Mahindra is bringing premium specifications and extra style to the entry-level market with the introduction of the Mahindra KUV100 NXT #DARE.
The KUV100 NXT #DARE will only be available in the budget-friendly K2+ version at R155 999 and will enter the line-up as a permanent addition, slotting in between the entry-level K2+ and the K6+ models.
“We have introduced the #DARE in response to the popularity of the KUV100 among the youth and those who are young-at-heart. It is packed with extra style features and interior luxuries, but it remains a highly affordable option in the compact hatch and compact crossover market,” says Rajesh Gupta, CEO of Mahindra South Africa.
Proudly South African
Mahindra’s all-new Special Fitment Centre in Gauteng, where its team of trained technicians with four dedicated assembly lines will convert a standard KUV100 NXT K2+ into a #DARE.
The new facility was opened in November as the next step in Mahindra’s South African investment programme, which will help deepen its roots as a local automotive icon. Initially, the facility will help produce the highly popular Pik Up Karoo and now also the #DARE models.
Designed to stand out
With its aim firmly on the youth, the #DARE is equipped with additional style elements that build on the unique KUV100 NXT compact crossover design and which will be unique to this model.
The additional features add to the recent upgrade of the entire KUV100 NXT range, which introduced a fresh exterior look and an upgraded interior. It also further emphasises the KUV100’s SUV-type stance, with its higher-than-average ride height and long travel suspension.
The first design addition is a set of #DARE decals on the rear side doors and tailgate. These all-black decals, in combination with dual tone colour combination, ensure that the #DARE easily catches the eye.
Mahindra has also added a set of 14” black alloy wheels to round off the styling upgrade and add additional value to the #DARE package.
In the interior, the #DARE receives a special Pioneer audio system, which converts the owner’s smartphone into an infotainment control centre. From here, the owner can access his or her phone’s features and music, while also using it to control the audio system.
The #DARE also adds central locking, a custom embossed carpet set and a rear parcel shelf to the KUV100 NXT K2+ list of specifications.
“The KUV100 NXT is one of the best-equipped compact crossovers on the market, especially after the model range upgrade in October last year. Importantly, the KUV100 NXT is also one of the safest models in its class,” says Rajesh.
Among the many standard features across the entire KUV100 NXT range are two airbags, an immobiliser and ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. Equipped with these features, the KUV100 NXT was rated one of the safest vehicles in its class by the Indian BNCAP crash test programme, which gave it a four-star crash rating.
All KUV100 NXT models also feature electric power steering, air conditioning, and a spare wheel, while the refreshed interior design features smart storage such as an underfloor compartment and additional cup holders.
Budget beating value
The all-new #DARE will be introduced with a special financing package of R2 099 a month from Mahindra Finance. For the price, the #DARE will offer a full 3-year / 100 000 km standard warranty and a 2-year / 50 000 km powertrain warranty, with a 24/7 roadside assistance for three years.
And while the price and monthly instalment are sure to be in everyone’s taste, it is the after-sales support that has made the KUV100 NXT stand out. This was proven again in the 2019 AA Kinsey Report, which found that the KUV100 NXT was the most affordable vehicle to service and repair in its class and one of the overall most affordable vehicles on the South African market.
The KUV100 NXT further added to its budget beating résumé this past weekend when it was crowned the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the A1 class in the recent WesBank Fuel Economy Tour, hosted in partnership with FNB. To win this crown, the KUV100 NXT beat all other entrants over a countrywide five-day road trip.
“The #DARE is the product of a long period of market research in which we made sure that it not only fitted the tastes of our target market but that it did so without breaking the bank. This means that all the traditional KUV100 NXT attributes – affordability, safety, and style – remain, but now with extra #DARE-appeal,” says Avinash Bapat, CFO of Mahindra South Africa.
The #DARE is available immediately in limited numbers at Mahindra dealers across Southern Africa.
