Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra has been known for making rugged and muscular SUVs but in 2021, the brand came out with the XUV700, the successor for the XUV500. It looked more modern, felt more premium, and offered features that were nowhere to be seen in its price and segment.

And today, even after four years of its arrival, it stays relevant. Mahindra updated the XUV700 each year with minor feature additions to keep it up to date, and the design aged gracefully. On January 5, 2026, Mahindra launched the first facelift for the XUV700, which is now called the XUV 7XO. 

But were those changes enough? While Mahindra was first to the party, its late coming rivals came prepared, and the competition soon became tougher. So, is the XUV700 still a good option or should you choose one of its rivals instead? We find out here.

The one thing that’s common in all Mahindra models is a muscular and aggressive look. This look is seen in the XUV700’s design, but it’s blended neatly with modern and premium elements.

The face houses LED headlamps neatly integrated in the sharp C-shaped LED DRLs. It gets a wide grille with vertical chrome inserts for contrast which have a fairly slim appearance. This creates a mean look which is further complimented by a slim black bumper.

The side design is clean with little to no creases and the flush-fitting door handles make it look even cleaner. It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels which look appropriate on this car, but the competition does offer larger 19-inch alloys. Lower variants of the XUV700 offer 17-inch alloy and steel wheels.

At the back, the aggressive look continues with a rear spoiler, sharp looking LED tail lamps, and a thicker bumper. The tail lamps are also neatly fitted into the boot door which has come cuts and sharp lines of its own.

While this design has been around for sometime, it continues to look good and never feels old or outdated. Mahindra managed to make a car that continues to look modern and the only thing I’d want to change/get the option of is a larger wheel size. Now that the XUV 7XO (XUV700 facelift) has been revealed, Mahindra has taken an evolutionary approach to its design as seen in our old vs new report. 

Mahindra offers it in 6 shades: Everest White, Midnight Black, Valyrian Silver, Stealth Black, Deep Forest, and Burnt Sienna. Deep Forest and Burnt Sienna are available in a dual-tone shade, but if you want your XUV700 to look even more aggressive, you can pick the Ebony edition which comes with the Stealth black shade, and blacked out design elements.

Design & Quality

The cabin experience of the XUV700 has always been premium and that still is the case. The same is confirmed even before you enter the cabin, as the driver's seat moves back to allow for easy entry as soon as you open the door.

The dashboard design has been kept simple and minimalistic with little curves of creases. Most of the space is taken up by the dual screen setup, the AC vents are slim, and you can spot brushed aluminium and gloss black touches here and there for contrast. The dual-tone theme of this cabin also makes the experience more airy.

The quality of materials is good, with soft-touch leatherette material on the central panel, which you'll also find on the door pads and central armrest. The steering wheel is wrapped in leatherette but the quality of its buttons could have been slightly better.

The upper panel of the dashboard is hard plastic, but it's been given a smooth finish, so it doesn't feel cheap. You still get your electric seat adjustment controls on the door panels, which are much easier to find and operate than when they are placed lower down on the side of the seats.

Piano black elements have been used on the central console, and while the layout of the AC controls is clean, their feel and finish could have been better. The dials and buttons around the gear lever also look a bit basic and may be difficult to keep scratch-free due to the piano black panel.

Front Seats

Finding your perfect driving position is easy because of the electrically adjustable seats and the tilt and telescopic steering wheel. But surprisingly, the telescopic adjustment is only offered in its top-spec AX7L trim. Driver seat height adjustment, however, is available from the base variant.

The seats are finished in white (save for the Ebony edition), so keeping them clean will be a hassle. But in terms of space and comfort, there is no issue. The front seats are wide enough to easily accommodate people of larger frames, the headroom is enough for 6-footers, underthigh support is acceptable, and the bolsters support you well. There is also good space in the footwell.

The visibility is also good. The white theme makes the cabin feel airy, the sunroof brings in a lot of light, and the big windows and windshield provides good overall visibility.

2nd Rear Seats

The XUV700 comes in both 6 and 7-seater variants, where the former gets captain seats. Getting in here might take some effort as the car is a bit tall, but once you're seated, these seats offer more comfort and support than the front seats.

The base is wide and provides good support even to people with larger frames. There's ample headroom, knee room, and footroom as well. Like all captain seats, you get dedicated armrests, but unlike in the Innova Crysta, you can't adjust it to stay at your desired height.

There’s also a boss mode option, but it’s manual, so you’ll have to make the effort of moving the seats yourself. To keep the occupants cooled, you do get AC vents, but there’s no blower control for it. 

In the 7-seater variants, you get a bench seat which offers similar space as the Creta. The headroom, legroom, and knee room is good. Underthigh support is decent, and there is just enough space for three passengers to sit without any major discomfort. The middle passenger will sit a little upright and will occasionally struggle for shoulderroom, but the space will be good for most people.

3rd Row Experience

Access to the third row is restricted to just one option, because the captain seats are wider than usual. As a result, there’s no space to jump directly to the third row. You have to get down, fold and tumble the left side seat, which is easy, and then get into the last row. But once you’re in there, it’ll be more than apparent that this row is good only for children. 

Firstly, you can’t move the second row seats and can only adjust the recline angles. Adults can be accommodated here, but they won’t be the happiest due to the lack of knee and foot room. Even the headroom will feel restricted for taller passengers, so it isn’t the ideal row to be in, especially for long-distance journeys.

For comfort, you get dedicated AC vents along with a control knob here, so third-row passengers won't have any complaints about temperature control. But they might complain about the plastics used, which feels hard and scratchy. There's no soft-touch material here, so the experience feels a bit cheap.

Storage Options

In the front row, there's space for a 1-litre bottle in the door pockets, and behind that, there's space for storing small items. Two cup holders are provided in the middle, and under the central armrest, there's a cooled storage compartment where you can keep your drinks cooled. 

The glovebox size is decent, and there's a dedicated slot in it for storing the car documents, which frees up space in the glove compartment itself. 

In the second row, you also get door pockets and a section below the AC vents for storing your phone. Seat pockets are good enough for magazines or documents, and in the 7-seater variants, there are two cup holders in the central armrest. 

In the third row, both passengers get dedicated cup holders. So the XUV700 more than just ticks the practicality quotient for all the three rows.

Charging Options

Front passengers get two USB Type-A charging ports and there's also a wireless charging pad as well. You get a Type-C port in the second row for charging and the third row passengers get a 12V socket.

Overall, the XUV700’s cabin is still premium. It looks nice and the quality is good as well. But, it is not the benchmark anymore. Its competition has caught up in terms of design and quality, and they can offer you a better feeling. But the space here is still better than most, and the quality and practicality will not disappoint.

Features

The feature list of the Mahindra XUV700 is pretty extensive and most of the features it brought when it was first launched are still considered flashy and premium. Here are some of the daily use equipment.

Apart from these, it also gets dual 10.25-inch digital displays. Not only do both the screens look good on the same bezel, the experience of operating them is good as well. The graphics are crisp, the response is good and you can even customize the display modes in the driver display. So you can set it to either be minimalistic or bombard you with information of all kinds. Yes, the touchscreen does get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Plus points for the in-built navigation, which can be displayed on the driver’s instrument cluster. You have options here too, with a partial screen or full-screen display. The deal would’ve been made even sweeter if it had Google Maps integration.

The touchscreen is paired with a 12-speaker sound system which offers a crisp and clear sound quality, even at higher volumes. In fact, it gets a 3D immersive sound mode, which gives you a proper concert-like feel. If that’s not your thing, you can turn off and use some other setting if you want.

There are 3 memory settings for the driver seats and ORVMs. This is a pretty handy feature, especially if there are multiple users in the family. The memory setting for the ORVM just makes it all the more usable.

While most of the features function as intended, here are a few things that the XUV700 could’ve done better:

There is no dedicated button to activate seat ventilation. Instead, you have to tap the small icon on the screen, which needs you to navigate with a couple of clicks when using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Not the most ideal integration, especially when driving.

The frame rate of both the 360-degree camera and blind view monitor drops and their response times are also slow. The blind view monitor feels like an afterthought and isn't very helpful at night.

The XUV700 is loaded to the gills but misses some features compared to the competition, such as powered passenger seat, ventilated captain seats, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, auto-dimming IRVM, and one-touch power windows for all passengers.

On the safety front, the XUV700 is very well equipped. The standard safety kit has dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Higher variants get up to 7 airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a rearview camera, hill hold assist, and a 360-degree camera with a blind view monitor. It also gets Level 2 ADAS systems comprising a camera and radar-based system, which have been tuned for Indian driving conditions and work well. Additionally, features like the adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist make it an even better highway cruiser. 

Besides, though these features don't feel intrusive, you can still turn them off if you want a few taps of the digital driver’s display. But there's no blind spot detection, which would have been a useful feature, especially for a car this size.

The XUV700 also has a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP.

Opening the XUV700's boot is quite easy as its tailgate isn't too heavy. However, there's no powered option here. The space is also a bit limited when the third row is up and it is good enough only for two duffle or office bags.

The good news is that you can fold the third row, which offers a 50-50 split, and they fold flat. You can easily fit a weekend’s worth of luggage and more for your family here. Mahindra has not provided an official number for the boot capacity.

The 2025 XUV700 is available with two engine options: a 2-litre turbo-petrol, and a 2.2-litre diesel. Both engines get manual and automatic transmissions, and the diesel gets the option of an all-wheel-drive setup.

2-litre Turbo-petrol

The petrol engine’s highlight is its refinement. There are no harsh vibrations or sounds, leading to a very calm experience. It is available in different tunes which will differ based on the variant and transmission you choose. Lower variants will get it in a lower stage or tune. This engine delivers power swiftly, and if you want a fun to drive experience, this is the one to pick.

City Performance

In the city, this engine offers strong acceleration and instant throttle response. This allows you to easily overtake others around you, and your drive never feels dull. However, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, this power can seem a little too much, and you have to be mindful with your accelerator inputs. 

While the manual has a light clutch and easy gear throws, which won’t cause any problems in your regular city drives, I will prefer the automatic for its smooth shifts and stress-free experience.

But this power comes with a trade off, which is low fuel efficiency. In the city, the turbo-petrol XUV700 will return 7-8kmpl, which will be heavy on your wallet.

Highway Performance

For someone who enjoys leisure drives on the highways, this engine will definitely be a good choice. The turbo-petrol feels at home on the highway, but it can also feel fun and sporty. It maintains 100-120kmph with ease and has enough power to go further still comfortably.

But when you want to overtake someone, the power is delivered instantly, and you are pushed back into the seat. Getting to high speeds quickly will never be an issue and it can easily handle inclines as well.

However, low fuel efficiency is an issue on the highway as well, because you’ll only be able to get around 12-14kmpl on the highway.

2.2-litre Diesel

The diesel engine is tried and tested, and is known for its reliability. It offers a good blend of performance and fuel efficiency, and is also the one which is paired with the all-wheel-drive setup but only with an automatic transmission.

City Performance

Driving the XUV700 diesel inside the city is easy, thanks to the abundance of torque. You can easily cruise around in second gear, and it also crawls easily in bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions. Not only this, there is more than enough power for quick overtakes, and even after being a diesel, it does not feel less refined or too loud.

But, since it is a diesel, the clutch operation can be tiresome. The weight itself isn’t much of an issue, but there is more travel than expected, which can be exhausting for long city commutes. We’d recommend the automatic here as well for quick shifts and driving convenience.

Here you get a better fuel efficiency of around 10-12kmpl inside the city

Highway Performance

On the highways, it might not be as fun to drive as the turbo-petrol, but it still packs enough power to not leave you wanting for more. The acceleration is quick enough for effortless overtakes, and the engine gradually picks up speed. Getting to triple digit speeds will not be as quick as the turbo-petrol, but you won’t find performance lacking by any measure.

If you drive a lot, and want something that gives good fuel efficiency along with good performance, pick the diesel as it will return around 15-16kmpl on the highway, and even more if you’re just cruising around.

Ride Comfort

The XUV700 never fails when it comes to ride comfort. You won't have any complaints whether it's small or big potholes and even rough roads are tackled with ease, thanks to its high ground clearance, which inspires confidence. There is some side-to-side movement, but that too is well controlled, and much of the jerks don’t get transferred into the cabin, which keeps everyone inside comfortable.

Handling

The XUV700 impresses with its handling manners as well. Firstly, its steering wheel is light, so manoeuvring it and making U-turns in the city is easy. The balance and stability on the highway is also praiseworthy, and it won't give your family any reason to complain. But yes, being such a big SUV, there is body roll that creeps in around corners, though that is totally acceptable. 

However, the steering wheel doesn't weigh up much at high speeds, so it can't be called exciting around corners, yet it still remains predictable there as well.

• The 2025 Mahindra XUV700 is available in 6 broad variants: MX, AX3, AX5 Select, AX5, AX7, and AX7 Luxury Pack.

Mahindra XUV700 MX Variant:

• The base variant gets dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX child seat anchors in its safety kit.

• Its infotainment package contains an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Android Auto, and a 7-inch driver’s display.

• Other features include electrically adjustable ORVMs, follow me home headlamps, and LED tail lamps.

• This variant gets 17-inch steel wheels with wheel covers.

Mahindra XUV700 AX3 Variant:

• Over the base variant, the AX3 offers dual 10.25-inch screens (touchscreen and digital driver’s display), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, built in Amazon Alexa.

• Other additions include a 6-speaker sound system, in-built navigation, and LED DRLs.

• This is also the entry-level automatic variant, but this variant is available only in a 5-seater layout. 

Mahindra XUV700 AX5 Select Variant:

• The mid-spec AX5 Select brings in features like a panoramic sunroof, and push button start stop.

• It is available only in a 7-seater configuration, and gets both petrol and diesel engine options.

Mahindra XUV700 AX5 Variant:

• Additions to the safety kit include curtain airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), and a rearview camera.

• Other new features include LED headlamps, sequential turn indicators (Front), and cruise control.

• This variant gets 17-inch alloy wheels.

• You can get this variant in both 5- and 7-seater configurations.

Mahindra XUV700 AX7 Variant:

• Over the AX5 variant, the AX7 gets side airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and rain sensing wipers.

• It also gets a few Level 2 ADAS features along with features like dual-zone climate control, and a 6-way powered driver seat with memory function.

• This variant also gets a more premium cabin with leatherette seat upholstery and leather padding on steering wheel and gear lever.

• You can get this variant in both 6- and 7-seater layouts.

• Size of the alloy wheels also goes from 17 to 18-inches.

Mahindra XUV700 AX7 Luxury Pack Variant:

• Gets additional ADAS features like adaptive cruise control along with a 360-degree camera, a blind view monitor, a knee airbag, and an electronic parking brake.

• Gets feel-good features like ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging, and a 12-speaker sound system.

CarDekho Recommends:

• Go for the one-above-base AX3 variant if you’re on a budget. It has a good infotainment package along with daily-use functional features. Jump to AX5 Select if you want a panoramic sunroof or space for 7 people.

• Pick the one-below-top AX7 variant if you want a feature loaded variant. Gets most of the safety and convenient features along with premium interiors. Pay extra for the AX7 Luxury Pack if you want the full feature experience.

Even today, years after its arrival, the Mahindra XUV700 manages to give its fairly new rivals a good competition. It offers good space for an entire family, keeps them comfortable in most conditions, impresses them with the feature package, and it does all of that with potent engine options.

Yes, it has become a little old, and might not be the best in all departments like cabin quality, practicality, and flashy features. But the package it brings to the table is more than enough for most buyers, and it can easily justify its place in your garage. 

Other cars to consider instead of the Mahindra XUV700

Tata Safari

Reasons to consider

• Bolder design and colour options may look more appealing

• Gets more features for captain seats (second row)

• Better infotainment package

Reasons to ignore

• No petrol option

• No all-wheel drive option

• Poor diesel engine refinement

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

• Gets more features for captain seats (second row)

Reasons to ignore

• Less powerful engines

• No all-wheel drive option

• Ride comfort isn’t as good