Mahindra XUV700 2023 review

Officially this is the XUV 7-Double-Oh. As in, James Bond 007, but in reverse.

It's also referred to as XUV700, but either way, the mid-sized Mahindra SUV represents compelling value from around $40,000 drive-away. Exact pricing will be revealed closer to its mid-June Australian launch.

Yes, that's about $13,000 more expensive than the cheapest XUV500, but as you'll soon discover, that's like comparing a Kia of today against one from 15 years ago. More on Mahindra's tech ascension a bit later on.

The swipe-able multimedia touchscreen over to the left seems to possess a clarity and logic that eludes many rival brands.

For now, keep in mind that even the base AX7 buys plenty of kit, including seven seats in synthetic leather trim, a powered driver's seat with memory setting, dual high-definition screens, a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights, push-button start, auto-on/off headlights, dusk/rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and 18-inch alloys, amongst other items.

On the safety front you'll also find six airbags (front, side and curtain items that reach right to the third row to protect outboard occupants back there), as well as anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and tyre-pressure monitors.

You'll also find the welcome inclusion of advanced driver-assist technologies like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, auto high-beam and adaptive cruise control. All are safety firsts for Mahindra in Australia.

The Mahindra offers a few attractive digital instrument dial choices ahead of the driver.

Note, however, that for adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality, blind-spot monitor and an additional knee airbag, you'll need to step up to the AX7 Luxury that is expected to be priced from about $45,000, or more.

This grade also ushers in a 360-degree surround-view camera, electric park brake, telescoping steering, wireless charging, upgraded audio with 12 speakers, continuous digital video recording and electrically retractable door handles – just like a Range Rover.

We can think of a couple of options that might be missing from the XUV700 feature list at launch, including an available powered tailgate, a head-up display for the instrumentation, heated/cooled front seats and keyless entry.

In its Indian home market, Mahindra is currently holding 85,000 back orders for XUV700, and rising.

No ANCAP or Euro NCAP crash-test rating is available – though the XUV700 has picked up five stars in the different Global NCAP test.

Stay tuned because Mahindra will also release other Australian-market specific info soon – including dealer-network expansion, servicing, warranty and crash-test information.

But so far, so good.

If you were to be led blindfolded to, and then sat inside, the AX7 Luxury as presented to us in India for the first time, your initial impression might well be of a Skoda-meets-Mercedes-style interior ambience.

Measuring in on the larger side of the medium SUV scale, there's plenty of space up front to stretch, on comfortable seats that proved their worth even after hours in nerve-wracking Indian traffic.

Likewise, the climate control, which kept the atmosphere pleasant despite the blazing heat. There's plenty of storage as well.

Measuring in on the larger side of the medium SUV scale, there’s plenty of space up front to stretch.

Note that the electric seat mechanism uses buttons shamelessly arranged in a pictograph as per Mercedes. The latter also influences the look and layout of the vast screen.

Housing two 10.25-inch displays, the dash is bang up-to-date, and easy on the eye as well. The Mahindra offers a few attractive digital instrument dial choices ahead of the driver, while the swipe-able multimedia touchscreen over to the left seems to possess a clarity and logic that eludes many rival brands.

Phone connection and audio streaming worked seamlessly, too.

Note, though, that only the AX7 Luxury brings reach as well as tilt-adjustment for the steering.

If you were to be led blindfolded to, and then sat inside, the AX7 Luxury as presented to us in India for the first time, your initial impression might well be of a Skoda-meets-Mercedes-style interior ambience.

Many hours split over several days were spent travelling in the middle row, and – again – the XUV700 destroyed any brand preconceptions of second-class travel, thanks to a well-padded cushion, reclinable backrests, effective ventilation and an isolated ride quality that lulled us to sleep on several occasions. It's also as roomy as anybody would ever need back there.

There is a big back seat area, while, with the third-row seats folded neatly into the floor, there's a decent level of luggage capacity – though the precise VDA number has yet to be divulged.

Kudos to Mahindra for engineering kerb-side third-row entry, aided by a simple single-press seat-tumble mechanism for fast and easy access. As with the middle row, you'll find a charging outlet and cupholders, as well as air vents with fan control.

Housing two 10.25-inch displays, the dash is bang up-to-date, and easy on the eye as well.

Would we put an adult back there for hours on end? Probably not, but shorter journeys would be okay, as long as the occupants are happy to squeeze in. Just like most medium-sized SUV seven-seaters.

Further back, with all seats up, there's only space enough for small, soft luggage or shopping bags. In this mode, Australian-market volume is yet to be confirmed.

The (likely space saver) spare wheel is slung beneath the floor and accessed via a drop-down set-up.

Under the bonnet is a 150kW/380Nm 2.0-litre direct-injection four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine dubbed ‘mStallion' in Mahindra-speak, sending drive to the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter auto sourced from Toyota-owned Aisin.

Right now, it's one of the most powerful mid-sized seven-seater SUVs in Australia.

Need AWD? You're out of luck, but an AWD diesel might arrive later on. For now, XUV700 is 2WD-only.

That said, Mahindra has been making strong engines for years It's what's encapsulates them that's new.

Right now, it’s one of the most powerful mid-sized seven-seater SUVs in Australia.

Three and a half years in development, the SUV700 is the second fruit of a profound change in philosophy after the well-received Scorpio 4x4 wagon, recently released in Australia. Out is the relentless cost-cutting and in is the goal of class-leading excellence.

Benchmarked against the Skoda Kodiaq and Hyundai Santa Fe, the monocoque SUV adopts new body-welding and weight-reduction construction techniques that Mahindra reckons substantially increases rigidity and strength for safety and driving dynamics, while dramatically decreasing noise and vibration paths.

The difference between old and new is like comparing chalk and cheese.

For instance, weight has dropped by 150kg; the MacPherson-style strut-front and multi-link independent rear suspension has had more than 500 tuning iterations before sign-off. The stability and traction control systems have been tuned for nuanced intervention; and the steering is light enough for the emerging female buyer base in India, but progressive enough for higher-speed stability and control.

Perhaps shockingly, Mahindra’s very own in-house 2.0-litre four-pot turbo petrol engine sounds just like the sort you might find in a Mercedes-Benz or BMW.

Still in the name of sophisticated engineering, aluminium suspension components with premium frequency-selective dampers are fitted, along with 75 times the amount of sealant – per car!

Plus, late last decade, Mahindra built a world-class vehicle-development and proving ground facility outside of Chennai that includes a high-speed circuit bowl, expansive on-road as well as 4x4 off-road torture testing, crash-test safety engineering and a coming electric vehicle development centre.

All inform what the XUV700 looks and behaves like.

No Australian-market data is yet available for the XUV700.

However, NZ-market ifo suggests it averages 8.3L/100km, using the same Australian Design Rule methodology we do here.

We also know the mStallion 2.0L engine is tuned to run on regular 91 RON unleaded petrol. Putting it in the 60L fuel tank means you can expect to average around 720km between refills.

There is no ANCAP crash-test rating as yet for the XUV700, but its XUV500 predecessor managed a four-star result more than 10 years ago. This one's bound to perform better.

The base model comes with six airbags (front, side and curtain items that reach right to the third row to protect outboard occupants back there), while stepping up to the AX7 Luxury introduces a knee airbag.

Other safety items include anti-lock brakes with hill-descent control, post-collision braking, brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, as well as four-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, traction control and tyre-pressure monitors.

There is no ANCAP crash-test rating as yet for the XUV700, but its XUV500 predecessor managed a four-star result more than 10 years ago. This one’s bound to perform better.

On the driver-assist tech front there's Mahindra-first AEB, as well as forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, auto high-beam and adaptive cruise control.

You'll also need the higher grade to score adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality as well as a blind-spot monitor, 360-degree surround-view camera and continuous digital video recording.

We expect the XUV700 to include two ISOFIX latches for child seats and at least two anchors for child-seat tether straps.

More safety-related information will be revealed closer to the vehicle's launch date.