After a false start Indian carmaker Mahindra has finally added the XUV700 to its Australian lineup.
The seven-seat XUV700 (pronounced as XUV, 7 double ‘Oh’) is the company’s flagship and most ambitious model to date.
As such it marks the beginning of an exciting new phase for the brand in Australia.
Mahindra says XUV700 is designed to meet the expectations of Australian consumers by offering a contemporary and sophisticated SUV experience.
It has undergone rigorous testing in various parts of the world, ensuring reliability and performance in diverse conditions.
Like many brands, however, there’s no mention of any tests being conducted in Australia, to which Mahindra says the XUV700 is perfectly suited.
At 4695mm in length, with a 2750mm wheelbase, XUV700 is a little longer than a Toyota RAV4.
It is powered by a 2.0-litre mStallion turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine that delivers 149kW at 5000 rpm and class-leading 380Nm of torque from 1750 rpm.
All versions are fitted with a conventional six-speed automatic transmission, with drive to the front wheels.
Fuel consumption is a claimed 8.3L/100km.
Suspension is independent with Mac struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, with the addition of Frequency Selective Damping.
A large sunroof is standard, while conventional door handles make way for pop-out ‘Smart door handles’ to reduce wind drag, a first for the segment.
Prominent wheel arches help to achieve a sporty stance and are said to provide a sense of movement even while the vehicle is standing still.
There’s also LED headlights with auto high beam and LED daytime running lights, along with LED arrow-tip tail lights and a high-mount LED brake light.
The cabin features two 10.25-inch displays, one for the instrument cluster and the other to take care of infotainment.
Mahindra has partnered with Sony to customise the sound experience, with a 12-speaker system for the upmarket AX7 L variant.
In terms of safety the wagon comes with seven airbags, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive cruise Control, Smart Pilot Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist.
You can also program speed alert to deliver a warning in the voice of a loved one — we kid you not.
Mahindra’s Veejay Nakra said the introduction of the XUV700 in Australia marks a significant step for the brand.
“We are thrilled to bring our global flagship SUV to the highly competitive Australian market and we strongly feel that with its exceptional combination of style, comfort, safety and performance, the XUV700 will attract a strong customer base,” he said.
“The XUV700 has been engineered to cater to global markets and given its sensational success in the Indian market, we are confident that customers in Australia too will appreciate its class-leading attributes, advanced features, modern technology, and global safety standards.”
XUV700 will be available in two variants and five colours: entry-level AX7 for $36,990 and the higher-spec AX7 L for $39,990. Both are driveaway prices.
It comes with a 7-years/150,000km warranty.
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