Pioneering progress

Striking a sublime balance between luxury and utility, the XUV700 showcases the future of the Mahindra brand

- Ryan de Villiers

Having refined its fleet by introducing a new generation of products, Mahindra has experienced unprecedented growth in South Africa and garnered the Indian marque a dedicated following. And for good reason...

The introduction of the XUV700 marks the firm's most recent attempt to expand its local offering, which now sees the South African SUV segment bolstered by a seven-seater capable of strong performance delivery across a wide variety of conditions and applications. It does so while rewarding owners with respectable fuel consumption and an asking price that undercuts its competition.

The XUV700 is available in three different variants. The AX5 is the entry-level model at R474 999. The AX5 is superseded by the AX7, which builds on the AX5's specification level with additional driver-assistance technologies and cosmetic touches. The asking price for this trim level breaks the half-million mark at R524 999. The range-topper bears the AX7 L designation and a price tag of R559 999. It introduces exclusive features such as keyless entry, a 360-degree surround-view camera, a 12-speaker audio system, blind spot monitor, and continuous digital video recording, among other things. The XUV700 has a five-year/100 000 km service plan and a five-year/150 000 km mechanical warranty.

We arrived at the Houw Hoek Hotel after sundown and were greeted by an array of XUV700s, each in a different configuration or colour. The hotel served as a base camp for a two-day-long excursion intended to showcase the features of the firm's next generation SUV platform.

Price: R559 999

Engine: 2,0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol

Transmission: six-speed automatic

Power: 149 kW@ 5 000 r/min

Torque: 380 N.m@ 1 750 r/min