The race for Australia’s cheapest SUV recently got a new entrant with the arrival of the Mahindra XUV 3X0.
The Indian automaker has temporarily overtaken Chinese rival Chery and its popular Tiggo 4 at the head of the small SUV pack with its first city-sized soft-roader.
Both compact SUVs offer exceptional value for money, generous levels of standard equipment and the latest in advanced safety systems, and both have affordable long-term ownership credentials.
So, let’s dig a little deeper to see how they stack up against each other.
How much?
The Mahindra XUV 3X0 launched in Australia last month with a special introductory price that expires on August 31, 2025.
It is available in two model grades, the AX5L and AX7L, which currently cost $23,490 and $26,490 drive-away. But both will increase by $500 from September 1.
When that happens, the Mahindra will line-up exactly on price with the updated Chery Tiggo 4, which arrived in Australian showrooms earlier this year.
It is also offered in two variants, Urban and Ultimate, which sell for $23,990 and $26,990 respectively, also including all on-road statutory costs.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
What do you get?
Considering their price, the entry-level variants of both the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mahindra XUV3X0 come with a decent level of standard equipment.
ABOVE: Mahindra XUV 3X0 (left), Chery Tiggo 4 (right)
The extensive list of standard features in both models includes:
- Cloth seat trim
- Alloy wheels
- Keyless entry with push-button start
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Twin 10.25-inch digital displays
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Six-speaker audio systems
- DAB+ digital radio
- Smartphone mirroring
- LED headlights
The Mahindra also comes with a standard glass sunroof and a cooled glovebox.
For the top-spec variants, both get leather trim and larger alloy wheels (from 16- to 17-inch with the Mahindra and from 17- to 18-inch with the Chery), but there are a host more unique differences.
The Mahindra XUV 300 AX7L picks up a larger ‘Sky Roof’, a premium Harman Kardon sound system with amplifier and sub-woofer, and the option of a two-tone paint scheme with a black roof for certain exterior colours.
Meanwhile, the Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate has power adjustment and heating for the front seats, colour interior ambient lighting, a wireless phone charger and a sunroof.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
Are they safe?
Both the Chery Tiggo 4 and Mahindra XUV 3X0 are equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced driver aids and safety features in all model variants.
Standard safety equipment across both models includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Traffic jam assist
- Blind spot detection
- Traffic sign recognition
- Tyre pressure monitoring
The Chery does go a little further with seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front-seat occupants, as well as driver fatigue monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and collision avoidance, and door-opening warning.
But the Mahindra has a 360-degree parking display in both variants, whereas this is only available in the top-spec Tiggo 4 Ultimate.
The Tiggo 4 was given a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2024, while the XUV 300 has yet to be tested by the independent safety authority. Mahindra does, however, claim the vehicle has been designed to perform at the highest level in real-world scenarios, and the XUV 300 did receive a five-star rating last year from the India’s ANCAP equivalent, Bharat NCAP.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
What are they like inside?
For small SUVs, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 are surprisingly spacious and well suited to small families thanks to excellent interior packaging.
| Dimensions | Mahindra XUV 3XO | Chery Tiggo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3990mm | 4351mm |
| Width | 1821mm | 1831mm |
| Height | 1647mm | 1662mm |
| Wheelbase | 2600mm | 2610mm |
| Cargo capacity | 364L | 380L |
Both ride on a wheelbase with roughly the same space between the front and rear axles, but the Chery is longer in overall length and fractionally wider and taller.
But not by enough that makes a significant difference inside the cabin, as both offer room for five with decent headroom and more legroom in the second row than you’d imagine.
Both cars have 60:40-split folding rear seats, three top-tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchors, and a space-saver spare tyre under the floor of the boot, which are also surprisingly generous and offer enough cargo capacity to cater for weekly family duties and longer holiday road trips.
As for the overall aesthetic, the Tiggo 4 is a little more modern with its asymmetric dash top that highlights the floating twin-screen configuration with a separate touchscreen for the climate control system on the curving centre stack.
ABOVE: Mahindra XUV 3X0 (left), Chery Tiggo 4 (right)
The Mahindra is more conservative with a digital instrument cluster under its own cowl while the tablet-style infotainment screen juts out at the top of the centre of the dashboard with a row of physical buttons, and a traditional volume knob for the audio within easy reach.
It also has rotary dials for the climate control and a convenient bin at the base of the console for small items or mobile devices, with a pair of cupholders behind the upright gear lever.
Both the Mahindra and Chery offer decent small-item storage spaces throughout the cabin, with deep door pockets, covered bins in the centre console and flip-down arm rests in the centre of the back seat.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
What’s under the bonnet?
Considering the size and focus on value for money here, both the Mahindra XUV 3X0 and Chery Tiggo 4 have relatively simple powertrains with no variations between variants.
| Specifications | Mahindra XUV3XO | Chery Tiggo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.2-litre 3cyl turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre 4cyl turbo-petrol |
| Power | 82kW | 108kW |
| Torque | 200Nm | 210Nm |
| Transmission | Six-speed automatic | CVT automatic |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1392kg (AX5L) / 1410kg (AX7L) | 1404kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 6.5L/100km | 7.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 42L | 51L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane unleaded | 91-octane unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 137g/km | 168g/km |
The Mahindra is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 82kW of power and 200Nm of torque, driving the front wheels through a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.
The Chery has an extra cylinder and a larger-capacity 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that, naturally, delivers higher outputs of 108kW and 210Nm. It too drives the front wheels, but via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Both engines are optimised to run on the most affordable standard unleaded petrol, and the Mahindra is more efficient with a claimed average of 6.5L/100km compared to the Chery’s 7.4L/100km , neither of which is particularly exceptional for small cars like these.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
Cost of ownership
There’s not much separating these two when it comes to ownership credentials either, as both are covered by seven-year warranties with free roadside assistance and capped-price servicing packages.
| Servicing and Warranty | Mahindra XUV 3XO | Chery Tiggo 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, 150,000km | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 7 years | 7 years (service activated) |
| Service intervals | 12 months, 15,000km | 12 months, 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 6 years | 7 years |
| Average annual service cost | $332 | $310 |
| Total capped-price service cost | $1994 | $2167.33 |
However, the Mahindra’s coverage is limited to the first 150,000km and its capped-price service offer extends to only six years, whereas the Chery has unlimited mileage coverage and service prices set for the duration of the warranty.
In terms of maintenance costs, both are reasonably affordable, with the Chery’s yearly average slightly lower than the Mahindra ($310 versus $332), and both require servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Mahindra XUV 3X0. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Chery Tiggo 4. Click here to get a great deal.
CarExpert’s Pick
The reality is there’s not much to separate these two and pick a definitive winner.
Both provide Australians affordable access to a new car with the latest safety tech and digital conveniences, and both come equipped with a decent array of standard equipment. Plus, they’re relatively cheap to own and have excellent aftersales provisions that provide plenty of peace of mind.
If anything, small families and first-time car buyers are the real winners with either choice here.
Interested in buying a Mahindra XUV 3X0? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here
Interested in buying a Chery Tiggo 4? Let CarExpert find you the best deal here
Click the images for the full gallery
MORE: Explore the Mahindra XUV3X0 showroom
MORE: Explore the Chery Tiggo 4 showroom
