Mahindra XUV 7XO redefines what a family SUV can be

The fact that Mahindra XUV 7OO has sold over 300,000 units since its launch in 2021 should give you a fair idea about its popularity. In fact, every time I’ve seen one on our Indian roads, it seems like the almost perfect product out there for most families who want something that is big on tech, big on power, big enough for the family, and most importantly, big on savings. Now, with the launch of the new XUV 7XO, Mahindra has taken things a few notches higher, and I believe that, this model will also do for the company’s fortunes what the XUV 700 has done for it, over the years.

Take a look at the XUV 7XO from the outside and you’ll agree that the design language is now more evolved, especially when it comes to the front fascia which is split into two levels. That full width grille with those six vertical slats, angled in a tilted manner, forming a distinct pattern with chrome accents, give the XUV 7XO a more contemporary look along with the black lines that look striking. On both sides of the grille are the Bi-LED projector headlamps with high-beam assist along with Mahindra’s distinct C-shaped DRLs that run into the body-colored bumper. Below it, sits the mesh grille, and integrated into its design are the ice cube fog lamps, inset into a triangular brushed silver bracket that complete the look of the front fascia’s design.

On the side, the XUV 7XO gets flush door handles and cladding in piano black finish to give the SUV a more sophisticated look. And of course, it came with 19-inch alloys that sported an aerodynamic diamond-cut design in black and silver, carrying forward the design details from the front fascia.

At the rear there is a beautiful spoiler as well as a rear wiper. However, it is the manner in which the tailgate, the bumper, and the skid plate come together in such a cohesive manner, that truly speaks volumes about its design. The diamond inspired clear lens LED taillamps look sharp with the black pattern underneath it. The Mahindra logo sits in the center, between the tail lamps, and right below it, in between those beautiful crease lines, is space for the registration plate. The Mahindra badging below the right tail lamp lets you know the variant while the lettering (XUV 7XO) sits just above the bumper. Neither too big to seem tacky, nor too small for any onlooker to squint their eyes, and in what obviously is the perfect font, adding to the overall appeal of the SUV. In fact, very few car makers have been able to get this right in the last few years, and it must be said that Mahindra’s design team has nailed it. Of course, you cannot miss that spectacularly designed rear bumper with the black and silver design theme running here as well that truly completes the SUV’s modern-day look.

Step inside and you’re greeted with a dual-tone cabin in ivory and tan predominantly, with a little bit of black also thrown in for good measure. The 31.24 cm triple HD screens evidently dominate the dash which is beautifully wrapped in tan-colored faux leather. While the steering gets wrapped in black and tan faux leather, the glove box comes in a beautiful shade of ivory. These color combinations are unlike anything we’ve seen before and truth be told, it does give the cabin of the XUV 7XO a unique as well as airy feel. 

Also, the frameless IRVM adds a touch of sophistication to the cabin, while the Skyroof brings the outdoors in.

The air-con vents are well-designed especially for people with big hands and also well-set in the dashboard, just below the triple HD screens… neither too high, nor too low. There is restrained use of the piano black finish inside the cabin, and yet, the bits such as the flap on the charging pads, the two-spoke steering that houses the ergonomically designed buttons, as well as the center console that houses the gearshift, the cup holders and the mode selector, all benefit from this choice. 

As I drove around in Jaisalmer, I truly enjoyed the ventilated seats (available for both, driver and co-passenger) which were not only large, but also comfortable, and made with high-density foam. While it was slightly cold outside, I still managed to drive around for a few kms with it set to my favorite setting, just to check the cooling effect. Here, I must say that I was not disappointed. Besides, the fact that the seats came with a 6-way powered driver’s seat as well co-driver’s seat and a 4-way Boss mode made seating that much more comfortable.

I also got a chance to check out the 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Vision and Atmos (a first in India) and needless to say, it was just brilliant thanks to the 3D Surround Sound.

Besides, the fact that the XUV 7XO also gets the ADRENOX+ that is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon SA 8155P only means the occupants enjoy faster computing speeds inside.

The rear seat is also a nice place to be with dedicated air-con vents and a dedicated place to stow away your cell phone.

The third row also offers seats that can be easily taken out to make more boot space, should you require it. And check this out with the third row seats up, you still end up with 240-250 litres of boot space.

While manuals (MT) are always my preferred choice, the automatic (AT), which I drove, can be had for an additional INR 1.45 lakh and both come with a 6-speed gearbox.  Now, the XUV 7XO is available in both petrol and diesel with the 2.0-liter mStallion TGDi as well as the 2.2-liter mHawk Turbo diesel engines, which was my SUV during the drive, with 450 Nm of torque, and while I mostly drove on smooth tarmac, it must be mentioned that the SUV also came with an AWD for those difficult to negotiate terrains – yet another ‘first in segment’ feature. With various driving modes to choose from such as Zip, Zap, Zoom, and even a custom mode where you can have an even more nuanced driving experience by providing your SUV with the relevant inputs, it definitely seems like the engineers at Mahindra have gone all out in terms of loading the XUV 7XO with the latest tech out there. 

However, it must be said that the highlight of the XUV 7XO is the DAVINCI suspension system, essentially a valve-based damping technology, that put in simple English… gives the SUV a very comfortable and planted ride. In fact, my ride throughout was so good… almost comparable to a CBU from one of the German carmakers, and that is no exaggeration! All in all, the ride and the handling on the XUV 7XO was really impressive (with almost no body roll) and so was the damping which made for a really quiet cabin. Of course, the fact that we were driving on some of the best roads in the country also helped but no wind noise, no tyre noise, and no road noise filtering into the cabin definitely says a lot about the work that has gone into making this SUV so good.

In terms of safety, the XUV 7XO has been engineered for a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating and besides all the bells and whistles such as seven airbags, TPMS, drowsiness alert, and electronic parking brake with auto hold, amongst others, it also gets Level 2 ADAS with Sense+ that boast 17 ADAS functions. The SUV comes packed to the gills with advanced tech such as Digital Video Recording and ADAS Visualization. (First in segment) Besides, it also gets a 540-degree surround camera, so that you are always aware of your surroundings at all times and can be extra cautious in unfamiliar territory, if need be. 

So, if you’re in the market for something that is safe, capable, and an able performer, with lots of technology that has been cleverly delivered keeping in mind not just the driver but also the other occupants, the Mahindra XUV 7XO, is definitely an SUV that you should test drive before you put your hard-earned money down on something that may just look dazzling on a glossy brochure. This is undoubtedly the real deal and talking of deals, you can drive this one home for INR 31.95 Lakh (AT) (AWD) (on road-price, Mumbai). Frankly speaking, that is a fraction of a price that you would pay as compared to some other German SUVs that will end up costing you a pretty tidy sum.