Mahindra XUV 7XO pros and cons explained

The Mahindra XUV 7XO has hit the market as the Indian carmaker’s flagship ICE-powered SUV, priced from Rs 13.66 lakh to 24.92 lakh (ex-showroom). Essentially a rebranded XUV700 facelift, the XUV 7XO brings forth numerous styling updates, interior enhancements and a few upgrades under the skin. Should you bring an XUV 7XO home, though? Let’s delve into the XUV 7XO’s advantages and drawbacks to find out.

Punchy powertrains

Petrol and diesel engines on offer

Under the hood, the XUV 7XO carries over the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engine options – along with their respective transmissions – from the XUV700. As noted in our XUV 7XO review, both engines are strong performers, especially in the lower bounds of the rev range, and overall refinement is great, too.

Both engines can be specced with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which shifts smoothly and intuitively, though paddle shifters are still missing. There’s also a 6-speed manual on offer, which has a light clutch and is geared slightly shorter to aid with city driving.

Excellent ride quality

Courtesy of new dampers

The key upgrade to the XUV 7XO’s suspension is what Mahindra dubs ‘DaVinci dampers’. These replace the XUV700’s frequency selective dampers and effectively do a more precise and fine-tuned job of absorbing bumps and undulations.

Mahindra’s claims hold up in practice, as the XUV 7XO’s low-speed ride quality is noticeably plusher than that of the XUV700, despite the former’s wheels being an inch larger in diameter (19 inches). High-speed stability is similarly impressive, and around sweeping bends, the XUV 7XO corners flat and smooth. Sharper corners do give rise to some body roll, but nothing beyond what you’d expect from a hefty SUV.

Packed with features

Triple-screen setup, 540-degree camera, panoramic sunroof, and more

On the features front, the XUV 7XO notably includes triple 12.3-inch screens spanning the dashboard’s length, ventilated front seats, ventilated captain seats (6-seat variants only), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, Level 2 ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, touch-based centre console panel, a 540-degree camera (360 degrees with top-down view), 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with Dolby Atmos, a wireless charging pad, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold.

Cons

Limited space in third row

Best suited for children

Though occupants will find little to complain about in the XUV 7XO’s first and second rows, the third row is unfortunately not all that comfortable for adults. The second-row seatback can feel a bit too upright in the third row, taller passengers may find the headroom insufficient, and the seating position is knees-up, too.

Ergonomic issues

Several physical controls binned in higher variants

The XUV 7XO’s enhanced tech brings with it some ergonomic niggles, such as the integration of HVAC controls in the central infotainment touchscreen, which may require the driver to take their eyes off the road. Moreover, the infotainment UI is confusing and takes some getting used to. Similarly, the touch-based controls on the centre console (mid- and top-spec variants only) can be inconsistent to operate at times.

There’s a privacy filter on the far-left passenger display, which is a welcome addition to reduce driver distraction, though it becomes ineffective at night. Lastly, the window switches have to be pushed forward to lower the window and pulled to raise it, which can feel counterintuitive to some.