2019 Mahindra TUV300

Mahindra TUV300

Mahindra’s TUV300 always felt like a left-field pick for growing families who didn’t want to brave the second-hand Quantum lottery. On paper at least, it offered honest-to-goodness seven-seat practicality without the made-for-Uber badge, undercutting proper SUVs by a country mile. R119,500 is the price for the only one on the market today — and you won’t see a new one sharing floor space with XUV700s any time soon. Only one listing, and it’s a 2019 1.5TD manual with nearly 142,000 kilometres chalked up. No petrol, no auto, just old-school diesel torque and three pedals, because this is a car built for getting the basics right on a shoestring. If you pack smart and keep your expectations realistic, there’s a certain logic to the TUV300’s value play. Fuel economy is the big win — these little diesels hung in there for city commutes and longer N1 slogs alike, provided you kept up with regular oil changes. Interior plastics won’t win any awards, but you get proper physical controls and enough space for the kids plus the odd cousin. Versus something like the Triber, the Mahindra’s diesel really was the trump card for budget-conscious commuters. The catch? Finding one is a mission. It’s not a car you buy with your heart, but when you need a seven-seater and every rand matters, it’s exactly what the TUV300 should have been from the start.