Mahindra’s boldly styled new medium SUV – the XUV700 – will make its local debut late in 2022. We got a quick taste of what’s to come.
Cars.co.za (and a number of other motoring publications) recently joined Mahindra South Africa at the Gerotek Testing Facility, where the Indian manufacturer showcased some new products, as well as its new brand identity. The location, located west of Pretoria, has been used extensively for the purpose of homologating vehicles… and it’s a venue we know well; we have conducted testing for numerous iterations of our #CarsAwards awards programme at Gerotek.
What is homologation? It’s a process by which a car company tests and calibrates a new vehicle to suit local conditions. It’s a regulatory requirement that, once it’s been fulfilled, permits a manufacturer or importer to distribute that model in the local market. In other words, a new vehicle does not simply roll out of a factory overseas, get loaded onto a ship and land up in a local showroom (after being offloaded at a port).
Distinctive front detailing: Sweeping LED DRLs complement lashings of chrome.
No, manufacturers/importers need to ensure that their vehicles can run on SA-grade fuel and cope with extremes in temperature, altitude, plus much more. The Mahindra XUV700 units you see here had an Indian-market specification, which means that they were fitted with some features that were particular to the subcontinent; for example, they sounded an audible warning when they achieved a triple-digit-kph speed – we’re confident that wouldn’t feature in Mzansi.
The Mahindra XUV700 is a 3-row medium SUV that should go on sale late in 2022 – it will ostensibly compete with other 7-seaters, such as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Hyundai Grand Creta and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, as well as other 5-seat offerings such as the Haval H6, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. Final specs & pricing have yet to be confirmed, but we understand that both 4×4 and 4×2 versions will be offered, in turbopetrol as well as -diesel guises.
The engines currently on offer include a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor with peak outputs of 147 kW and 380 Nm, while the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel produces 136 kW and 420 Nm (manual) or 450 Nm (automatic).
A pair of screens dominate the XUV700’s dashboard.
I think the XUV700 has a fresh and eye-catching design – C-shaped daytime running lights dominate the front-end styling. The cabin is modern, feels well-put-together and even features more than a few premium materials and finishes. There are two 10.25-inch screens perched on the dashboard, which combine into one satin-finished panel. One serves as an all-digital instrument cluster, while the other is the touchscreen of the infotainment system.
As far as its safety credentials are concerned, the XUV700 recently received a 5-star rating based on the latest Global NCAP criteria – in fact, it garnered the highest score ever awarded by the organisation, Mahindra says. Impressively, the last vehicle to receive a 5-star rating from Global NCAP was Mahindra’s XUV300.
The model’s local feature list has yet to be confirmed, but we hope that units destined for our market will get the full package of 7 airbags, automatic emergency braking, front-collision warning and driver drowsiness detection.
The XUV700 on Gerotek’s high-speed oval.
Quick Drive: XUV700
We had the chance to drive the XUV700 on Gerotek’s dynamic “mountain pass” track, as well as the high-speed oval. The unit we drove was the turbo-petrol derivative and it felt surefooted and exhibited a composed ride quality; right from the outset, you could sense that it was a product with decent levels of on-road refinement. The engine note was not too harsh/intrusive and even when called upon to perform to its peak (with 4 adults on board), the Mahindra performed willingly.
Granted, the power steering did feel a touch light, but we did not experiment with any of the XUV700’s drive modes – we simply got in and drove the vehicle. First impressions count for a lot, however, and Mahindra’s new medium SUV impressed us with the visual appeal of its cabin… It looks and feels upmarket, which represents a huge leap forward for a brand that most consumers are likely to associate with utilitarian interiors that offer little in the way of finesse.
Final thoughts
The Scorpio-N (left)and XUV700.
Along with the XUV700, we also got a look at the new Mahindra Scorpio-N (which will be launched in the Republic next year) and some kitted-out Mahindra Scorpio Karoo bakkies. The brand’s new “Twin Peaks” logo is accompanied by the brand statement of “Unleash the Explorer in You” – it communicates the Indian brand’s intentions to position its products in a more premium – yet still energetic and adventurous – space in the market.
Despite our very limited experience with the car, we were impressed with what we saw. The XUV700 is a far cry from the older-generation Mahindra products, which were all about affordability and ruggedness. It looks fresh, feels modern and may be quite capable of competing with the many models in the medium-SUV segment. Price positioning and the after-sales proposition will be critical to the 7-seater’s prospects. Expect to see it in local showrooms by the end of the year.
