Mahindra’s XUV 7XO facelift promises XUV700 upgrades at Rs 13.66 lakh, packing triple screens and ADAS, but I test-drove it yesterday on Jalna’s highways and spotted cracks in the hype. Does this feature bombast deliver the X factor over rivals, or just confuse with screen overload?
The Disappointment
I punched the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol (203hp, 380Nm)—blasted to 100kmph in under 10s, but HVAC tweaks demand screen-diving eyes, frustrating in bumper-to-bumper Shirdi traffic. Third row crams my 5’8″ frame knees-up, hair brushing roof—adults nope, kids only for short hops; rivals like Alcazar stretch better. Window switches push forward to lower—counterintuitive glitch mid-overtake.
No paddleshifters on petrol AT, diesel manual gears feel short despite 450Nm grunt, and infotainment UI lags on swipes despite three 12.3-inch screens. Third row upright kills middle legroom sans slide, boot shrinks to 60L occupied—family hauls suffer. DaVinci dampers plush low-speed, but 19-inch wheels thud over Jalna potholes without bump stops fully masking.
The Surprising Truth
Twist hit on highways: Level 2 ADAS nailed lane-keep, adaptive cruise dodged cattle flawlessly—3.7x camera resolution shines in dust. Diesel (185hp/450Nm) Zoom mode shoves like a truck, refined to whisper; petrol revs sweetly to 5800rpm. Ride elevates with Tenneco DaVinci dampers and hydraulic stops—composes at 140kmph waves, body flat in bends despite SUV roll.
Interior premiumizes: ventilated powered seats front/middle (boss mode on top), tan dash soft-touch, 16-speaker Harman Kardon thumps post-EQ tweak. 540-degree camera reveals underbelly off-road, panoramic sunroof from AX5 floods light. Electric steering weighs perfectly, four-disc brakes haul strong. Rivals table:
Undercuts Safari on price/tech, trumps Creta space/features.
India-Specific Impact
Delhi base ex Rs 13.66L, Mumbai on-road Rs 16.4L (RTO/ins), Pune Rs 16.38-18L greener taxes, Bangalore Rs 18L+ highest. Top AX7L diesel AWD AT Rs 24.92L ex—Mumbai on-road Rs 29L, save Rs 1L in Jalna low-reg. Diesel 75% sales suits Rs 90/L fuel; 17kmpl ARAI (real 14-15kmpl highway) saves Rs 1L/year vs petrol Creta (21kmpl claimed).
Mahindra’s 500+ Maharashtra dealers service fast; resale 85% after 2 years beats Hyundai. AWD diesel tackles monsoon ghats to Ellora, 19-inch alloys grip Pune bends. Vs Scorpio N (Rs 14L), XUV wins ADAS/sunroof; city data: Mumbai floods test 200mm clearance, Delhi highways love ACC.
Rushi’s Verdict
I drove the Mahindra XUV 7XO yesterday across Maharashtra, and its punchy mills, plush ride, ADAS wizardry thrill—but third-row squeeze and screen fiddles frustrate families/tech-haters. Rs 13.66L steals value over Creta; book diesel AT for highways. X factor? Mostly yes, 8.5/10—Mahindra dominates 2026.
FAQ
Mahindra XUV 7XO price in India?
Rs 13.66-24.92 lakh ex-showroom; on-road Rs 16-29L by city.
Powertrains and mileage?
2.0 TGDi petrol 203hp/380Nm, 2.2 diesel 185hp/450Nm; 15-17kmpl ARAI.
Key features?
Triple 12.3″ screens, Level 2 ADAS, ventilated seats, 540-cam, Harman audio.
Rivals?
Hyundai Creta, Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, Jeep Meridian.
Test drive the X—your upgrade awaits.
