Is the Mahindra KUV100 the last 2 row 6 seater car left?

"Kar Wai Wong" (kingawesome467) 03/20/2019 at 11:31 • Filed to: Mahindra, Mahindra KUV100, KUV100, Bench seat, bench, seats, India

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This is the Mahindra KUV100, a supermini they desperately try to market as a crossover. Design wise, it’s a kinda amalgamation of all the hot small crossovers that sell so much. I see hints of all sorts of different CUVs in this thing, and Mahindra decided it wanted one of it’s own. The problem is, that someone on the design team had no idea what on earth a ruler was.

Well it’s actually currently called the KUV100 Nxt, as of a recent facelift. Seems problematic, what name will they give the next Nxt? In fact, the alphabet soup of KUV100 is a reference to a larger model, the Mahindra XUV500. So why didn’t they call it the XUV100 than?

But the name is the least of its problems, because it looks like a small gust of wind will topple it over. Or a speed hump. Just look at those itty bity wheels!

The original is hilarious enough to look at, but you’ve aint seen nothing yet. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present you: the KUV100 Xtreme concept.

No it’s not a baby Hippo kitted out with survival gear, it’s a car marketed as a crossover with Ford Raptor aspirations. Or an identity crisis. But whatever it is, it’s bloody amazing, even if the wheels look like they’re made of plastic, like it felt insecure, and pinched them off a Tonka Truck. I imagine the size was no problem too.

Thing is, I saw a picture of this car, and thought it looked so hilarious with it’s tiny wheels, and that was all of note. Until I took a look at it’s interior.

My mind was BLOWN ! I am a huge fan of 3 abreast seating (It’s not really a bench seat right?), and I long believed that the Chevrolet Suburban Sisters are the last remaining vehicles without a commercial work version (vans, pickups etc...) with this feature. I pined over the death of the Impala Limited, and cursed at the failures of the Fiat Multipla and the Honda FR-V, wept over the takeover of captains chairs!

This Tahoe shows what the dream is like!

But then, a glimmer of light bursting thorugh, RISING THROUGH THE DEPTHS OF WOE, DESPAIR, AND CENTRE CONSOLE CUBBYS, THE LEADER OF A NEW REVOLUTION OF SEATING .... is 6 grinning Indian faces sitting in a cheap hatchback that costs less than a Dacia. Actually, I imagine the people sitting in the middle won’t be grinning, or comfortable.

I mean safety is abysmal, as is expected, at least they had the decency to fit a lap belt. I imagine it’s not exactly brimming with room for all 6 people’s stuff too. But when you can say to your child in your family of 5, that yes, YOU CAN bring along their friend for a play date, that beam of joy on their face is all you need.

Until you hit a wild cow on the road, killing everyone on board, cos airbags are optional!

  > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 11:42

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E lbow your kid every time you shift!

E90M3 > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 11:47

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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > E90M3 03/20/2019 at 11:55

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I’ve had 6 grown adults in the Galaxie, but it’s also 80 fuckin’ inches wide. I don’t think they’d have gone into a KUV100 quite as easily. Call it a hunch.

Wacko > E90M3 03/20/2019 at 11:59

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but can it fit 6 people fucking?

412GTI > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 12:00

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This looks like a Chevy Trax fucked a Spark and this is their offspring. 

facw > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 12:06

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I mean, they aren’t what you’re looking for, but there are plenty of three-row six-seaters out there. Maybe they don’t fit your definition of car? But crossovers are pretending to be SUVs in the same way this is.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 12:06

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Bring back bench seats!!!!!!!

Kar Wai Wong > facw 03/20/2019 at 12:11

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....

Yeah that was some bad wording on my part, I’ll clarify it a bit.

Also, I irrationally hate middle row captains chairs. You lose an entire seat! For slightly easier access?!

facw > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 12:14

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Seems like a great tradeoff to me. That access is important, and you get more comfortable middle row seats. I really wonder who these people are who want unreachable back rows.

Longtime Lurker >   03/20/2019 at 13:22

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Have the kid shift for you!

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Kar Wai Wong 03/20/2019 at 13:40

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Still looks better than the Ford Ecosport

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > facw 03/20/2019 at 16:07

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I for one prefer a proper offset bench in the middle row. 2 captains chairs make reaching the rear row a PITA because you now have to snake between seats to get there, or fold down a seat ( which most 2nd row benches do anyway ). Both of these issues are compounded if you have car seats in the middle row. With a proper offset bench, you can just walk right into the back row, no folding or shuffling around seats required.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness >   03/20/2019 at 16:08

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They probably had it coming anyway...

facw > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/20/2019 at 16:25

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I think to some extent it depends on how wide the car is. There are some where the captains chairs fill the whole second row, so you don’t get much access vs. a full bench, and others where the second row is roomy enough that there’s no problem getting around them so having more comfortable seats is better .

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > facw 03/20/2019 at 17:17

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IMO benches are generally more comfortable than captains chairs. Benches are usually more padded and couch like, which makes them great for a long haul.

Captains chairs are also a giant PITA when you have a car seat in each chair, regardless of vehicle width.

I personally can’t stand captains chairs, especially in dedicated people movers like minivans .

pip bip - choose Corrour > Kar Wai Wong 03/21/2019 at 05:10

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a lot of Indians aren’t as fat as Americans so they will fit there.

as you say, may not be in comfort. but put a little kid there and he/she would be happy as