Mahindra XUV700 or Tata Safari to replace my Ford

I even ended up test driving the Jeep Compass automatic in the process.

BHPian StepUP! recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am looking for a petrol car to replace my 9-year-old Figo TDCi. Nothing urgent of sorts and I am okay to wait for another year too. I am inclined to drive manual and not too particular about automatic.

So decided to utilise my Friday's holiday, went to Mahindra, test drove AX7L petrol automatic, as well as a petrol manual. After which I visited the Tata showroom and took Safari automatic on a spin. Why leave Jeep alone, straightaway headed to Jeep dealer, Compass automatic test drive done and dusted.

Here are my observations based on these test rides. All involved highways, bad roads and city traffic.

Mahindra XUV700

• I was blown away by the petrol engine's refinement and sheer power available on tap. NVH is also well controlled. Power delivery is instant
• The big landscape touchscreen really looks cool with thoughtful fonts, illumination, graphics. Though it could have been better executed but, well done Mahindra!
• Interior quality is okay and didn't feel well put together.
• Driver seat auto sliding on door opening and closing is really cool!
• Driver as well as passenger seats though accommodative, could do away with more under-thigh support.
• Suspension soaked bumps well. Though 5000kms run car was making noises from unknown places. Not cool.
• Steering is super light and the car wraps around you. Don't feel like you are driving such a big car
• There is a slight delay in displaying camera feeds on the screen
• The panel gaps are evident
• Somehow felt paint quality is not up to the mark. Colours looked faded, no lustre.
• Clutch is light, shifts are good in manual

Tata Safari

• Built quality felt solid over XUV
• Steering is unnecessarily hard
• Interior quality is better than XUV and is well put together
• 3rd row is actually usable
• No rattles. Even this test drive car had done 5000+ km
• NVH is poor. Could hear engine gruff note inside
• Felt power delivery is lazy in comparison with XUV's torquey petrol, engine gearbox combo took time to respond
• Ride quality is similar to XUV
• Seats, space as well very similar XUV. Could have done with more under-thigh support
• Felt paint quality is better over XUV, and panel gaps are consistent
• Somehow Safari looks bigger in person and you feel you are driving a bigger car

Jeep Compass

• Red compass S trim was on display. I was blown away with the interior fit and finish, quality of material used, all-black interiors, door heft, overall build of the car. Compass interior quality, the touchscreen is miles ahead of XUV and Safari
• Model S is dressed to kill! Paint quality is the best in business.
• Seats offer better thigh support
• I am 5'9" and my head brushed to the sunroof when I sat in the second row. No option to recline it either. Disappointing.
• Overall space felt similar to Figo and not really an upgrade
• As expected 1.4 ltr engine is the weakest link. Gearbox does no good to make it feel better. The car is s-l-o-w. The engine struggles to carry around this heft. You wait and wait and wait after pressing the pedal for the engine to respond
• Ride is stiffer in comparison, steering calibration is most accurate.
• All the feel-good feeling shattered after looking at prices! 30L OTR for petrol S trim whereas XUV diesel AWD AX7 L trim costs some 28.xx lakhs.

No way man. The sales executive tried really hard to convince me on Jeep legacy, how this is a safer car, a segment higher car etc.

Thanks but no thanks!

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