Brendon and Ali:
Brendon is 196 cm tall. He has long legs, a deep back, and is very particular about knee room. Ali is 155 cm. She needs visibility over the dashboard, no strain to get in or out, and driver’s controls that don’t feel like gymnastics. If one car can satisfy both of them comfortably, it’s something special. Enter the Mahindra XUV 3XO.
First Impressions: Getting in, settling back and what it costs
On a crisp morning, Brendon folds into the driver’s seat of the 3XO. He pushes the seat back almost fully, adjusts the steering, tilts the backrest, and there’s still headroom; no bumping his helmet, no craning his neck. Ali tries next: with the height-adjustable driver’s seat, she lifts herself slightly, lowers it, and finds a position where her hips aren’t strained, her knees aren’t pressed, and the view is just right. The seatbelt height adjuster helps.
Getting into the car is easy: the door sills are not too high, the step-in height is manageable, and there’s good space in and around the seat. For older drivers, the entry and exit of a vehicle sometimes matter more than acceleration times – but the 3XO does well here.
This comfort comes at a very competitive price in Australia. The base variant AX5L is priced drive-away from $23,990. The higher trim, AX7L, adds features and is $26,990 drive-away.
Vision and driving posture: Seeing clearly, driving easily
From the specs, one of the big wins is visibility. The elevated driving position gives a commanding view of the road ahead: the driver’s eye height is about 1,398 mm above ground, yielding a forward visibility angle of 23.7 degrees.
Windows are generous, mirror placement is good, front pillars are not overly obstructive. Ali, who is shorter, remarks that the dashboard doesn’t feel like a wall, the bonnet is long but well styled so that she knows exactly where the front edge is. Brendon appreciates that even when he pushes the seat back, he still has good peripheral vision and doesn’t feel boxed in. These are the kinds of things older drivers notice and appreciate.
Seats, space, ride and technical performance
Seats are firm yet supportive. Real-world owners say the front seats are “superbly comfortable”. Legroom is generous for both front and rear. Ali doesn’t have to stretch or use special cushions; Brendon can slide the seat well back for long intercity drives. Headroom is generous in front; in the rear it depends on how far the front seats are pushed back. But generally, the cabin is “spacious and comfortable” for occupants.
The ride quality is smooth. Minor road imperfections – speed-bumps, rough pavement – are handled with composure. The suspension setup (MacPherson fronts, twist beam rear, with around 201 mm ground clearance) helps soak up bumps.
On the performance side: both variants share a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing about 82 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque (available from roughly 1500 to 3,500 rpm). Transmission is a 6-speed Aisin torque converter automatic.
Fuel economy is excellent: combined claim of 6.5 L/100 km. Fuel tank is 42 litres, so range is reasonable for daily driving and long trips.
Features that matter: Later-life comfort, warranty and service
For drivers 55-plus, small touches are big deals:
The seat height adjustability helps both tall and short drivers.
Dual-zone climate control, good airflow, rear AC vents so neither front occupant (nor rear) feels oppressive heat. The glovebox is cooled.
Driver assist features in both variants: Level 2 ADAS (adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go up to 60 km/h, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking).
360-degree camera, parking sensors (front & rear in the AX7L), keyless entry, push-button start. Controls are well located; infotainment and instrument cluster each have 10.25-inch screens. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
On the aftersales side, Mahindra makes a strong offer for peace of mind:
Warranty: 7 years or 150,000 km factory warranty.
Roadside assistance for 7 years.
Capped-price service plan: 6 years or 85,000 km (whichever comes first), with total expected servicing cost around AUD $1,994 over that period.
Individual services cost from about $279 for early services (first one around 10,000 km or 12 months) up to about $399 for later ones.
Verdict: Why the XUV 3XO works so well for drivers 55-plus
Here’s why, especially for older drivers, the XUV 3XO doesn’t just hit the usual boxes – but goes a bit further:
Ease of entry and exit: Low-to-moderate door sills, comfortable step-in height, height-adjustable driver’s seat. With Brendon and Ali both able to get in and out without strain, that’s a major plus.
Visibility and posture: Elevated eye point, large windows, well placed mirrors, long bonnet but design cues help understand the front edges. Less need to stretch, duck, or guess.
Comfort over distance: Well-tuned suspension, good ground clearance (201 mm) to handle bumps; roomy front seats; decent ride refinement to reduce fatigue on longer trips.
Technical performance appropriate for daily and regional use: The 1.2L turbo motor, front-wheel drive, 6-speed automatic gives usable torque low down, good fuel economy, manageable running costs.
Warranty, servicing, and after-sales peace of mind: 7-year/150,000 km warranty, capped servicing, decent national dealership support. Those are things older drivers (and their families) often factor in heavily when considering a car.
If you’re 55 or older, contemplating your next car, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is one to test drive with both extremes of your height spectrum in mind. If Brendon at 196 cm and Ali at 155 cm both walk away saying “yes, that’s comfortable,” you’ve found something special.