The Mahindra XUV700, which is expected to arrive in Mzansi in the 1st quarter of 2022, has gone on sale in its home market and the newcomer’s specs offer a variety of insights into what the Indian family car is likely to bring to the local market next year…

The all-new XUV700 was revealed in India in August as a replacement for the XUV500 and it’s the first model to feature Mahindra’s new “Twin Peaks” corporate logo.

Apart from the fact that the newcomer is 110-mm longer (4 965 mm), courtesy of a wheelbase that has been stretched by 50 mm (to 2 750 mm), the principal reason that Mahindra chose not to replace the XUV500 with a similarly-named model is that the Indian brand plans to resurrect the outgoing nameplate in 2024, when a new offering will be rolled out to rival the popular Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Toyota Corolla Cross and the like.

That being said, the XUV700 has the same width as the XUV500 and is, in actual fact, 30 mm lower than its sibling, but, on balance, it offers notably more occupant space.

Upmarket push

Although the XUV700’s exterior proportions and overall design execution are clearly evolutions of the XUV500, Mahindra has certainly added a number of luxurious adornments to distinguish its newcomer. Although the new range is quite diverse, which means it ranges from moderately-specced 5-seater- to lavishly-equipped 7-seater derivatives, top-spec variants have LED headlamps (with DRLs) and tail-light clusters, diamond-cut alloy wheels up to 18-inch in size and panoramic sunroofs.

Inside, the big talking point is the Mahindra’s dual (10.25-inch) screens – one for the digital instrument cluster and the other for the infotainment touch panel, the latter of which is not only compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it comes with built-in Alexa (the virtual assistant technology developed by Amazon), plus it supports the subscription-based AndrenoX app, which allows users to operate certain functions (including the car’s headlamps, climate control, sunroof etc) via a smartphone app.

Other high-end features include leather trim (including for the multifunction steering wheel and transmission lever), dual-zone climate control and air purifier, automatically activated lights and -wipers, driver-drowsiness detection, plus a 6-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with comfort access. The optional Luxury pack adds, inter alia, aSony 3D surround-sound audio system(with 12 speakers and a subwoofer), a 360-degree camera system (including a blind-spot monitor), electrically deployable door handles, a wireless charging pad, keyless entry and an electronic parking brake.

As far as practicality is concerned, Mahindra has not released claimed load capacities (we’d assume the 5-seater version would be more popular in our market), but we know the new model features USB ports and centre armrests for the front- and 2nd rows, bottle holders in all doors, 1-touch tumble entry for the 60:40-split middle row and flat-folding 50:50-split rear seats, which can also recline and have a separate AC outlet.

Advanced Driver Assistance

The XUV700’s safety kit is comprehensive too. In its ultimate guise, Mahindra’s newcomer comes with ABS with EBD, ESP, 7 airbags (dual front, side, curtain and driver’s knee) and auto high-beam assist (with boosted illumination over 80 kph).

The top-spec (AX7) derivatives additionally feature the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems package, which incorporates forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and -keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, as well as adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go function on Luxury pack).

Smart Pilot Assist, meanwhile, can automatically make steering, acceleration and braking inputs to keep the XUV700 tracking within the lane that it’s travelling.

The Mahindra is powered by a 2.0-litre mStallion turbopetrol or a 2.2-litre mHawk turbodiesel 4-cylinder engine mated with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or 6-speed automatic transmission.

The turbopetrol produces peak outputs of 147 kW and 380 Nm, while the turbodiesel comes in 2 stages of tune: it either produces 114 kW/360 Nm in combination with the manual gearbox or a punchy 136 kW and 420 Nm (manual) or 450 Nm (automatic) of torque. The diesel engine additionally comes in conjunction with 4 drive modes – Zip, Zap, Zoom and Custom – that offer various powertrain and power-steering settings.

Competitively priced in India

Here’s where things get rather interesting… Given that the spacious, more advanced XUV700 is now positioned to take on the market’s much-vaunted family cars, such as the Kia Sportage, Haval H6,Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Peugeot 3008, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan, Autocar India reports that that the prices of the newcomer’s lower-end derivatives overlap with those of higher-end Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos compact family cars.

All of which suggests that with the increasing number of traditional family-car buyers that are forced to buy down because of the increasing sophistication (and, therefore, higher asking prices) of medium-sized crossovers, the XUV700 could prove to be a more affordable – yet still sufficiently spacious – alternative to mainstream offerings.

We’ll keep you posted on developments regarding the anticipated local arrival of the Mahindra XUV700. Watch this space!

Related content:

Mahindra Scorpio S11 Adventure (2021) Specs & Price

Mahindra PikUp video review

Facelifted Mahindra TUV specs and price