Mahindra XUV 7XO review, first drive: Possibly the most premium SUV you can buy under Rs 30 lakh in India

• Mahindra XUV 7XO is a premium SUV with tech upgrades and improved comfort
• Triple 12.3-inch screens, Level-2 ADAS and DAVINCI suspension boost experience
• Starting at Rs 13.66 lakh and rivals Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar and MG Hector Plus

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Mahindra has been doing fairly good work with its SUV line-up over the last few years. If you want a compact SUV that is loaded with tech, there is the XUV 3XO. For rural markets and rough usage, the Bolero range is still going strong. If off-roading is your thing, there is the Thar and now even the Thar Roxx. Buyers who want something big and with serious road presence usually look at the Scorpio-N. And on the electric vehicle (EV) side too, the company is clearly lining things up with models like the BE 6, XEV 9e and XEV 9S.

With the XUV 7XO, Mahindra has taken a slightly different approach. This is the company's most premium internal combustion engine (ICE) SUV so far, and it is clear that the company wants to push it further up the ladder.

The XUV 7XO is not an all-new SUV. It is a heavily updated version of the XUV700. And that is understandable, because the XUV700 has been a big success story for Mahindra since its launch in 2021, with sales crossing 3 lakh units. There was really no reason to throw everything away and start from scratch. Instead, Mahindra seems to have focussed on fixing and improving the areas that mattered the most.

From the changes, it is not very hard to see what Mahindra is aiming to do with the XUV 7XO. Increase the sense of premiumness, add more technology across the range, and work on comfort through mechanical changes rather than just visual updates. Unlike many facelifts that depend mainly on styling tweaks, the XUV 7XO leans a lot more on technology and suspension upgrades.

We recently drove the XUV 7XO. The drive was short, but long enough to get a decent idea of what Mahindra is looking to achieve with this SUV. These are our first impressions.

Mahindra XUV 7XO: Design and cabin

From the outside, the XUV 7XO looks familiar. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. The proportions are similar to the XUV700, but there are enough changes to tell the two apart. The new grille with vertical chrome elements stands out, and the updated bi-LED projector headlamps with DRLs give the front a sharper look. The redesigned 19-inch alloy wheels also add a bit more visual presence.

At the rear, the SUV gets a new set of LED taillamps. They are not connected and, honestly, it is refreshing to finally see an SUV without a connected light bar. Overall, the stance remains largely the same. The XUV 7XO does look fresher, but this is clearly more of an evolution than a radical redesign.

Step inside and the changes are much more obvious. The dual-tone beige and chestnut brown interior makes the cabin feel airy, and the quality of materials has gone up. There is plenty of soft-touch material across the dashboard and door panels, and you notice it straight away.

The biggest talking point inside the cabin is the coast-to-coast triple-screen layout, now offered across variants. It completely changes how the dashboard looks and instantly makes the cabin feel more modern and tech-heavy.

Seat comfort is one area where the XUV 7XO does well. The seats feel plush and comfortable, and you feel that the moment you sit down. Over longer drives, the cushioning works well. That said, taller occupants, especially those over six feet, may find the under-thigh support lacking a bit.

The second row offers good space, whether you go for the six-seater or the seven-seater version. The third row, however, is best left for kids or shorter adults. Fully grown passengers will feel cramped on longer journeys.

Features like powered front seats (memory function for driver), ventilated seats for both front and second rows and the panoramic sunroof all add to the premium feel. The new two-spoke steering wheel gets tilt and telescopic adjustment and feels nice enough to hold.

Mahindra XUV 7XO: Tech, ADAS and safety

If there is one area where the XUV 7XO really tries to make a statement, it is technology. The coast-to-coast triple-screen (12.3-inch each) setup dominates the cabin and immediately lifts the sense of premiumness. There has been some talk about the co-driver screen being distracting, but honestly, that was not an issue for us during the drive.

The central infotainment screen and the co-driver display are both quick to respond and easy to use. Screen quality across all three displays is very good.

The XUV 7XO also comes with a 540-degree camera setup with digital video recording. The camera feed is clear and sharp, and it is genuinely useful in tight parking spots and narrow lanes. It is easily on par with what you see in Korean rivals.

Audio duties are handled by a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. The sound experience feels immersive and adds to the overall upmarket vibe inside the cabin.

ADAS is another big focus area on the XUV 7XO. It gets Level-2 suite with Sense+, offering 17 driver assistance functions along with ADAS visualisation. Mahindra has also worked on the hardware side, upgrading both radar range and camera quality. Radar sensing range has gone up from 180 metres to 250 metres, the field of vision is wider by around 20% and the camera itself has been upgraded from 1.7 megapixels to 8 megapixels. In use, the system works quite well on roads with clear lane markings and does add to the overall safety quotient of the vehicle. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that auto emergency braking needs to be enabled for adaptive cruise control to work.

All that said, usability could have been better in a few areas. The XUV 7XO depends heavily on the central touchscreen for many core functions. The entire climate control system, including front seat ventilation, is operated through the touchscreen. While second-row passengers get physical buttons for seat ventilation, front occupants do not, which feels like a miss.

Below the central air-con vents is a glossy touch panel that houses controls for hazard lights, the 540-degree camera and drive modes, among others. It looks premium, but it is not the easiest to use initially. Some physical buttons here would have helped.

Mahindra XUV 7XO review: Powertrains, ride and handling

Engine options remain unchanged. The XUV 7XO continues with the 2.0-litre mStallion TGDi petrol engine producing 200hp and 380Nm, and the 2.2-litre mHawk diesel motor with outputs of up to 182hp and 420Nm or 450Nm, depending on the variant. Both engines are offered with six-speed manual and six-speed torque-converter automatic gearboxes. An all-wheel-drive option continues on select diesel variants.

We drove the diesel automatic. The engine feels refined and strong, with plenty of low-end torque, which makes city driving easy. Power comes in smoothly, and the SUV never feels strained in everyday use, including on the highway when you push it. The gearbox works well with the engine, delivering clean and relaxed shifts. There are three drive modes on offer -- Zip, Zap and Zoom. Zip is for relaxed driving, Zoom sharpens things up when you want to push a bit, and Zap sits somewhere in between. You can feel the character of the SUV change as you switch between these modes.

The biggest mechanical update on the XUV 7XO is the introduction of Mahindra's new DAVINCI suspension system, paired with a front McPherson strut and multi-link rear independent suspension with frequency-selective damping. And this is where you feel a clear difference.

Ride quality is better than before. The SUV absorbs sharp edges and broken patches well, and you do not get that hard thud coming into the cabin at low speeds. Even over long undulations, the car feels composed. Importantly, rebound control is well judged. There is hardly any secondary bounce, and the vehicle settles quickly after bigger inputs.

The steering responds well and feels nicely weighted, especially at higher speeds. That weight gives the driver confidence on the highway. Quick lane changes feel controlled, and body roll is well under check for an SUV of this size. Despite how quickly it can build speed, the XUV 7XO feels stable and reassuring.

Mahindra XUV 7XO review: Pricing and rivals

The XUV 7XO is offered in six variants -- AX, AX3, AX5, AX7, AX7T and AX7L. Prices start at Rs 13.66 lakh and go up to Rs 24.92 lakh (ex-showroom), with introductory pricing applicable to the first 40,000 customer deliveries.

The delivery of the XUV 7XO will start on January 14 with AX7, AX7T and AX7L variants. For AX, AX3 and AX5 variants, customers will have to wait till April.

Rivals include the Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar and MG Hector Plus. All of them sit in a similar price band, but each comes with its own strengths.

Mahindra XUV 7XO review: Verdict

The XUV 7XO comes across as a very well-rounded premium SUV in the Indian market, especially when you look at cars priced under Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom). It looks good, feels properly premium inside and also delivers a strong, confident drive.

The XUV700 was already a tech-loaded SUV, but with the XUV 7XO, Mahindra has clearly pushed things further. It feels like the company has gone more than just a step ahead, loading the SUV with a lot of new features.

The XUV700 sold over 3 lakh units in about four years. Going by what the XUV 7XO offers, it should appeal to an even wider set of buyers. From those who enjoy driving, to buyers who want the latest tech, and families looking for a comfortable, feature-rich SUV, the XUV 7XO is likely to tick many boxes.