Starting life as XUV500, Mahindra’s flagship monocoque SUV became XUV700 in 2021 and the naming convention was changed again in 2026. Now, it is called XUV7XO which brings it in line with Mahindra’s latest naming structure. Just like with XUV3XO, we can see a major shift in features and equipment of XUV7XO, while it is more or less the same as XUV700 where space and performance are concerned.
What has changed is experience inside the cabin and a subtle exterior redesign that brings it a fresh look. Being the best-selling mid-size SUV in the country, there was no need for this update, but Mahindra went forward and updated it, demonstrating its journey of continuous evolution. We drove XUV7XO in Jaisalmer and here is everything you need to know about it.
Mahindra XUV7XO First Drive Review
In December 2025, we drove four new vehicles at their respective national media drives without knowing their prices, putting us in a tough position to scoop up opinions and perspectives. That is not the case with Mahindra XUV7XO and we like this approach. Prices for XUV7XO start from Rs 13.66 lakh for the base AX MT and goes till Rs 24.11 lakh for top-spec AX7L Diesel 6S AT.
Yes, you read that right. XUV7XO only gets AX trim levels now and MX trims are out of the equation. This is because all the variants now come with Adrenox equipped triple 12.3-inch screens on the dashboard as standard. This is likely to be Mahindra XUV7XO’s major draw in the mid-size SUV segment which is getting more competitive in recent times.
The leaked AX9L trim is not officially introduced by Mahindra yet, which could happen in the future. As standard, Mahindra is offering coast-to-coast triple 12.3-inch setup, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Alexa built-in with ChatGPT integration, bi-LED projector LED headlights, LED DRLs, push-button start, cruise control, 75+ safety features with ESP and 6 airbags and much more.
Design & Aesthetics
Where design is concerned, XUV7XO looks familiar, but in its own unique way. From the front, Mahindra has given it a new fascia with revised headlights, LED DRL signature, grille and a sportier bumper. Fog lights and cornering lights are in the shape of cubes sticking out from the bumper and are separate from each other. There are 19-inch alloy wheels on XUV7XO with 235-section tyres.
Rear reminds us of the recently launched XEV 9S as they are almost identical, except for rear bumpers. From the outside, updates are subtle and minimal over XUV700, which is not a bad thing as XUV700 was already a handsome machine. At the media drive in Jaisalmer, we drove top-spec XUV7XO AX7L Petrol AT variant and it came with all the bells and whistles and a fully kitted out interior.
Vastly improved interiors
Speaking of interior, this is where the major change has happened with the transition from XUV700 to XUV7XO. For starters, Mahindra has chosen a new interior dual-tone theme called Lumina Chestnut which primarily gets a light Beige shade contrasted by Brown elements. As seen with our test unit, this colour combination gets easily soiled and is a difficult task to maintain it in its original lustre.
Main highlight of this new interior is the coast-to-coast triple 12.3-inch screen setup. One for central infotainment, one for driver’s instrumentation and the third one for co-driver. Buyers can also add two other screens for rear seat entertainment as XUV7XO now comes with BYOD feature which directly taps into the car’s primary UI. XUV700 used to get protrusions for under-thigh support, which is missing in XUV7XO.
2-spoke steering wheel is all new and it gets revised physical buttons to control infotainment and instrument related functions. Unlike Mahindra’s Electric Origin SUVs, the logo is not illuminated, but a 3D one. Mahindra removed the physical buttons and dials for climate control panel, which is now integrated into the touchscreen or can be operated with the media wheel. Once well acquainted, this media wheel can be quite intuitive.
Haptic touch bar for functions like hazard lights, 360-cameras and other elements is fiddly to operate and is vastly inconsistent. AC vents look more or less the same, while centre console is carried over. Co-driver door pad gets seat controls too as it is now powered. This allows Mahindra to implement electric Boss Mode feature as well. Rear AC vents are new and XUV7XO now gets a rear wireless charging pad. Ventilated rear seats are vastly appreciated and so are the rear sunshades, auto-dimming IRVM and the 540-degree cameras.
XUV7XO’s second-row seats offer similar room as XUV700 did and same is the case with third-row seats. With third-row seats up, there is enough room for a couple of backpacks, which can be expanded further by folding 3rd row seats and even 2nd row seats. A panoramic sunroof is present and Mahindra is unlocking a new level of customisation where ambient lighting is concerned where there are multiple zones which can get their own colours.
Performance and Dynamics
There’s not a lot to talk about where powertrains are concerned as they have been doing duties in XUV700 since 2021. These are tried and tested engines that the country has come to love and trust. The 2.0L Turbo Petrol engine can generate up to 200 PS of peak power and 380 Nm while 2.2L Turbo Diesel engine is capable of delivering up to 185 PS of peak power and 450 Nm of peak torque. Same 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic are on offer.
Only the Diesel engine gets AWD setup with AX7L trim priced at Rs 24.92 lakh (Ex-sh). Both these engines are potent with ample performance. These engines offer segment’s best performance metrics by a long shot, giving buyers a sense of excitement. Mahindra has worked on XUV7XO’s cabin noise insulation and has introduced outside noise compensation feature as well. Overall experience is vibe-free and refined. There’s Solar Shield glass too, which promises 7% lower inside temps.
While performance is vastly the same, ride and dynamics is one area where we can see a slight improvement as Mahindra is offering Davinci dampers with XUV7XO. This promises better damping on rough roads and better feedback on smoother roads. Body roll is still very evident, which is a common trait for a high-riding SUV. Because XUV7XO is not a sportscar, it is easily forgivable and is better suited for Indian road conditions.
Even though XUV7XO has 19-inch alloy wheels with a short tyre wall, bump absorption was quite impressive for Rajasthan’s rather small speed bumps on state highways. Braking performance was adequate too, even though a little more bite would have been appreciated. On high speeds, there is some vertical movement, but those speeds are unsafe for Indian road conditions anyways and is not recommended.
Should you buy the XUV7XO?
Mahindra has compiled a new set of ethos with XUV7XO and we appreciate the effort despite the fact that XUV700 was already India’s best-selling mid-size SUV by a long shot. We wished Mahindra had offered a choice in interior theme and implemented more physical buttons for audio and climate functions on centre console outside of the media wheel. We found that XUV7XO could have had powered tailgate and assisted bonnet struts too.
Other than that, Mahindra XUV7XO is one of the greatest deals in Indian mid-size SUV segment if we consider the overall package it offers. XUV700 is already India’s best-selling mid-size monocoque SUV and XUV7XO will bear that torch ahead and maybe even increase its already dominating market share. If you’re in the market to buy a mid-size SUV, Mahindra XUV7XO is the easiest recommendation.
