Photography: Shrenith Bhandary
When the Mahindra XUV 700 broke onto the scene in 2021, it ruffled a lot of feathers with its design, powertrains, features and dynamics, besides democratising ADAS. It received minor tweaks over the years but the midlife update it has just received feels so comprehensive, you could call this one a generation change. Heck, even the name is new, as the XUV 700 is now called the XUV 7XO! A full day behind its wheel around Jaisalmer’s arrow straight roads, and then a 270km dash to Jodhpur in its uber-popular diesel automatic version gave me ample time to assess the SUV.
The biggest change visually is the new face which helps the 7XO look larger, grander and a lot more modern. The grille looks sleeker and wider now, and incorporates new matte black and dark chrome elements. DRLs have been revised too and are smaller and look classier and add to the sense of novelty along with the new grille and new bumper. The headlamp units are new as well and remind of the Scorpio-N’s, besides which the bumper integrates a set of ice cube-shaped cornering/fog lamps at the bottom. These also offer additional illumination above 80kmph along with the headlamps, but only on the high beam.
The silhouette from the sides remains unchanged, though the new 19-inch wheels on higher trims help the 7XO look different. The rear end looks identical to that of the XEV 9S, but the resemblance is not a bad thing. In fact I quite like the tail lamps as they have the same shape as before but look fresh and more appealing thanks to their redesigned elements. The tail gate is the same as before too, but we’re not complaining, and the XUV 7XO name etched across it looks nice too.
Moving to the interiors, it was just a matter of time before Mahindra borrowed cues from its born-electric XEV 9e, and the 7XO’s dashboard and two-spoke steering wheel are straight off the EV. The dashboard looks very premium thanks to its design and choice of colours and materials, especially the beige-brown hued soft touch panels. Seats and door trims look very premium thanks to their design and beige-brown dual tone colours, add to the ambience.
Unlike the XEV 9e – and thankfully – the front passenger screen has a ‘privacy’ glass panel now meaning the driver can’t see what’s playing on the screen and avoid getting distracted. The steering wheel also uses physical switches now as opposed to the haptic ones on the XEV 9e, a welcome change. The second row seat is fixed and does not slide, but the seatback can be reclined. The second row thus feels very spacious and comfortable, and you even get the same electric boss mode as the XEV 9S to move and adjust the front passenger seat. The third row is cramped and best for short journeys at best though, given the lack of kneeroom and headroom both.
As you would expect, the XUV 7XO also comes loaded with features. So, besides the three high-resolution 12.3-inch displays (standard across trims!) and electric boss mode, you get a massive panoramic sunroof, wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and what Mahindra calls the 540-degree view, essentially is 360-degree with a top-down view. The infotainment system packs in a host of apps for everything, right from YouTube and music streaming to OTT apps, online shopping and even quick commerce apps!
There’s a 1,400W, 16-speaker Harman Kardon music system with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision as well, yet another first. BYOD or Bring Your Own Device lets you mounts smartphones or iPads onto the front seatbacks and even charge them using dedicated 65W Type-C ports, and second row occupants get a dedicated wireless charger too. The XUV 7XO is equipped with what Mahindra calls the Level 2+ ADAS, with cameras that boast a higher resolution and more powerful radars for better effectivity. You get six airbags as standard and an additional knee airbag on the AX7 T trim, besides disc brakes all round, ESC, hill-hold and hill descent all as standard.
Powertrains include the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol offering 203PS and 380Nm and 2.2-litre diesel putting out 185PS and 450Nm (420Nm in the manual version) as before. We only drove the diesel automatic, which impresses with its torquey feel as the engine pulls strongly from as low as 1,400rpm, while feeling very smooth and refined. It feels effortless cruising at 100kmph or more and this is easily the best diesel engine out there right now, as far as SUVs costing below ₹ 50 lakh go. In fact once you drive it, it isn’t surprising to note that 75 percent of the XUV700’s sales came from the diesel versions! So while the petrol engine may be more powerful, it’s hard to see why someone would want it over the diesel, given how much more impressive the oil burner is in every aspect.
Its all-new suspension setup is the 7XO’s biggest highlight though. It is equipped with what Mahindra calls DaVinci dampers which have replaced the XUV700’s frequency dependent dampers but work better given their DCx piston valve technology and hydraulic bump stops. The results are astonishingly good, as the XUV 7XO offers an unbelievably good ride quality even on the worst of roads. At the same time, the suspension also lets you go fast around bends or change lanes suddenly without unsettling the SUV. The suspension also does a fantastic job of keeping the 7XO planted and stable at triple digit speeds, while the steering feels well-weighted. Effectively, the 7XO boasts the kind of ride and handling you would expect from SUVs costing twice as much. And the best bit? This new suspension is standard across variants!
Overall, Mahindra has done a stellar job of turning the XUV 700 into the 7XO, as this new version of the SUV feels far more polished and capable, and more than just builds on the strengths of the original. Mahindra has also hit the ball out of the park with the suspension, yet again, besides equipping it with more features than you will perhaps ever need. The build quality feels more premium too, while the interiors feel rich and classier than before. And with prices beginning from just ₹13.66 lakh rupees ex-showroom for the petrol and ₹14.96 lakh rupees for the diesel, the 7XO is also sure to shake up a lot of established names in the midsize SUV space. Arguably, this is one of the biggest disruptors of 2026 already!
