IS the Tough really Tough?

Is the Tough really Tough?

Looks & Style: TUV looks tough, proper SUV looks, so far unlike any Mahindra vehicle. you can customize it to the hilt and company too has come up with armor kits. Comfort: Driver and passenger seats are spacious and comfortable, you do not feel tired even after a long drive. The lumbar support for the driver is a good feature. Second-row seat is pathetic, no under thigh support, no recliner, no cushion, its straight from a bus. Last row seating is good only for children and strictly for the city drive. Even if the second and third-row seats are folded, you don't get a flat bed which is a major disappointment for long journeys. No space for keeping even a six-inch screen mobile phone. OEM speakers that come, need to be thrown out before investing in any other accessories, no touch screen, no reverse camera, no rear AC, no climate Control. Pickup: 81 BHP for a vehicle weighing 1.5 tons is gross under power, even on the express highway, you can't go above 120 even if your paddle is pressed to the floor. And at that speed of 120, the engine makes real bad noise, asking for relief, vibrations and road noise will make you deaf. You can't hear your speakers at that speed even with maximum volume. There are people claiming of the top speed of 140 or 160, but that is not mathematics, but pure physics. This is possible only with no AC, single passenger, no luggage and on a downward sloping road. I am not joking while I say this. The AMT is painfully slow and slows you down in traffic to such an extent that even auto rickshaw and Alto guys will honk on you and overtake you giving that dirty look for delaying them to the office. AMT is jerky and not a good combination for such heavy and low powered vehicle. Mileage: AMT is 10.98 maximum unless you have a speed control device which will not let you go beyond 80 KMPH Needs to Improve: Quality check and service support. Mahindra has not learned anything from XUV niggles and issues and there seems no improvement in service attitude. There have been so many part recalls and software updates of TUV300 already in such a small time. Overall Experience: I think with initial euphoria dying and competition launching much better and feature rich vehicles, the only USP of this vehicle remains is 7 seating capacity. The sales have already halved within 6 months of launch is quite a telling. Ladder on frame chassis along with real wheel drive gives you excessive body roll and spine twists. Do check it out yourself during test drive if you have to buy it.