Mahindra & Mahindra has taken the wraps off the all-new XUV700 which according to the company marking a brand-new era for them. The SUV has been presented with both Petrol and Diesel engines and both get manual and automatic options. You also get 5 and 7-Seater options and that’s not all it will also be available in an optional All-Wheel-Drive (AWD). Mahindra has also given the SUV many convenience and safety features seen in the segment for the first time. I got a chance to drive the car at the recently inaugurated Mahindra SUV proving track on the outskirts of Chennai.
LOOKS
The XUV700 is a clear departure from the largely rugged and muscular SUVs presented by the brand till now. It looks more premium, and the company is targeting the urban buyer with this design. But having said that the car stays true to the brand’s core authentic SUV stance. The large grille is loaded with chrome and houses the new Mahindra logo which looks rather nice. The grille’s size is meant to send as much air to cool the engine. The LED headlamps with nice looking DRLs are also quite big and compliment the overall size of the vehicle very well. A first-in-segment feature on the car are the smart door handles, something only seen on luxury cars till now.
INTERIORS
The cabin of the XUV700 is loaded with features and the highlight here are the two 10.25-inch screens one of which is the touch screen infotainment system and the other one a fully digital instrument cluster. The drivers’ seat can be set electronically, there’s 2 zone climate control and you also get a premium Sony sound system. Mahindra is claiming that the panoramic sunroof on the SUV is the biggest in the segment. The XUV700 is longer the XUV500 which means that the second row is good on space, and you can also slide forward the front row seat from the second row itself. In contrast the third row is cramped for space and is best suited for children. However, both these rows get AC vents and charging points.
CONNECTIVITY
The XUV700 is a connected car in true sense with Mahindra coming up with AdrenoX which offers more than 60 connect apps and several built-in apps. It is an outcome of a global collaboration between Mahindra, Visteon, Bosch, Sony, and Amazon. Under AdrenoX, Mahindra and Amazon have teamed up to deliver India’s first vehicle with built-in Alexa functionality enabling hands-free access to entertainment, information, and vehicle controls. Alexa voice assistant supports in vehicle controls even in an offline mode.
ENGINE
The XUV700 will be available in Petrol as well as Diesel engines with new generation 6-speed Manual and Automatic Transmission options. The 2 litre turbo GDi m Stallion Petrol makes 200 PS at 5000 rpm along with 380 Nm of torque between 1750 and 3000 rpm. The 2.2 litre Common rail Turbo Diesel m Hawk is known for its better torque and is available in two tunes – a 185 PS version with 420 Nm (manual)/ 450 Nm (Automatic) and a 155 PS variant with 360 Nm (Manual Transmission). Select diesel options also come with four drive modes (Zip, Zap, Zoom) and a custom mode to alter performance as well as steering sensitivity on demand.
SAFETY
The XUV700 comes equipped with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) which includes, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Brakes using both camera and radar. This warns of a possible collision and if you don’t react the emergency system is designed to automatically apply the brakes. ADAS system also features lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, smart pilot assist, traffic sign recognition and high beam assist. The auto booster headlamp switches on automatically when the vehicle exceeds 80km/h at night. Another useful function is the personalized safety alert which alerts the driver if he/she exceeds a set speed. It can be programmed to sound out in the voice of a loved one. The XUV700 also comes with 7 airbags which includes curtain airbags (extending up to 3rd row occupants) and driver knee airbags.
PRICES
While the bookings will begin before the festive season, Mahindra has announced the prices of some 5-seater versions of the SUV. The base model is the MX Series which starts at Rs. 11.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for Petrol while the Diesel is priced at Rs. 12.49 lakh. All other variants are a part of the AX series and get the AdrenoX system. Here the AX3 is priced starting at Rs. 13.99 lakh while the corresponding AX5 will set you back by Rs. 14.99 lakh. Prices for all other variants will be revealed later.
The writer is Senior Editor at carandbike.com