Did you ever realise that Mahindra has the most number of offerings in the sub-4 metre SUV space? You’ve got the rugged-looking TUV300, the simple-as-you-like Bolero and the most premium of the lot – the XUV300. In December last year, Mahindra revealed the prices of the petrol-powered, BS6-compliant (Bharat Stage 6) XUV300 range. Now, it has unveiled the pricing for BS6-ready diesel-fed variants. Here’s how the complete price list looks like:

What’s interesting in the table above is that all the upgraded diesel variants cost the same as they did in BSIV form. That said, don’t expect Mahindra to keep those numbers intact for long. Another noteworthy piece of information is that power and torque figures haven’t changed. The 1.5-litre diesel motor puts out 115bhp/300Nm. You can have it with either with a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT. If you’ve had your eye set on one of the diesel variants, now is probably the best time to book one.

In terms of power and torque, the XUV300’s diesel engine not only claims top spot in the subcompact SUV segment but also pips larger SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos. Even in the features department, the XUV300 is right up there with the best. Opt for the range-topping variants, and the list of gizmos will include seven airbags, three-point seatbelts for all seats, electric sunroof, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, tyre pressure monitoring system, auto-dimming IRVM, rain-sensing wipers and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Differentiating the contenders based on their list of features or their performance numbers can be quite tricky. But when it comes to safety, there’s no safer car, one that is made-for- and made-in-India, than the Mahindra XUV300. Earlier this year Global NCAP awarded it a five-star safety rating for adult occupants, and four-stars safety score for children. All-in-all, if you don’t want to pay the extra premium of a BS6-compliant diesel variant, and want the safest car in the segment, now is probably the best time to book the XUV300. Else, you could also look at the Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and the upcoming Honda WR-V.