Mahindra’s new XUV700 review & pricing

We at CaravanSA are always on the lookout for new tow vehicles that enter the market, so when the invitation came in from Mahindra South Africa to join their Cape launch, we jumped at the opportunity. The Mahindra XUV700 is quite a deviation from the Karoo and Scorpio series in that it is a full blown SUV with high spec levels and priced to sell. Mahindra has enjoyed steady growth over the last few years in South Africa and their introduction into SUV segment with the XUV700 is a welcome addition to this heavily populated segment.

After driving the XUV700 for a few hours and feeling the torque and power of their 2.0 litre petrol engines, it is clear that the new Mahindra will be a capable tow vehicle and suit many of the caravan and trailer options on the market today.

There is some serious tech that has gone into the build of the XUV700 with advanced intelligence, some cutting edge technology, enough power and grunt to get you out of trouble, all coupled with a comfortable and safe driving experience. The panoramic Skyroof™ in the XUV700 offers next level visibility, be it the night sky or the glitz and glamour of the city lights.

The distinctive LED lights and flowing sequential indicators make for an impressive display day and night. The interior is spacious and the electrically adjusted driver’s seat (adjusted from the driver’s door) with memory function offer luxury and comfort with an excellent driving position.

Some serious tech has gone into the XUV700 to make your journey as safe as it is comfortable. It has a 26 cm Superscreen which highlights the infotainment system, digital cluster and a variety of first-in-segment, intuitive and advanced infotainment features. Throw in a slew of safety features such as ABS to ADAS and it’s clear that the XUV700 has a lot to offer in the SUV segment.

It’s called the SUV with 3600 vision and has four advanced wide-angle cameras that work together to give you a 3600 view of your vehicle and blind view monitoring. This feature is great for viewing things close to your vehicle or to use when parking in tight spots. Also, the cameras continuously record and store footage up to 11 hours.

The automatic 6-speed gearbox is slick and smooth getting its power from a 2.0 turbocharged engine. We found the drive to be very responsive, with more than enough power to easily overtake with requiring that extra power.

Throw in a multitude of additional safety features such as Advanced Driver Assistance, 7 airbags, Electronic Stability Profram and Driver Drowsiness Detection and you’re one step short of owning your very own UFO.

The Advanced Driver assistance Systems make the XUV700 an impenetrable fortress. With radar and a camera that detect obstacles, avoid collisions and assist the driver, there is no place as safe or exciting on the road as this.

Developed in partnership with SONY, the XUV’s immersive first-in-segment 12 speaker and 3D sound system offers incredible sound. It has dual zone automatic climate control, wireless android auto™ and Apple Carplay compatibility. Add auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, a reverse camera, electric windows, blind spot monitoring, electric park brake, adaptive cruise control, electric smart door handles and wireless charging to the mix and you have a comprehensive SUV at your fingertips. Rims and tyres are either 235/60 R18 alloys and 235/60 R17 alloys depending on the model variation. Fuel tank capacity is 60 litres.

We can’t wait to get a demo XUV700 from Mahindra South Africa to use on one of our travel features when we are visiting top resorts with a caravan in tow.