Upcoming Mahindra S201 To Get Petrol Engine, Premium Features

• Mahindra will be launching the S201 compact SUV by the first quarter of 2019.

• The S201 will be a premium offering in the segment with premium convenience features.

• The S201 will be powered by a derivative of the petrol engine the company intends to provide to Ford.

• The engine will be a low-capacity unit that’s BSVI-compliant.

• The diesel engine will be the same 1.5-litre unit that powers the Marazzo but in a different state of tune.

Mahindra recently launched its most premium offering for the Indian market in the form of the Alturas G4. It might be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to driving dynamics but the G4’s premium quotient cannot be contested. The Marazzo too features a premium looking cabin with faux leather upholstery and piano black finish on the dash. Mahindra intends to position its upcoming S201 compact SUV along similar lines as well.

Recommended read: Mahindra Alturas G4, First Drive Review

The S201 will be based on the Ssangyong Tivoli and will compete against the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport. It has been confirmed by Mahindra that the S201 will come with premium features. Convenience features like dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an electric sunroof, and rear parking camera with guidelines could be a part of the package. Mahindra could also up the plushness quotient by adding a piano black finish across the dashboard like on the Marazzo. Other features may include 6 airbags, traction control, cruise control and hill hold assist, but with AT only (if made available).

Mahindra has also confirmed that the S201 will come with a petrol engine as well. This engine will be a derivative of the small-capacity BSVI petrol motor that Mahindra will be providing to Ford. The specs of the engine remain elusive but we think it could be a 1.2-litre unit and could come with turbocharging as well in the S201. As for diesel power, Mahindra’s compact SUV will get the 1.5-litre diesel engine from the Marazzo but likely in a more sedate state of tune. It will likely be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

When launched the S201 is likely to be more expensive than its rivals, nudging the Rs 12.8 lakh mark for the top of the line variant. But whether the price is justified remains to be seen. What do you think the price of the S201 should be? What features would you like to see on the car?

Let us know in the comments below.