Mahindra Xylo

In the facelifted version, the Mahindra Xylo received a more modern-looking dual-tone beige and brown theme with faux wood inserts around the cabin, including for the door panels, dashboard and seats. While this theme, along with the large window panels all around, makes the cabin feel airy and spacious, it is the layout of the cabin and the elements which show off the age of the Xylo, making it look dated.

The Mahindra Xylo has a black-themed four-spoke multi-functional steering, which feels good to hold and has tilt functionality while having a three-pod analogue instrument console behind it with white inserts. The centre console of the dashboard here has curved-styled AC vents at the top and a vertical lower centre console with curved upper and lower edges which houses a 2-DIN audio system with manual AC controls below it.

The corners of the dashboard of the Mahindra Xylo have rounded AC vents, while the co-passenger side of the dashboard has a spacious glovebox within it. The Xylo is decently equipped with features like power windows and rear AC vents. The E2 variant is available with both 5-seater and 9-seater configurations, while the top-spec E8 variant has a three-row eight-seater configuration, and in all variants, it impresses with the sense of space it offers.

Designed on the lines of Mahindra Scorpio, the Xylo has a traditional three-row MPV design, with a host of design elements inspired by other Mahindra offerings, including the former. While the Mahindra Xylo looks proportionate for its size, the overall design looks a bit outdated by modern standards.

At the front, the Mahindra Xylo has a trapezoidal grille with seven inclined slats across its inner width. The grille is attached with all-halogen headlamps, which have curved outer edges and come with halogen headlights and amber turn indicators within it. The body-coloured front bumper here also looks neat, with a trapezoidal air dam in the middle and additional faux air dams with fog lamps integrated into their outer edges.

The side profile of the Mahindra Xylo looks long with its stretched wheelbase, though the small 15-inch steel wheels somehow decrease its road presence a bit. However, the presence is then increased by the large window panels, all of which have angular design which further also increases the sense of space on the inside (more on that later). This facelifted version of the Mahindra Xylo came with body decals and slightly flared rounded wheel arches.

At the back, the Mahindra Xylo has a large rectangular windscreen and vertical tail lamps on the side pillars, which look inspired by those of the Mahindra Scorpio. The boot lid looks neat and large, with a rounded rectangular license plate housing, which has a thin chrome garnish strip above it. The top-spec E8 variant also has a roof-mounted spoiler with an integrated brake light in the middle.

The Mahindra Xylo is offered as a rear-wheel drive vehicle, which comes with a suspension setup of double wishbone at the front and multi-link at the rear, making it much similar to the setup offered in the Scorpio. However, the ride quality feels much more composed here, and while body roll is evident at higher speeds, the Xylo compensates with the suppleness of the ride quality at both lower and higher speeds.

In this facelifted version of the Xylo, which is sold in the Philippines, Mahindra plonked a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which feels much more refined and powerful over the 2.5-litre CRDe diesel engine offered in the Scorpio and Enforcer. This engine is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission in the Mahindra Xylo while producing a maximum power output of 120 PS and a peak torque output of 280 Nm.

The Mahindra Xylo is decently equipped with basic safety essentials like dual front airbags, ABS, child door lock, door ajar warning and safety seat belt warning.

The Mahindra Xylo feels a bit archaic in terms of design, considering how the other modern MPVs have moved up in the game. However, when it comes to the reliability of the engine and supple ride quality, this MPV from Mahindra still makes up for a decent option.