carindia.in

• Prev
• 1 of 9
• Next

THE EXCISE DUTY ON sub-four-metre cars with a diesel engine smaller in capacity than 1,500 cc is 12 per cent of the cost of manufacturing while the cars outside this criterion attract 27 per cent duty. These regulations clearly indicate the government’s intention to promote the small car segment and they have certainly had the desired effects.

The Indian automobile market is full of small cars and the price range begins from as low as Rs 1.7 lakh. As a result, the customer is spoilt for choice, but, on the other hand, there is cut-throat competition among the original equipment
manufacturers (OEM). So developing a small car is no longer the solution. However, in a price-sensitive market like
ours, a big car with a small price-tag –now, that’s innovation! The OEM saw this opportunity in the regulations and it has led to some unconventional cars in recent times. The Mahindra Quanto is the latest entrant into this club and the 5,000 bookings that Mahindra have registered for it is a proof that the formula works.

It is easily apparent that the Quanto is based on Mahindra’s MUV, the Xylo. It has the same wheelbase as the Xylo and the design is almost identical until the B-pillar. The difference lies at the back, where, unlike the Xylo, the Quanto’s D-pillar is very close to the C-pillar, after which it ends abruptly with a massive tail-gate. The 15-inch spare wheel is mounted on this tailgate and is enclosed in a sporty cover to highlight the car’s SUVness. The Quanto can be easily mistaken for its bigger sibling when seen from the front, but the new tail-end gives it a distinctly different look from other angles.

There are a few cosmetic changes as well, which can be spotted on closer inspection. The front lip of the Quanto has a curve above the grille. The headlights have a slightly different detailing while the rear fog lamps and their recesses have been redesigned completely and both these units have clear lenses. The tail-lights are shorter than those on the Xylo and are located higher up on the D-pillar. The black plastic panels below the front bumper and on the
wheel-arches are absent and the rear spoiler found on the Xylo is also missing.

The Quanto’s cabin is nearly identical to that of the Xylo. It has a dual-tone interior in shades of grey with fabric upholstery and the build quality is decent for a car in this price range. There is a lot of space to move around since it is as wide as the Xylo and  has a high roof. The front seats have armrests and can be manually adjusted for lumbar support. They also have collapsible snack trays behind the back-rest for the rear passengers, which are good enough for light items. The rear seat is fixed and the back-rest of the bench is almost upright. The rear knee-room has also been compromised a bit.