Mahindra XUV700

Expert Review by Maxabout

Introduction

Launched in August 2021, the Mahindra XUV700 is one of the biggest hits by the brand in the Indian car market. This SUV made a record by selling the first batch of 25,000 units in 57 minutes and then the next batch of 25,000 units on the second day of the booking window was sold in only two hours and Mahindra had to cease the booking process. There is no doubt that Mahindra has succeeded in attracting customers by providing a plethora of mind-blowing features in the XUV700.

But it also needs to be mentioned here that the Mahindra XUV700 is one of the safest cars in the country. The car received a perfect 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP. The SUV garnered five stars for adult occupant protection and four stars for child occupant protection in the safety watchdog's car crash testing. The XUV700 gained 16.03 points out of a potential 17 for adult occupant protection and 41.66 points out of a potential 49 for child occupant protection.

Mahindra XUV700 Design and Style

2023 Mahindra XUV700 is built on a new platform that is largely a progression of the XUV500 platform. The XUV700 is the first SUV to wear out Mahindra’s "Twin Peaks" emblem, which sits proudly at the centre of the grille. The front fascia is characterised by rectangular-shaped fog lamps, dual boomerang LED DRLs that extend into the bumpers and the all-new six-slat Mahindra grille in chrome and glossy black.

The facade has a strong presence, which is complemented by the muscular bonnet and beefy chin. When it comes to the side profile, the SUV-styled fenders with round wheel arches adorned with fibre cladding take care of most of the styling. The flush door handles are indeed the most interesting element on the XUV700's exterior. These handles are shaped to fit the body lines.

The roof is embellished with roof rails, a shark fin antenna, and a panoramic electric sunroof. Along with the front and sides, the rear profile is also captivating and gets chiselled lines, a faux diffuser, and arrow headlamps. Talking about the body dimensions, the XUV700 has an overall length of 4695mm, an overall width of 1890mm, and an overall height of 1755mm with a wheelbase of 2750mm. The SUV gets a fuel tank capacity of 60 litres and the manufacturer has given it a good ground clearance of 200 mm for running on any terrain hassle-free.

Mahindra XUV700 Engine and Gearbox

2023 Mahindra XUV700 is powered by two engines: a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-petrol Stallion and a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-diesel mHawk. The petrol engine has a maximum power of 200 HP and a maximum torque of 380 Nm. When it comes to the diesel engine, there are two tuning options. The lower-spec version produces 155HP and 360Nm of torque, while the higher-spec version produces 185HP and 420/450Nm (MT/AT) of power and torque. Both engine options are available with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions. The diesel engine has four drive modes: Zip, Zap, Zoom, and Custom. There is also an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) variant offered.

Mahindra XUV700 Interior, Instrument Cluster & Boot Space

Speaking of the interior of the new Mahindra XUV700, it gets a spacious cabin finished in black and off-white. The material used in the interior is mostly hard plastic. However, soft elements are also used. While the seating is comfortable not only for the driver and co-passenger but also for those in the second and third rows. There is ample legroom and headroom offered for enhanced comfort, even during long drives. Also, the plus point for the third-row occupants is that the sky roof lasts up to the third row, so they will not feel uncomfortable sitting there.

Now, coming forward to the instrument cluster of the car, this is completely digital and displays a plethora of information like tyre pressure monitoring, navigation, driver assistance, audio, hill descent control, 3D maps, live traffic, traction control on-off, wiper control, tyre direction and many more, along with the option of changing the dial layout, which can be chosen from minimal, normal or information. Although the boot space is not enough for carrying a big suitcase, you need not worry. You can expand it according to your preference as the seats are flat foldable and make their way to ample storage.

Mahindra XUV700 Brakes, Suspension & Tyres

In terms of braking and suspension, the braking duties are assigned to ventilated disc at the front and solid disc at the rear and there are electronic park brakes and ESP also offered as options. While the suspension responsibilities are handled by an Independent Front Suspension with Frequency Selective Damper and an Independent Rear Suspension with Frequency Selective Damper.

2023 Mahindra XUV700 runs on 18-inch or 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels or 17-inch steel wheels which depends on the variants. These wheels are shod with 235/60 and 235/65 tyres, respectively. A temporary spare wheel is also offered which is 155/90-R18 in size.

Mahindra XUV700 Key Features

Mahindra has loaded the XUV700 with plenty of sophisticated features including LED DRLs and clear-view headlamps, a 10.25-inch Infotainment System, Built-in Alexa Integration, 6-Way Powered Driver Memory Seat, Dual Zone Fully Automatic Temperature Control, Immersive 3D sound technology with 12 speakers, Driver Drowsiness Detection, AdrenoX connect App, smart door handles, tilt-adjustable steering, wireless phone charging, roof lamps for the second and third row, steering mounted cluster-control with custom key, power fold-ORVMs, push-button start, Dual HD Superscreen, Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, With You Hamesha - SOS, With You Hamesha - e-call and more.

Taking into consideration passenger safety, the manufacturer has outfitted the SUV with 7 airbags (dual front, driver knee, side, curtain), ABS with EBD, Hill Hold Control, Traction Control, Vehicle Dynamics Control, Hill Descent Control, Rollover Mitigation, Brake Disc Wiping, Torque Vectoring by Braking, and Electronic Brake Pre-fill. The vehicle also gets ADAS features like Auto Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Smart Pilot Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, and High Beam Assist.

Mahindra XUV700 Top Speed, Acceleration & Mileage

The ride and handling of the new Mahindra XUV700 are quite comfy. It can accelerate from 0–100kmph in 9.16 seconds in the automatic version and offers a top speed of 200kmph. When it comes to mileage, the average fuel economy of the Mahindra XUV 700 petrol variant is 10–12 kilometres per litre, while the diesel variant is 12–14 kilometres per litre. However, the mileage may vary depending on terrain and driving experience.

Mahindra XUV700 Variants & Colour Options

Mahindra has offered the new XUV700 in five variants named MX, AX3, AX5, AX7 and AX7 with a luxury pack. The available colour scheme for the MX variant is Everest White, Midnight Black, Dazzling Silver and Red Rage while for the Adrenox variant there is the addition of Electric Blue colour along with these aforementioned four colours.

Ex-showroom Price & On-Road Price

At present, the new XUV700 base MX petrol variant price starts at an ex-showroom price of Rs 13.45 lakh and goes up to an ex-showroom price of Rs 24.95 lakh for the top-end AX7 petrol variant. Now, understanding the difference between ex-showroom and on-road prices, the ex-showroom price of a car is the sticker price that does not include the cost of road tax, insurance, and registration. The on-road price, on the other hand, includes the previously mentioned costs as well as the cost of Insurance, RC, one-time road tax, extended warranty, and all accessories purchased for the vehicle. It is worth noting that on-road prices in our country vary greatly from state to state.

Mahindra XUV700 Competitors

2023 Mahindra XUV700 competitors in the Indian vehicle market are Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, MG Hector Plus and the Isuzu D-Max.

Verdict - Should You Buy Mahindra XUV700 or not?

2023 Mahindra XUV700 looks sporty as well as premium. It gets cutting-edge technology and mind-boggling features that premium cars boast. Its offered engine options make it powerful and the best in its segment. However, it is surprising that Mahindra has skipped some prominent features like front ventilated seats, height adjustment function for the front passenger seat, auto-dimming IRVM, ambient lighting, blower controls for the 2nd row, adjustable headrest for the middle passenger, and paddle shifters. Also, there is a lack of enough boot space, but still, the manufacturer has added a variety of functionalities to the car. The Mahindra XUV700 is the best at this price point and is a family-friendly SUV for Indian car buyers.