What to expect from the Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra has begun the teaser campaign for its refreshed flagship ICE SUV, the XUV 7XO. Essentially the Mahindra XUV700, the XUV 7XO will debut on January 5, and prices will be revealed shortly after. So without digressing further, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Mahindra XUV 7XO.

1. What is the expected Mahindra XUV 7XO price?

XUV 7XO price range is expected to be Rs 14 lakh-25 lakh, ex-showroom.

The outgoing XUV700 is priced between Rs 13.66 lakh and Rs 23.71 lakh. Accounting for the premium for a new model and the yearly price hikes driven by inflation and rising input costs for carmakers, we expect prices for the XUV 7XO to be in the Rs 14 lakh-25 lakh region.

2. What engine and gearbox options will the Mahindra XUV 7XO have?

2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine options will be retained from the XUV700.

The XUV 7XO will have the same four powertrain options as the XUV700. Mahindra’s current ICE flagship SUV has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine making 200hp and 380Nm of torque, available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The XUV700 is also offered with a 2.2-litre diesel engine that produces up to 185hp and 450Nm of torque and has the same gearbox options. The XUV 7XO diesel will likely have an AWD option, just like the outgoing XUV700.

3. What will the Mahindra XUV 7XO exterior look like?

XUV700’s silhouette to be retained, but design elements from XEV 9S and 9e are expected.

From the first XUV 7XO teaser images and spy shots of the test mule, we can see that the XUV 7XO will have the same overall silhouette as its predecessor and, incidentally, the XEV 9S EV as well. The camouflaged XUV 7XO spied on test displayed negligible sheet metal changes, though there are seeming tweaks to the plastic parts – the grille appeared to have larger air inlets, and the headlights seemed to have a pod-like design.

The teaser images confirmed that the light units at the front, including the C-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs), and the rear are reminiscent of the XEV 9S. They also confirmed that the grille has a new version of Mahindra’s iconic slatted design. Among the other design changes expected are reshaped front and rear bumpers and a new alloy-wheel design.

4. What will the Mahindra XUV 7XO interior be like?

6-seat and 7-seat configurations and a three-screen setup are expected.

Not many details of the XUV 7XO’s interior or feature list are known yet. However, we expect that the cabin will feature a three-screen setup – a digital driver’s display along with central and passenger side touchscreens, all measuring 12.3 inches – seen on the XEV 9S and 9e EVs. A majority of the feature list and safety kit are also expected to be shared between the ICE and EV flagships. 

Speaking of safety, the top variants of the XUV 7XO will get a Level 2 ADAS suite, and while there is no word on a Bharat NCAP safety rating, all Mahindra models tested by BNCAP have a 5-star rating. Although it is yet uncertain whether the XUV 7XO will be offered in a 5-seat configuration – like its predecessor was until May 2025 – the SUV will have 6-seat and 7-seat options.  

5. What are the Mahindra XUV 7XO rivals?

Hyundai Alcazar, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are its three-row SUV competitors. 

Like the current XUV700, the XUV 7XO will rival the Hyundai Alcazar (Rs 14.47 lakh-21.10 lakh), the Tata Safari (Rs 14.66 lakh-25.96 lakh) and the three-row MG Hector Plus (Rs 16.05 lakh-21.34 lakh). 

6. Why choose the XUV 7XO name for the Mahindra XUV700 facelift?

XUV 7XO is the second Mahindra SUV to get the new name format after the XUV 3XO.

Mahindra applied for a series of trademarks early in 2024, the first of which came into public use on the XUV300 facelift – the refreshed compact SUV launched as the XUV 3XO. The three other trademarks were for the XUV 1XO, XUV 5XO and XUV 7XO nameplates. It remains to be seen if the other two come into use on a future Mahindra SUV.

All prices are ex-showroom, India.