Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra’s seven-seater SUV, the XUV 7XO, has been launched at Rs 13.66 lakh. This is the XUV700 facelift, and not an entirely new product. Changes are limited to design tweaks inside out, and a handful of new features. Are there new reasons to consider this big Mahindra now? 

Mahindra has made substantial changes to the design of the vehicle. However, the updates aren’t that drastic (check our old vs new design report) that it looks like a completely new product. It’s still easily identifiable as a Mahindra, and as a XUV700/XUV 7XO. Mahindra also retails the XEV 9S, which is basically the electric equivalent of the XUV 7XO. These two differ quite a bit in terms of design. 

The front end is the most controversial element of the XUV7XO. It will split opinions among your family members, especially if you’re viewing it online. Having spent a few days with the 7XO, I found myself growing fonder of the design. 

It’s the larger grille that makes the 7XO look even wider than before. There are interesting dark chrome elements here, along with a host of piano black surfaces that lends the face some contrast. Mahindra has also very cleanly integrated the front facing camera under the Mahindra logo here. 

The headlamps are smaller than before, but retain the now signature ‘C-shaped’ lighting elements. It now features a split (much like the XUV 3XO), dual LED projectors and swipe-style turn indicators. We’d have loved to see the turn indicators integrated within the daytime running lamp itself, rather than it being a separate element. 

Lower down, the bumper appears to be more chiselled with sharper creases. Here too, there’s intricate detailing on the airdam of the bumper and the centrally-mounted ADAS radar is camouflaged well within the design. Two triangular elements at the base of the bumper form the housing for the ‘ice cube’ fog lamps. The outer lights function as the regular foglamps, while the inner one serve the cornering function. I’ve got my concerns about an exposed lens placed so low on the car, it might just be prone to damage by debris/stones. 

Viewed from the side, the only update comes in the form of 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The XUV 7XO tyre size is 235/55 R19 for the top-spec AX7 L model. Lower models get 17-inch steel or 18-inch alloy wheels. Other details, such as the flush-fitting door handles, the chrome trim along the window line, the XL-sized mirrors and the pronounced fenders have been carried over as is from the older XUV700. 

The rear design is a copy-paste from the XEV9S. The tail lamps have a smoked out finish, a new lighting pattern and some hexagonal detailing as well. A piano black strip connects the two tail lamps and the Mahindra logo is now integrated in a much cleaner manner compared to before. The base of the boot has prominent ‘X U V 7 X O’ branding. Variant badging is tucked under the right tail lamp. Check out the intricate design elements of the XUV 7XO in our image gallery. 

A rather impractical design choice is the use of piano black trims for the wheel arch and bumper cladding. These are prone to scratches, nicks and swirl marks by dust and debris, and also due to washes. Consider protecting these surfaces with a PPF if you wish. 

In terms of colour options, Mahindra is offering the same colours as the XEV9S. This includes Everest White, Galaxy Grey, Desert Myst, Nebula Blue, Stealth Black, Midnight Black and Ruby Velvet. I really like the way the XUV 7XO looks in the Desert Myst shade, and the Ruby Velvet. Pick your favourite by checking out all the colour options in our detailed story. Do note that some shades of the XUV 7XO are not available in all variants.

Design And Quality

The interior is shared with the XEV 9e and the XEV 9S. In the XUV 7XO, Mahindra has used a tan-white-beige colour combination to give it a different feel. Compared to the XUV700, there are a few design updates that stand out. First, of course, is the triple screen layout that’s offered as standard on all variants of the XUV 7XO. 

The twin-spoke steering wheel (available in the top-spec AX7 / AX7L variants) is also new. There are other minor design changes such as the power window console (which can get a little confusing to use) and the capacitive buttons on the centre console are a bother to use on the move. 

The dashboard is wide and has a yacht-like wraparound effect. Like before, it is split into three layers. Plastic quality is hard, but the texture makes it seem rich. It’s acceptable given the price point. The bigger difference is in the mid-pad and door pads, where Mahindra has been generous with leatherette wrapping. This gives the cabin an upmarket feeling, which the older XUV700 struggled with, especially for the higher trims. This report will give you an in-depth look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO’s cabin. 

Front Seats

The doors of the XUV 7XO open up wide, making it easy to get in and out of the vehicle. Compared to smaller SUVs such as the Creta/Grand Vitara, the floor will feel raised. If elders in the family are intended to use the 7XO frequently, you could consider installing a side step as an accessory to make ingress-egress easier for them. 

It features the same wide, well-contoured seats with the 9e and 9S. The seat back is tall, ensuring even drivers above 6ft have ample support for the shoulders. The bolstering is prominent and the underthigh support is adequate. I quite like the slightly firm cushioning of the seats, it makes it more comfortable on longer drives. 

The driver’s seat features a 6-way powered adjustment and 3 memory settings. You can additionally adjust lumbar support by using the circular dial provided on the seat base. Couple this with a steering that can be adjusted for reach and rake, and you will have no troubles finding a comfortable driving position. Like most Mahindra SUVs, the default driving position is high-set. This makes it quite easy for the driver to view the full bonnet and feel confident while driving this large SUV. 

The co-driver’s seat can also be adjusted electrically. There are four buttons on the ‘shoulder’ of the seat, which allows the rear seat occupant to move the seat and change the recline angle. These buttons are called ‘boss buttons’. 

Front occupants also get a front armrest, set at a neutral height. This is very comforting over long journeys. 

Rear Seats

Second Row

With the driving seat set to my seating position (height: 6ft), I had enough space in the second row. There was a fistful of kneeroom left and ample space below the front seats to tuck in my feet. The seats have a recline function as well, making it comfortable to relax on longer drives. No issues with headroom, and underthigh support either. 

Seating three people in the second row is quite easy. There’s ample width and occupants are unlikely to be in any discomfort. The middle occupant gets a proper headrest and a three-point seatbelt as well. 

There’s a captain seat option as well, which should be considered by those wanting an SUV to be driven around in. The captain seats are just as wide and comfortable as the front seats, making them suitable for longer journeys too. 

Rear seat occupants get seat ventilation (controlled by an awkwardly placed switch on the side), privacy blinds and a central armrest. 

Third Row

Unlike the electric XEV 9S, the XUV 7XO does NOT get a sliding second row. Therefore, space in the third row is fixed. It’s best suited for children, or adults who are up to 5’8” tall. Those taller will have an issue with underthigh support as well as headroom. 

There is one-touch tumble on the co-driver’s side which makes ingress-egress easy. 

Third row occupants get their own AC vents and blower speed control. 

Storage and Practicality

The XUV 7XO is an abundantly practical SUV. All four doors have big bottle holders, and there’s space in the central area for a couple of phones and cups too. The glovebox is accommodating and there’s some more space under the front armrest. 

Rear occupants can use seatback pockets, and the cupholders in the armrest. Third row occupants get a single cupholder on each side. 

Charging Options

Front occupants get a 65W USB type-C charger, a type-A charger and a wireless phone charger. There are no 12V sockets. 

Second row occupants can charge their devices using the two 65W type-C chargers installed in the front seat backs and a wireless charger that’s placed under the rear AC vents. 

Third row occupants have access to a 12V socket placed on the driver’s side. This can also be used to power a car fridge or other such accessories when out on a roadtrip. 

Boot Space

Use the XUV 7XO as a seven-seater and you have practically no boot space left. There’s space for a couple of small backpacks at best. The third row gets a 50:50 split, whereas the second row features a 60:40 split. If you use the XUV 7XO as a 5- or 4-seater, there’s more than enough space in the boot for a full weekend’s worth of luggage for all occupants. You can comfortably fit in 4-5 trolley bags and have space to spare.

Features

The XUV 7XO is a feature-loaded SUV. 

Here’s a quick look at the basics

• Keyless Entry

• Push-button Start/Stop

• Automatic Headlamps

• Automatic Wipers

• Auto-dimming IRVM

• Dual-zone Climate Control

• Front Seat Ventilation

• 6-way powered Driver’s Seat (with three memory settings)

• Powered Co-driver’s Seat (with Boss mode)

With that out of the way, let’s focus on the highlights:

12.3-inch Digital Driver’s Display: Large display, crisp user interface, but limited customisation options. Lags a little when you toggle between menus. Shows feed from the side camera when you indicate. 

12.3-inch Touchscreen: Feels quicker to respond compared to the older 10.25-inch screen. Features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Easy to operate and get used to. 

12.3-inch Co-Driver’s Display: Access a wide selection of apps for OTT (JioHotstar, Prime), shopping (Nykaa, Myntra) and grocery (Swiggy/Zomato) among others for news and videos. There’s a ‘privacy filter’ of sorts too, which means the driver cannot see the content of this screen while driving.

Front Seat Ventilation: Gets three fan speed settings. Blower might feel noisy at highest fan speed. Helpful to cool your back down on a sunny day! 

Rear Seat Ventilation: Available only on the outboard seats. Controlled via a button placed on the seat base. Just as effective as the front seat ventilation system. 

16-speaker Harman Kardon Audio System: Has DolbyAtmos integration. Brilliantly tuned to deliver an immersive sound experience for a variety of music genres. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Front seats have individual mounting points for tablets. Using an app, you can sync these screens with the touchscreens up ahead, allowing you to watch same content across screens. 

540° Camera: Crisp video quality, even in low light conditions. There are 2D and 3D views that prove to be handy in tight parking spaces and navigating narrow lanes. It also let’s you view what’s underneath the vehicle which is helpful while going on broken/off road(s). 

GrooveMe: A feature earlier limited to Mahindra electric SUVs, this feature syncs the car’s exterior/interior lights to the music being played. Cool party trick for a…party!

Standard safety features on the 7XO include:

• 6 Airbags

• Electronic Stability Program

• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts

• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

Mahindra has updated the front ADAS camera to 8 megapixels, for better clarity and accuracy. Similarly, the radars are now more powerful compared to the XUV700, which makes ADAS more dependable.

Features such as the auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist have been tuned well for Indian driving conditions.

Engine Options And Performance

With the facelift, the Mahindra XUV 7XO has lost the less-powerful diesel engine that was previously offered in the lower variants, but still continues to offer two engine options: a 2-litre turbo-petrol, and a 2.2-litre diesel (check out which variant gets which powertrain). Both engines get manual and automatic transmissions, and the diesel gets the option of an all-wheel-drive setup.

2-litre turbo-petrol

This engine’s refinement is so superior that it is tough to make out whether the engine is even running or not. Performance is smooth for city drives and plenty for highway overtakes, even with a full load.

City Performance

Driving the petrol 7XO in the city feels like a calm and refined experience. The throttle is smooth and even the manual transmission won’t cause any problems in your regular city drives with a light clutch weight. 

The automatic transmission can be opted if you foresee a lot of bumper-to-bumper driving. It is super smooth and won’t give you a reason to complain about.

The only drawback of this petrol engine is its poor fuel efficiency. You can expect a figure of around 7-8kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

The petrol XUV 7XO reaches triple digit speeds with ease, and cruises at speeds of 100-120kmph comfortably. Overtakes also don’t take any planning, there’s enough performance when you want it.

In the event of a quick overtake while cruising, the gearbox isn’t particularly quick, but still is smooth while dropping a gear or two to help you make that overtakes easier. Mahindra could’ve offered paddle shifters for more control, but it is not something that you will miss for most of the situations.

You can expect slightly better fuel efficiency of around 9-11kmpl on the highway.

2-litre diesel

This diesel engine is a reliable workhorse and offers a good blend of performance and fuel efficiency. It is also your only option if you want an all-wheel drive setup with the Mahindra XUV 7XO.

City Performance

The 7XO’s diesel engine’s noise can be felt ever so slightly inside the cabin, but it isn’t something that would ever bother you. There’s plenty of torque in the lower range of the RPM, so you don’t ever need to engine for an overtake. In fact, you can easily cruise around in second gear without shifting down even when crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions.

With the manual, while you won’t have to shift as often and the weight of the clutch isn’t an issue, the motion of travel is longer than expected. This can get tiring in specific situations, so we’d recommend the automatic driving convenience.

With the diesel, you can expect a fuel efficiency of around10-12kmpl inside the city

Highway Performance

This diesel engine makes the 7XO an effortless highway cruiser. It is not as quick as the turbo-petrol engine, but has plenty of torque to pull the car to triple digit speeds, and still have enough punch for an overtake.

If you’re going to be doing a lot of highway driving, then you can opt for the manual transmission primarily for its better fuel efficiency. But if your usage is going to be a mix, the automatic’s tuning is smooth and quick enough for any overtakes.

On the highway, the diesel will return a much better fuel efficiency of around 13-15kmpl.

Ride Quality

Despite riding on bigger 19-inch alloys (700 had 18-inch alloys), the ride quality of the 7XO has only improved. The XUV 700 already offered superb ride comfort to begin with, but with new and clever suspension components of the 7XO, that aspect has only progressed for the better.

The suspension works silently, and irrespective of the surface you drive it on – potholes, speed breakers, sharp ditches, or undulations – passengers inside will always be comfortable. Side to side movement is well controlled and it feels as stable at high speeds as it does comfortable at slow speeds in the city.

Handling

The XUV 7XO handles quite well for a large SUV. Driving it in the city doesn’t feel overwhelming, thanks to a light steering wheel. But you make a fast lane change at higher speeds or throw it around a corner, and the car feels safe and maintains its composure.

Mahindra is offering the new XUV 7XO in 6 variants: AX, AX3, AX5, AX7, AX7T and AX7L.

Only the AX7 trim gets the 6-seater configuration. All-wheel drive is only available in the 7-seater versions of the AX7 Tech and AX7 Luxury variants.

XUV 7XO AX

• The exterior features Bi-LED projector headlights, 17-inch steel wheels with covers, shark fin antenna, flush door handles, roof rails and LED tail lights. Take a closer look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX in 10 images. 

• Sorted functional package includes, cruise control, rear AC vents, electrically adjustable ORVMs, and push button start/stop.

• Gets front and rear central armrest, co-driver sun visor with mirror, and 6-way manual driver seat adjustment.

• Triple-screen setup is standard. Includes 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, a 12.3-inch infotainment with wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay and 12.3-passenger display.

• 6 airbags, electronic stability program, hill hold control and ISOFIX mounts are standard safety equipment.

XUV 7XO AX3

• No visual changes over base variant.

• Adds auto-folding ORVMs to the feature package.

• Improved safety kit with rear view camera, rear wiper and washer, and rear demister.

• This image gallery will give you a closer perspective on how the XUV 7XO AX3 looks like. 

XUV 7XO AX5

• Exterior gets a different design and colour for the wheel covers (check out our detailed image gallery of the AX5 here).

• Improved functionality with telescopic steering adjustment, map reading lamps, and proximity lock/unlock feature.

• Panoramic sunroof adds airy feels to the cabin.

• Front parking sensors are the only addition to the safety kit.

XUV 7XO AX7

• Premium exterior look with 18-inch alloy wheels.

• Richer cabin experience with 2-spoke steering wheel, leatherette seats, steering, gear lever and front armrest (with slide).

• Top feature additions include 6-way powered driver seat with memory function, air purifier, dual-zone climate control, and auto headlights and rain sensing wipers.

• Feel-good additions include 540-degree camera, BYOD (device mount), digital video recording, auto-dipping ORVM with memory function, and welcome and retract driver seat.

• Improved safety kit gets blind view monitor, and tyre pressure monitoring system.

• This story will give you a thorough look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 variant in 10 images. 

XUV 7XO AX7 Tech

• Adds LED fog lights with cornering function, sequential turn indicators and headlamp booster.

• Entry-level 6-seater (captain seats) variant.

• Top comfort additions include ventilated front seats, frameless auto IRVM, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, wireless phone charger and passive keyless entry. Want to know more about this variant, click here.

• Better safety kit with 7 airbags (knee airbag), electronic parking brake, and Level-2 autonomous driving assistance features (ADAS) like adaptive cruise control (AT only) and driver drowsiness detection..

XUV 7XO AX7L

• Bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, multi-zone ambient lighting and front and rear leatherette door trims add to the premium feel.

• Fancy taking a closer look at the XUV 7XO AX7 L? Tap this link.

• Improved second row experience with rear ventilated seats, 6-way powered co-driver seat with boss mode, retractable rear sun shades, and rear wireless phone charging.

• Improved safety kit with 7 airbags, electronic parking brake and Level-2 ADAS features like adaptive cruise control.

• How much of an upgrade is the AX7L over the base model? Our Base vs Top story gives you all the answers. 

CarDekho Recommends:

• The base variant covers not just the absolute basics but also a few feel-good features like the LED lighting setup and triple-screen layout. If you’re on a tight budget, the base variant is a great no-compromise budget option.

• Premium for the AX3 seems high, but can be considered if you wanted an automatic transmission.

• AX7 Luxury offers the best rear seat experience and can be considered if you want the best possible chauffeur driven experience with the 7XO. Otherwise, AX7 Tech is competitively priced too with a lot of premium features.

• A detailed read about the variant-wise features breakup can be found in this report. 

With the XUV 7XO facelift, Mahindra has only improved the formula that made the XUV700 such a popular family SUV while keeping the core characteristics of the SUV strong. It continues to be a premium offering with multiple powertrain options, including an all-wheel drive option, but now does so with more suave, comfort features and safety technology. If you’re in the market for a 6- or 7-seater family SUV, the Mahindra XUV 7XO should definitely be amongst your top options.

Other cars to consider

Tata Safari

Reasons to consider

• Bolder design and colour options may look more appealing

Reasons to ignore

• No all-wheel drive option

• Poor diesel engine refinement

Confused about which one to bring home? Our detailed Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari comparison report should help you make an informed decision. 

Jeep Compass

Reasons to consider

• Solid build quality

• Feels more enthusiast-oriented

Reasons to ignore

• No petrol option

• No third row seats

• Feels less family oriented

Hyundai Alcazar

Reasons to consider

• More affordable

Reasons to ignore

• Less powerful engines

• No all-wheel drive option

• Ride comfort isn’t as good 

MG Hector / MG Hector Plus

Reasons To Consider

• Significantly cheaper
• Option of a 5-seater configuration

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as feature-loaded
• No 6-seater captain seat variant
• No diesel engine or all-wheel drive option

Check out our comparison of the Mahindra XUV 7XO and MG Hector Plus to see which one you should bring home.