone pairing (currently). It also happens to be a system that works smoothly and you don't miss the snazzy displays and functions of the other two for the most part. The Sonet and XUV 3XO give you 10.25-inch screens with built-in navigation and connected-car functions. But the Kia system is just that much easier to get used to. It's got a more logical layout, submenus are easier to access and it is marginally smoother and more responsive. But it still only comes with a wired Android Auto/Apple Carplay connection.
They pair this with some equally smart 10.25-inch digital driver's displays. Both, the Mahindra and Kia, give you a good deal of information and are easy to toggle through. The XUV 3XO has more layout options and the Sonet has more fluid functioning, but both do the job quite well.
The XUV 3XO could have done with more space in the central tunnel but makes up for it with especially large door bins. The Sonet and Kiger make do with smaller door pockets than that but the Kiger does give you large spaces in the centre with its stepped phone tray and deep central storage, even if you miss out on cup holders.
The Sonet is left a bit behind the other two in this regard but makes up for it with the most charging ports all around. The Kiger has none in the back except for 12v charging and just one in the front and the XUV does have a Type A and Type C port in the front like the Sonet but one Type C at the back. All three give you wireless charging.
If space is your biggest priority and you carry five people in your car often, the XUV 3XO is your best bet here. It has the widest cabin of the lot and the light upholstery and large windows make for a great sense of space, enhanced by the segment-first panoramic sunroof. The Sonet and Kiger feel notably more compact on the inside, not just with their narrow widths but also with their dark cabins. This is especially true of the Kiger with its high sill and small windows.
But the Renault has some quite supportive seats. The cushioning isn't too thick but the contours give you better back and thigh support than the Sonet. The Mahindra has a flatter bench that can feel a tad less supportive but the middle passenger will complain less. The 2,600mm wheelbase is from a segment higher which shows up in a great deal of legroom.
The Sonet and Kiger, both with 2,500mm wheelbases, are visibly hampered in this regard, especially if you are tall, although footroom is good in both, despite the intrusive rails in the Renault. You would think the Mahindra would be compromised on headroom, but the scooped-out roof brings it on par with the others. A special touch in the Sonet that works great in hot weather is the sunshades.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger features, safetyThe Kiger gives you features like LED lighting, 7-inch screens, drive modes, climate control, cruise control, wireless charging, LED cabin lighting, wireless Andorid Auto/Apple Carplay and auto headlamps. The Mahindra goes further with larger 10.25-inch screens, seven-speaker Harman/Kardon audio, auto wipers, dual-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof. The Sonet misses out on the latter three features but gets Bose audio, traction modes, an air purifier, ventilated seats, rear sunshades and partly partly-powered driver's seat.
The XUV 3XO has a big edge in terms of safety. It is the only one here to have a five-star safety rating, from its previous iteration and also comes with Level 2 ADAS functions. There are also 6 airbags, ABS Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger engine, mileage
If you are looking for the most SUV-like experience, the Mahindra XUV 3XO comes the closest. The high seating, the bonnet flowing out and the large windscreen make this the easiest in traffic. The Kiger is not far behind with great visibility and compactness, although the A-pillar creates a large blind spot.
All three cars here are powered by three-cylinder turbo-petrols but are reasonably different in execution. The Mahindra is the quickest by some margin with its 130PS and 230 Nm. The over-boost function that pushes this to 250 Nm is quite a novelty. The Kiger makes a more modest 100PS and 152 Nm while the Sonet fills the gap at 120PS and 172 Nm. A big differentiator in the driving experience is that all three get varying gearbox types. The Mahindra uses a six-speed torque converter, the Kia a seven-speed DCT and the Renault a CVT.
In the Mahindra, there are little intrusive vibrations and noise at slow speeds which the Kia suffers from to a greater extent just off idle. The Kiger is notably a gruffer experience, expected with its greater focus on cost.
Their similar configurations aside, these cars perform somewhat differently on the road. The Mahindra feels the smoothest off the line but it's the Sonet that will be the easiest to get used to if you are new to turbo-petrols. It feels the most linear and has a flat, wide powerband that may not be the most exciting but is effective. With the Mahindra, there's quite a potent surge at about 2,000rpm but past this, it settles into a flat rush similar to the Sonet. It happens to be the fastest here with its 0 to 100 kmph time of 10.7s, the others do it in the 12s. The Kiger hits its stride a bit later in the revband which does make for slightly laboured low-speed progress but things are more straightforward the faster you go.
The gearboxes influence the driving experience further. The Sonet with its added ratio feels the most tractable. But it's not so smooth at low-speed driving with jerkier shifts than the softer ones in the Mahindra's AT. Yes, the Mahindra's gearbox at medium speeds can hold on to higher gears for a touch longer than necessary but past this, the gearbox is not too far behind the Sonet, fading into the background with intuitiveness. The CVT in the Renault is one of the better examples of its kind around. There are some of the delays that you find in these gearboxes at lower speeds, but it does seem to get better the faster you go. But yes, you will have to be smoother in your inputs more often than the others.
Watch our video of the Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger comparison below
The Sonet with its extra ratio, its Eco drive mode and tractable engine is the most efficient of the three cars here. Especially on the highway where we managed nearly 18 kmpl. Surprisingly, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is more efficient in traffic, very similar to the Kiger, where it doesn't let the turbo spool up too often at low revs. Notably, the XUV 3XO needs 95 octane to function optimally so you will be spending a tad bit more on fuel.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger Ride and handlingUnlike the rest of the car, the Sonet's ride could be more refined. It is a bit noisy and rough over broken roads at slower speeds. This improves over smoother surfaces and at higher speeds but you do notice that the Kia isn't as tied down at higher speeds as the other two. In this regard, the Mahindra does quite well. Its wide tracks and long wheelbase give it a stable sensation at high speeds that's not very common in this segment. It also manages to do this while being comfortable with the new suspension tune. Despite the 17-inch wheels, it rounds off bumps softly so they don't jar. This improves the faster you go and a sense of toughness is quite present.
The Kiger also feels quite rugged and its low-speed ride is good too. There's just a slightly firmer edge to it than the Mahindra but isn't a surefooted at high speeds.
The Kiger's lightweight and direct steering makes it a sharp car around bends. It rolls less than the others and feels light and progressive around corners. The steering on the Mahindra has improved too, and the new suspension setup with the selective damping lets you keep some high speeds around bends. It doesn't feel as agile as the Kiger but comes quite close, although you do find that pitch and dive can be a bit sharp at times.
The Sonet, on the other hand, is best driven a touch calmer. The steering has a nice heft to it that feels premium but otherwise, it isn't more responsive than the others. It also is best driven a touch calmer considering there's a bit more roll and generally a lesser sense of connection to the driving experience.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger price, verdict
Priced at Rs 13.48 lakh on-road for the top variant, the Kiger is still great value. It offers you good driving dynamics and reasonable comfort and features but is let down by refinement that other cars at its price do better. The Sonet at Rs 17.18 lakh is still a strong choice for a large section of buyers with its premium feel, sharp looks, long features list and efficiency. But the Rs 18.39 lakh Mahindra XUV 3XO gets close on most of these fronts while adding an especially spacious cabin, better comfort and driving dynamics.
Note: A Tata Nexon was requested to be featured in this test but Overdrive didn't receive a response from Tata Motors by the time of shooting.
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger real world mileage, performanceMahindra XUV 3XO vs Kia Sonet vs Renault Kiger scorecard