Speed-shedding with these brakes is a cinch, and the 7OO doesn't even lose its line.

BHPian RavenAvi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took a tweet on 16th December to get this ball rolling - received a prompt reply from Customer Care on Twitter and my CCM called on the very next day I had posted on Twitter and said the rear sequential-equipped indicators for Icarus had arrived at the Paramount dealership in the second week of December and to get it fitted whenever possible.

Got the job done on 31st December. Details in my ownership report.

Working like a charm. I have been stopped by other owners since then, all asking me how I got them done. I guess Paramount has fitted them on very few 7OOs till now - a large section of owners are yet to get these still.

The Swift in all its previous avatars (not sure how the current-gen fares in this aspect) had one of the worst brakes among all cars. So much so that the ZXI variant, which was introduced back in 2012, came with a separate brake assist module which, while improving the braking slightly, didn't inspire any more confidence while braking. We owned a Swift ZXI for 4 years - from 2014 to 2018. I was never impressed by the brakes, neither was my Dad who regularly drove it. The humble Tiago which came later into our family had MUCH better brakes in it.

In comparison, the 7OO has one of the best brakes in the business, considering the 1.8 tonnes it towers at 100+ speeds. I myself have gone through at least 5-6 panic braking situations and the brakes have performed admirably, saving my skin at least twice. Speed-shedding with these brakes is a cinch, and the 7OO doesn't even lose its line.

I am guessing that the brake bite is something you need to get better used to. Once you get the feel of it, you will find every other car in the 7OO's range wanting/coming up seriously short in the braking department.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Overall fuel efficiency is 12.7 km/l, with the best-being 19.88 km/l between the last 2 fill-ups.

BHPian RavenAvi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, including the short trip on December 25th and the showroom run on December 31st, it was a combined journey of nearly 500 kms in 6 days - the most for me in the shortest duration till now.

Reached the showroom at 10:30 am on 31st December and listed all the jobs to be done.

1. Rear sequential turn indicator-equipped tail lamps to be installed.
2. TPMS to be installed. (thank you, Sommos!)
3. Auto-folding ORVMs to be completed.
4. VIN check - for possible CSC replacement and any other replacements, updates and/or service actions listed for Icarus.
5. Front suspension lower arm & bushes check. Replace if required.
6. AdrenoX software updated to the latest version.
7. DPF reading.
8. Washing.

They started with the ORVM work while I made myself comfortable in the customer lounge. Both front door pads were removed and the harnesses were replaced, but the auto-folding didn't work. The Co-Tek came over and pored through all options on his laptop but couldn't find any for enabling this. Finally, they did some extra wiring work and added a relay to the setup, and it started working. Smoothly, like a charm!

But, this work took nearly all the time from morning till evening. It was a long, painful process involving lots of brainstorming and "let's try this, let's try that" thoughts. What this did was make the AdrenoX software update a pending job, because this requires leaving the XUV free and alone for at least an hour/hour and a half while the software update is on, else you run the risk of losing your silver box!

At 3:45 PM in the afternoon, other boys came over and replaced the rear tail lights. All four sections of the tail lamps were replaced and we all said hello to - the new rear sequential indicating tail lamp blinkers!

Finally, a long wait of more than 8 months came to an end. Thank you, Mahindra!

They started on the TPMS installation next. Wheels came off one by one as they were re-fitted by the tyre sensors and filled with nitrogen, before fitting them back into their respective wheel wells. I asked for a sensor for the spare tyre also. The TPMS had been enabled in the morning itself via laptop - it was just a question of completing the sensors' learning process now. Unfortunately, while the rear two tyre sensors learned pretty quickly, the front two tyre sensors plus the spare tyre sensor couldn't learn till it was closing time, even after a short run through the roads outside the service centre. So that had to be kept aside as a pending job, together with the AdrenoX software update.

My XUV's VIN was not listed for the CSC replacement job, nor for any other service action. The techs and the Co-Tek who had taken Icarus for a run outside for the TPMS learning process said that the front and rear suspension was good and didn't cause any squeaks or sounds, so the front or rear lower arms and related bushes didn't need to be changed. So that was another relief. Washing and DPF reading were skipped for now.

Another visit is now required for the AdrenoX software update + the TPMS learning, possibly by next weekend. The job card has been kept open for this. Paid around Rs 7,000/- for a pre-voucher total and the gate pass was waived.

Left the showroom at 7:45 pm and reached home at 9:15 pm, just in time to head out to a New Year's function with the family.

All ready.

Rear sequential turn indicators -check!

Power-folding ORVMs - check!

Fuelio points out that the overall FE is 12.7 km/l, with the best-being 19.88 km/l between the last 2 fill-ups. Here are the Fuelio screenshots (from D-day, most recent at top):

ODO is currently at 3,868 kms.

Ciao!

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Coming from a Hyundai i20, the sheer size of the SUV felt overwhelming.

BHPian Karaboudjan recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Sphinx is here…my XUV700 AWD AX7L

Hello folks,

Wishing everyone a very happy new year!

First of all, I would like to thank all the fellow Bhpians here for investing time in penning down their experiences, which makes a buying decision so much easier and more informed. At every stage, I was more well-informed than the SA/demo personnel.

Extremely happy to share that I took delivery of my AX7L AWD, midnight black from Randhawa Motors on 23 Dec 2022.

Named her “Sphinx”. Have driven her 600-odd kms to date. Please allow me to share my experience below:

Delivery and dealership experience

Booked the vehicle on 27 Nov 2021 via the dealer itself. My booking showed up online on 29 Nov 2021. Delivery date was showing as July 2023. Somewhere in July 2022, the delivery date on the online portal got bumped up to Jan 2023. Two SAs who were assigned to me quit the dealership during this time. The third SA was the best among them and I am very happy with the service he provided.

I got a call from my SA on 8th Dec 2022 that my vehicle has been allotted and will shortly arrive the stockyard. He asked me to make the payment as soon as possible to avoid any delays. I requested that I will pay INR two lakhs before the PDI and the rest after that. He agreed to this. The car arrived at the dealership on 16 Dec and immediately received a call for PDI. The SA was most cooperative and allowed me a full PDI. The engine was still warm from the drive from the stockyard to the dealership. The initial insurance quote was a whopping 1.4 lakh, but when I shared the online quotation from Reliance, they agreed to match it.

I chose the following accessories:

1. Mud flaps
2. Side steps - Useful for me since my daughter uses it for easy ingress-egress
3. Micro SD card - The dealership says that it’s installed, but the SVS screen shows no SD card.
4. Sun blinds - Do not buy Mahindra sun blinds. They have installed retainers for securing the sun blind on the door frame. It is quite cumbersome to take them off and install them again and again.
5. Illuminated scuff plates - Cosmetic only.
6. 3D mats - Useful. Easy to take out and clean.
7. Screen guard - Good protection for the screen. Looks like a Matt finish.

Accessories were fitted prior to the delivery. Opted for a choice number at RTO for which had to pay extra in cash.

The SA kept me updated throughout. On D-day, he called me to the showroom at 1600 hrs, and I showed up promptly with my family. Did all the paperwork while the family waited eagerly. The delivery experience was pleasantly different from the one I had 10 years ago when I purchased my i20. The car was draped in a red cloth. They had arranged a Pooja thali et al.

The SA told me that the extended warranty papers would come in some time from the company. Still waiting for that. All in all a wonderful experience.

Driving experience

Straight from the showroom, the SA took me to the nearest petrol pump and filled in 12 litres of diesel. I topped it up to a full tank. Drove off and straight into thick Mumbai evening traffic. Coming from an i20, the sheer size of the vehicle felt overwhelming. The light steering and SVS system make it a lot easier to drive in traffic, given its size.

I have been driving the vehicle sedately with it still in the run-in period. Here are my observations:

1. She drives like a dream. A lot has been written about it and I concur. I was always at a loss of power on my i20 but never felt so in the beast.
2. There is ample space in the car. I have felt that my co-passengers sit quite a distance away.
3. The suspension has been behaving quite well with no annoying bottoming-out noises or anything. Haven’t felt anything out of place. The suspension becomes very supple once we cross 30kmph.
4. This is my first diesel power train. Have not felt any undue vibrations, however, as pointed out by others, the engine gets vocal and vibrations are felt when she shifts from 2nd to 3rd gear. Overall, neither my family nor I have felt uncomfortable being in a diesel. My wife once pointed out that the accelerator needs to be depressed more to get the power going than in a petrol vehicle. This I think is the inherent nature of diesel.
5. On the third day, while reversing into a parking lot while applying brakes successively, I felt the football in the boot noise. The fuel level was at 90% during this time. Since then the football in the boot has been happening off and on. Thank god that this has not happened at high speeds on highways. Surprisingly, the football in the boot is only off and on and cannot be predicted still. Need some more time to figure it out. Will bring it to the attention of the service centre during the first service.
6. The braking is something I am still getting used to. Maybe it’s because of the sheer size or something, but the brakes require an additional squeeze to bring the vehicle to a standstill. Gives it a jerky halt.
7. The auto-hold function works like a charm and I prefer using it in traffic.
8. The auto start-stop, aka MicroHybrid, is very moody or maybe I am missing something here. It switches off the vehicle sometimes and other times, a yellow flashing symbol can be seen on the MID. I prefer to switch it off.
9. Tried the AWD while en route to Pawna Lake in the pass between the mountains. Nothing much but felt that she was more effortless in passing over the broken road in AWD mode.

Infotainment and Electronics

1. The car audio system is too good for a non-audiophile like me. Loved listening to Pink Floyd with each and every guitar pluck nicely audible.
2. Alexa has a mind of her own and I believe M&M has not taken the full usage rights. No matter what, Alexa doesn’t play anything from Amazon Music. They should have set it up like another Echo device. I have tried to log in to Alexa using the Adrenox app but the page does not open. The most common error is Alexa saying “Music streaming is not allowed on this device.” You try again and it plays the song. Songs are streamed from Hungama or Jio Saavn.
3. The infotainment unit is not upgraded to provide CarPlay as yet. Will plan this with my first service.
4. ESP yellow light flashes when passing over big speed breakers without slowing down.
5. I have made two user profiles and also used the Adrenox app on two mobiles. Tried to link the profiles to the key fobs. Still trying to figure out if it’s working as desired.

All in all, I am happy with the purchase. Hoping to sort out the football-in-the-boot issue soon.

Saddened to share that the Sphinx has picked up two battle scars, one a small scratch on the right side rear passenger door while parked in public parking and a stone hit on the front passenger door lower side. Still in double minds about the ceramic coating.

Hope this experience will be helpful to potential buyers.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Maruti’s new 3-row SUV is likely to be offered with the same engine options as the 5-seater Grand Vitara.

According to a media report, Maruti Suzuki plans to introduce a 7-seater SUV to rival the likes of Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari.

The report states that work on the 3-row SUV has already begun. The new model (codename: Y17) is expected to be based on the Grand Vitara and could be launched by 2025.

The 7-seater Grand Vitara will be underpinned by the Global C platform but will have a slightly longer wheelbase to accommodate the third row of seats. On the outside, the SUV could receive some unique design elements to differentiate it from the 5-seater model.

Maruti’s new 3-row SUV is likely to be offered with the same engine options as the 5-seater Grand Vitara. At present, it comes with 1.5-litre mild-hybrid and 1.5-litre petrol strong-hybrid powertrains.

The 3-row version of the Grand Vitara will reportedly be manufactured at Maruti’s upcoming facility at Kharkhoda, Haryana, becoming the first model to be mass-produced at the new factory.

Source: Autocar India

The whole affair set me back around Rs 30,000.

BHPian rnkgrg recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi guys,

This is probably my first time writing such a long post here. And I am quite dismayed that it has to be one with a rant about the issues.

We purchased an XUV700 AX7 Diesel about 8-9 months ago. While the car has fared us well in most of the aspects so far, there is one issue that is particularly coming up time and time again. And we see no resolve ahead - DPF.

While this is our first BS6 diesel car purchase, and (consequently) our knowledge of the subject is limited, I believe that this is more of a Mahindra Design & Engineering issue than anything else.

So far in our ownership of just 9 months, we have been a victim, not once but twice. And each time it is putting a dent in the pocket.

Once in July, just a day before we were supposed to leave for a ~200km road trip, I saw some fluid leaking under the car. Fearing that it was a fuel leakage, that too just before an impending road trip, the car was sent to the workshop immediately, only to find out that the DPF Pipe had been bitten away by stray dogs leading to all of the DPF fluid to be spilt. The folks at the service centre failed to reason how the pipe was so fragile/flimsy and yet left exposed that it could be torn away due to stray dogs exposure (not even rats), which is A VERY COMMON occurrence all across the country.

Rubbing it off as a one-off incident, I just paid for expenses (the pipe and the DPF Fluid replacement) out of pocket. However, that didn't seem to be the case.

About a week ago, we were again greeted with a DPF error on the screen. To be precise, it was the E22 error. It said that the car would stop working in about ~600 kms and the km count only dropped thereafter, that too probably at an exponential rate.

While I am yet to receive a video proof for this, the SA, upon inspection, told the chauffeur, that this time the wires leading up to the DPF sensor had been bitten by the dogs and needed to replace. The cost for the whole affair shall come to approximately ₹30,000.

He further told, that the wires have been left exposed at several points in the underbody of the vehicle and hence they are prone to such biting. And they have had several vehicles come in because of this.

This seems to be a case of bad engineering and vehicle design to me rather than negligent use of the vehicle. However, the folks at the workshop say that this cannot be covered under warranty and hence I am forced to get it repaired under the Insurance.

Even if I do get it repaired this time under insurance, there is no guarantee that the issue will not prop up again, because of the virtue of the design of the vehicle. The people at the service centre seem to be clueless about any workarounds for this.

What should I do here?

Here's what BHPian Karaboudjan had to say on the matter:

How can the Service Center brush it off by saying that dogs have chewed on the wires and pipes? Are they now vets who specialise in animal bites? Where do you park your vehicle? Do you have a stray dog menace in your locality? Have dogs developed an affinity towards the DEF? Have any other car owners faced such an incident in your locality?

I suggest you take your car to some other workshop for any further maintenance.

If it is a rat menace, suggest putting some chewing tobacco (not zarda/pan masala) in a plastic bottle. Make a few holes in the bottle for ventilation and attach it to the underside of the vehicle and inside the engine bay with the help of cable ties to keep the rodents away.

Hope you can get these problems resolved soonest and enjoy your car to the fullest.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Have done multiple trips on the highways which involved ghats. Some journeys were on broken or non-existent roads.

BHPian StepUP! recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So far the journey has been blissful! Enjoying every bit of it.

Have done multiple trips on the highways which involved ghats. Some journeys were on broken or non-existent roads. I am very much satisfied with my purchase.

The good part:

• The mighty engine is never out of breath. Mated with a competent TC gearbox. In most situations, it slots the right gears. Barring occasions when it's on a downhill slope, where it sticks to lower gear shooting engine RPMs. I generally slot it in manual mode and choose the higher gear to let the car coast comfortably.
• Suspension is a bit on the softer side which is good. Irons out most of the undulations. However, if you get more ambitious thinking it's BOF, it scratches its belly when you take really bad digs or undulations at higher speeds. The underbody protection plate is a real boon here.
• Space for all passengers is excellent. Adults up to 5'4" sitting in the third row can travel comfortably on longer journeys.
• On highways, it consistently returns 12+kmpl irrespective of load and speed. If I go easy with my right foot, it returns 14+kmpl. I am hoping this will improve further after the 10,000 km servicing is done.
• Headlamps are excellent. Throw and illumination is good. I feel confident enough to drive at night.
• AC chills in no time in all the rows.
• Love the fact, of how light and effortless steering is which makes manoeuvring easy. Now I find my Figo's HPS faulty
• ADAS, Auto lights, and auto wipers work as expected.

The not-so-good part:

• The paint quality is not up to the mark. I have done ceramic coating. It lacks lustre even after detailing
• I would have liked more brake bite reducing the stopping distance
• I wish it had more luggage space with three rows up
• No auto-dimming IRVM, full-size spare, 12v socket at the front, telescopic steering column
• I would have loved to have sports mode which would make engine responses sharper and suspension firmer
• Mahindra should make available retrofitting of luxury variant features like 360 camera, motorised handles, inbuilt dashcam, EPB etc.
• The sunroof opens only upto 50% of its length
• Alexa doesn't work most of the time, plagued by erratic Vi network and related software integration issues
• You can switch off the engine only when the gear lever is in the Park mode

Thoughtful features:

1. Hazards switch on automatically upon opening the bonnet
2. MID shows front wheel direction which is very helpful
3. Tapping indicator stalk blinks indicators thrice
4. Driver-side sunblinds can be extended in length when pulled out sideways
5. Personalized voice message on overspending is really thoughtful
6. When I was filling in the air using the tyre inflator connected to a 12v port in the third row, hazards switched on automatically
7. The cooling vent in the armrest works great in chilling your beverage and can be switched off completely
8. Unlike Ford, 12v and USB ports are powered off on engine shut off
9. Inbuilt navigation is good enough, and can be relied upon

I have purchased the tyre inflator. It is very handy and comes with excellent packaging. It comes with its own light, which can flash as strobe light too.

Works just fine. It needs to be powered by a 12v socket in the third row. With the given chord length, filling in the passenger side front wheel is tricky. The air valve needs to be at the nearest position for this wheel. For the rest, it works just fine. TPMS always shows 1psi less than what you see on the inflator display.

Apart from Alexa niggles, no issues, no rattles

No infamous suspension noise or football in the trunk noise. Touchwood.

Stock MRFs are good enough for most road conditions. Happy to answer queries if any!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Have been consistently getting a fuel efficiency of around 19 - 20 km/l over the last few months.

BHPian StarVector recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have covered over 11K kms on my MX Diesel XUV 700 including a 2000 km round trip on the Pune-Mumbai-Mount Abu-Nathdwara route. Thought of sharing my experience over the last six months.

The car is a pleasure to drive, I wish you could see the grin on my face every time I take the car out for a spin. The sheer & brute power available on tap is more than enough for all of my driving needs. More on this later.

Firstly, the good things

1. The car is a looker. The size, built, design (subjective) and road presence makes people turn their heads. Even now I meet people who are interested to know about the car even though the number of XUV700s has steadily increased on our roads.
2. Space and Comfort: The car is quite spacious and comfortable. During the recent long trip, we travelled with a full load of passengers and luggage. My family was overall happy with the space available. Full marks to M&M here.
3. Engine: A lot has been discussed regarding the 2.2L Diesel engine. We get a detuned variant of the same engine in the MX variant. From my experience, I feel that 153 BHP power is more than enough for this 05 seater. This was also validated during my recent trip where the engine was able to meet the demand of quick acceleration and negotiate the ghat section on road to Mount Abu without any fuss.
4. Suspension: Overall I would rate 7/10 for the suspension, for the most part, the suspension setup does a really good job and even the body roll is well controlled. However, as other fellow members have pointed out the response to sharp bumps and craters could have been a little better. During my recent trip, I had the tyres crashing over sharp craters twice with an audible loud sound. I had to pull over to inspect for any visible damage. Thank God that everything was ok!

The not-so-good things.

1. Although the paint quality is good, I feel that the paint lacks the strength to tackle the wear and tear common to Indian conditions. I can already see a few shallow marks along with swirl marks on the engine hood and other places. I regularly apply Turtle Wax Graphene Infused Wax but I am still looking for a better solution to provide more durability to the top coat of paint.
2. MX variant comes with stock halogens bulbs which at times are insufficient while driving on roads without median dividers.
3. Gear Box: As such, I haven’t had any major problems with the gearbox however the gear ratios could have been a little better. Often the car gets stalled in second gear which wasn’t the case in my previous car (Wagon R). Also, gear shifts aren’t really very smooth the and gearbox is still notchy especially while shifting to first gear.
4. Handling: The car handles well but I feel that it lacks the weight and feel when negotiating sharp corners at higher speeds.

Niggles faced so far

1. Often the infotainment screen becomes unresponsive. This happens when I start the car in the morning; the screen comes up as normal but does not respond to the touch gestures. In such cases, the date and time is also incorrect and it shows the date and time when the engine was last switched off. Surprisingly the issue gets resolved after a few hours. I have already reported the issue to the Service Centre thrice, but they have not been able to provide a lasting solution.
2. Squeaking sound from doors/ B pillar. I started facing this problem couple of months ago. Initially, I thought that the sound is from B pillar, but the SC guys told me that the sound is from the doors. They lubricated the gaskets and tightened the doors but the issue hasn’t been resolved completed. Now the sound is very faint and you wouldn't notice it if music is being played. I will discuss this once again with the SA during my next visit.
3. Sound from the flexing of plastic panels on the dashboard. This started a couple of months ago. The sound is generated by the flexing of plastic panels on the dashboard while going over craters and broken roads. SA told me that the issue is normal and moreover they will not be able to correct the issue unless they can locate the exact place of origin of the sound. Even I did not push much because I do not want the SC technicians to open up the entire dashboard of a relatively new car.

Service Experience & Support from M&M

I have got my Car serviced by Sahyadri Motors, Wakad (Pune) and Salasar Auto, Thane. The experience has been good at both places. I had complained regarding the suspension noise at both locations however the correction (read retorquing) done by technicians at Salasar Auto was much better. They did a better job of tuning the suspension response. I am yet to get the front lower control arm replaced for my car. Planning to do that soon.

One more issue that the owners of MX variants are facing is the lack of promised Android Auto feature. It has been more than a year since the car was launched but still, there is no sign of the Android Auto feature availability. M&M is not even providing a committed date or deadline for when this feature will be available. Without the Android Auto feature, the infotainment screen is pretty much useless.

Now coming to the mileage figures I have achieved. I am a very sedate driver and drive with a light foot. About 70% of my travel is on highways only. As per the tank-to-tank method, overall, as of now I have achieved an average of 18 km/l (all fill-ups combined), with the best of 22.2 km/l I got on my trip to Mount Abu. I have been consistently getting 19-20 km/l for the last few months.

Snap from Fuelio App

Snaps from my recent trip

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The XUV700 really drives like a dream, buttery smooth! I wouldn't be wrong to say that the drive and refinement levels are even better than a lot of cars way above it's league.

BHPian actuallyankur recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Mahindra XUV700 AWD AX7L:

Pros:

• Powerful responsive engine.
• Torque converter AT works well, always keeps you in the rev range.
• Turbo lag, or rather the lack of it, is well masked.
• Spacious interiors. Comfortable front seats, and one of the best middle-row seats below the Rs.50 lac mark.
• Suspension is super- amazing ride and handling, good ride comfort.
• Headlights are some of the best in business, very good visibility at night.
• Good fuel economy, already able to achieve figures of 13+ kmpl on the highway even with spirited driving. Should increase further after the first service.
• ADAS systems works as claimed, is a boon to have.
• The sunroof is humongous, you have to sit inside the car to see it for yourself.
• With 7 airbags, all the safety essentials and ADAS, the car feels safe.
• Build quality is really good, sturdy is the word.

Cons:

• Engine tends to get too vocal, specially under hard acceleration.
• Not much space in the boot with all 3 rows up.
• Features like auto-ORVM and ventilated seats are a must at this price point.
• Suspension noise is on the higher side.
• The brakes very noisy, like gorilla howling level noisy.
• There are some other mechanical thuds and sounds that make way into the cabin.
• Few buttons lack good tactile feedback, and don't work in one click/push a lot of times.
• A lot of switches are not positioned very well- power window switches, door lock/unlock, AWD engagement switch (you need to take your eyes off to engage this one).
• Auto up-down windows should have been standard for all 4 windows.
• Some plastics on the dashboard feel cheap and out of place.
• Sequential turn indicators at the tail-light should have been standard, the ones that are there might not be as visible specially during day time.

Disclaimer:

This not a usual review about XUV700, I am trying to portray the car in an altogether different light, having bought the car with full knowledge of the issues, niggles and shortcomings of the car. Hence, I will be summarizing a digestible conclusion at the end of the review. Also, this is part travelogue part initial ownership review since we set off for the trip the very next day we got the car. By the end of the review we would have driven the car 2300 kms within 14 days of getting the car, so it fairly sums up the initial feel and feedback.

If you'd just like to find out my conclusions and not go through the ordeal of reading so much, please skip to my third and fifth (last) post.

Who is this review for?

Anyone who wants to buy the XUV700, but is paranoid of the numerous issues and niggles. Might give them a perspective of what the niggles are, how much do they matter and whether or not it is possible to live with them.

Finalizing the car and taking delivery:

I had booked XUV 700 on 8th October 2021, in the AWD AX7L Trim (Midnight Blue). I was offered delivery around the first week of June 2022, I declined due to the numerous niggles and breakdowns, and who wouldn't have. One look at the dozens of comments, posts and youtube videos were enough to make one paranoid of the car.

Then I started looking at other options, consisting an array of vehicles across different brands- Toyota Fortuner (one of the forerunner), Jeep Compass & Meridian, Skoda Kodiaq, Ford Endeavour (used options) , etc. It was at this time that I realised that there is no SUV (specially 7 seaters) that offer as much bang for buck. I mean if you go over any other options you not only end up spending more but also compromise on a lot of things, viz., driving pleasure, economical to drive, middle-row comfort, reliability and even looks. This coupled with the recent updates Mahindra had done to fix the issues helped us gather the courage to consider XUV700 once again.

We contacted the SA at our local dealer on 15th Sep 2022, and couple of days later he called us that there is a cancellation for an AWD AX7L in Midnight Blue Color (what are the odds- you get your desired color and model in a car like XUV). Most people who had booked AWD are now wanting to either save money by getting Diesel AT instead, or have shifted to Scorpio-N. He told us to decide the same day, before some other SA allocates the car to someone else. We immediately agreed, only request from his side being we get car loan and insurance from them only, since that is where they really get their incentives from, and this seemed reasonable. He promised delivery during upcoming Navratra.

On 26th September we get a call from the SA that our car had arrived at their yard, but they won't be able to deliver it that day due to long que of vehicle for delivery. We finally got the vehicle on 27th late evening, around 8.30 pm, we had to wait an hour before the car could be ready. There was a string of deliveries that day. My 3 year old daughter was getting restless and sleepy, so we requested for a quick delivery without much fanfare or frills. (I somehow feel very uneasy and awkward with all the shenanigans during car deliveries these days- everyone keeps staring at you and whispering into the ear of the person next to them).

We were out of the showroom within 15 minutes of receiving the keys, and even before we could gulp the excitement of finally getting our new car, we were bowled over by how the car drove. I mean the first few kilometers felt like the first day of starting to date your crush!!

Prior to this I had only driven the manual demo car, that too almost a year back, and never got the chance to drive XUV700 again. And boy, it really drives like a dream, buttery smooth! I wouldn't be wrong to say that the drive and refinement levels are even better than a lot of cars way above it's league. This coming from someone who has owned a VW Passat 2017 model and drove it for over 70000kms is something. We even felt that the vibrations on the steering wheel and the cabin in general were even less than our Passat, and other luxury vehicles we've experienced in our friends and family circle including Audi Q3, A3, A4 and even BMW 320d (2018).

Prelude (read: excuse to set the wheels rolling):

As is we (my wife, my 3 year old daughter and me) are extremely spontaneous people, the excitement of the new car and the unbelievable drive quality, gave us an uncontrollable itch the next morning we woke up. After (not a lot of) consideration, we packed our bags ( for a week) and left! We just left for Lucknow since it is just 200 kms from our hometown Allahabad, and thought we'll decide on where to go from there upon reaching Lucknow. We were so very excited that we didn't even want to waste time in planning the trip, or booking hotels. We just got the wheels spinning, and during the short trip we were able to contact a friend who owns the Detailing Devils outlet in Lucknow to do our car's PPF within 2 days! He hesitantly agreed, although we ended up paying 5000 more to the guys to work over-night on my car.

So we reach Lucknow around 8pm on 28th, and till now, we faced no niggle or infotaiment error except for Apple car play for which we were mentally prepared after having read so many posts. We went straight to a fuel pump to see how much of guzzler this beast is. Our XUV had done 262 kms that included 120 kms of city driving, and 140 kms of state highway (mostly undivided roads requiring frequent gear shift). We were expecting it to drink up at least 30 lt for the drive, and to our sheer amazement the fuel tank was full to the brim in 22.18 lt of fuel. You can do the maths!

29th morning the car went for PPF, and we got to see the car on 30th around 5pm, shinning in the new armour!!

Here are the pics right after the PPF:

 Just for fun, attaching pics of the trip meter and fuel pump machine (bragging right you see after such an economical drive):

Part 1: Reaching the foothills:

So Day 2 in the life of the XUV went at the detailer's, and the moment we got our car on day 3, around 5 pm, we straightaway headed to Bareily. We decided to go to Nainital and to stay the night in Bareily by the end of Day 3. We had hardly driven for an hour that we got to experience the most hyped feature of the car-ADAS, specifically the autonomous breaking. I was just telling my wife how much I had read about the emergency breaking, how it was a menace for people driving in the city, and that I was considering switching it off at the next stop we take. It had barely been 5 minutes since I had said this, when I motorcyclist coming from the opposite direction on the undivided highway decided a stupid maneuver, and decided to cut between the car ahead and mine. Imagine a line of 8-10 cars moving around 70-80 on the highway, and the stupid motorcyclist just crosses diagonally like a madman, and even fore I could react the car braked. I was sure I would have braked, but probably after half a second, which could have made the situation panicky, or worse ended into a collision. To this day I swear it was the ADAS that saved the guy. I mean the accuracy and promptness of the emergency braking is such that it is very difficult if not impossible to match by human intervention. Then and there I swore that I am never switching off Emergency braking, no matter what. And guess what, by the end of the day I had realized that I had adapted my driving style (mostly involuntarily and subconsciously) to take into account the emergency braking. I mean I could really right an entire article about every single time vehicle applied Emergency braking (I won't lie, some of the times it was plain annoying).

On a small incline we tried engaging the AWD function to see if it makes any difference to the drive and bang comes our first niggle- Hill Hold Control Error. Now I couldn't comprehend if it made any difference to the drive, or if AWD was engaged or not, but it did give us jitters. We switched off AWD and continued without any issue:

Headlight performance is amazing, you get good visibility, and in my estimation the high beam could easily illuminate the road for slightly over 300 meters ahead. The auto head high beam and auto head light feature turned out to be really bogus, it wouldn't go onto high-beam even if you some distance behind a car, and people who have driven on undivided highways in UP can relate that you have to switch to high beam ever so often to check for parked trucks, tractor with no back- lights, pedestrians, and everything else that is not supposed to be on the middle of the road at night. So I used manual control, lowering the beam as and when there was oncoming traffic.

We stopped at the famous Dashmesh Dhaba right ourside Bareily, had dinner and retired at the hotel. We chose a hotel near the airport, half a km away from Nainital highway so as not to get stuck in city traffic the next day. Total distance travelled was 318 kms from Lucknow, and fuel consumed 26.67 lt (you are doing the maths now).

Part 2: The hills, finally!!

A little foreground before proceeding further, we had decided that this will be a very lazy trip. We would stop as and when we felt like, no hurrying to reach destinations, instead just enjoying the journey. So we left the hotel around 12, and we had hardly driven for hour when we spotted a cafe right before the first toll plaza on the Bareily Nainital Road (Mundiya Toll Plaza, Baheri). The cafe is called Portrait, and I have never seen a more beautiful cafe on a highway (please check it out on Instagram: cafeportraitartlounge, as no words can describe the beauty and simplicity of the place) Attaching some pics from the cafe to compel you for a coffee stop.

Tummy full, body caffeinated and the soul smiling, we set the wheels rolling again. Now the stretch from Bareilly to Nainital is mostly good with a few diversions on to single lane and some broken patches, but on the whole bearable. It is on this stretch we realized how noisy the suspensions can get and the 'dub-dub' sound from somewhere in the rear, but again after having read so much about it already, we were just surprised that we didn't notice it earlier in the over-excitement. One thing to mention here is that Mahindra has done a tremendous job in tuning the suspension, like unbelievably super, the noise aside. Regardless that you're driving at 10 kmph or 110 kmph, the suspension seemed so apt in soaking up the rough patches on slow speeds whilst giving excellent stability on high speeds. My wife couldn't stop praising the rear seat comfort and ride, so much so that, she put it at par with our 2017 Passat. I mean she is one woman who had rejected Volvo XC40 a couple of years back because she didn't like the rear seat ride quality, and this was when we had gone to the showroom to do the booking formalities.

Now the stretch from Bareilly to Haldwani is some of the stupidest I have ever come across, and this is coming from a guy who has lived in driven in UP all his life. Motorcyclists just refuse to let you pass

Even on single lane stretches, you'll find two-wheelers driving in the middle of the road, and won't budge even if you honk repeatedly, some even start speeding. I just have no count of the amount of times the emergency braking kicked in. Slowly and carefully we reach the foothills, and the fun starts. Now this is where the true elements of XUV700 shines:

• Toque converter- giving you right upshifts and downshifts, always keeping you in the power range.
• Engine- push it as much as you like, every corner and bend is cake-walk, albeit it gets a little too vocal when you push the pedal after the downshift.
• Suspension- do even need to exclaim again and again on the engineering marvel!
• Body roll- non-existent for SUV standards.
• Steering- light and nible, makes you feel connected enough, though not as much as a ford or VW/Skoda, but one of the best this side of a Fortuner I would say.
• The only thorn in the otherwise excellent car is the A-pillar visibility, it is pathetic, specially on winding roads. I so wish Mahindra had also added blind spot monitoring.

Nonetheless, after countless tea and maggi stops, we reach Bhimtal by 5.30pm, and spend the evening just roaming around. We even found an aquarium cafe, right in the middle of an island in the lake, they have over 40 different rare fish varieties and roof top seating. And we still decided to have maggi at the road side. Unfortunately we were too late for any other water sport due to sunset, and after wavering around a bit we left for Nainital, about an hours drive from Bhimtal. Just as we started, rains followed suit. Giving us a good opportunity to test the road grip, headlights and wipers- and nothing felt inadequate here. The car just shines.

Our hotel in Nainital was slightly higher on the hill, and crossing the mall road traffic was a breeze, the auto-hold function although full of howling brake noises, is on point. Bumper to bumper traffic on the quite narrow lane filled with pedestrians wasn't any trouble at all courtesy the super light steering wheel. Now the last mile to the hotel included some steep climbs, and the rain made it look tricky. We engaged the AWD function, and bang comes our next niggle- AWD Malfunction, followed by Hill Hold Control Error!

Again, the errors didn't make the drive feel any different, neither did the AWD engagement felt any difference. Nonetheless, we made steep climbs (about 50 meters each time) without breaking a sweat. And comfortably reached our destination. Next 2 days were spend mostly in and around the hotel, including visits to the famous mall road, Botanical garden, and couple of other nearby sights. All through the 2 days we had nothing to complain about other than the poor A-pillar visibility. Cherry on the cake was the huge sunroof, or how Mahindra like to call it sky-roof. We just couldn't wait for rains to give a breather, and we get the feel of driving a convertible (ok that was stupid, lol).

Here are some of the sights we lived:

On 4th October, we left for Mukteshwar only to get distracted to visit a lesser known waterfall in Bhowali (at least we had never heard of it) as suggested by a local. It was a drive full of rough patches and hair-pin bend turns, and I don't even need to spell it out how well the XUV700 tackled it. Unfortunately we reached by 5.30 pm and visitors were not allowed after that at the waterfall, we did enjoy a good drive full of amazing sights, chai and Maggi.

Now as we got into the car to resume our journey to Mukteshwar, we got the idea to visit Delhi instead to meet all our friends over the upcoming holidays, since Nainital and nearby areas were getting extremely crowded with tourists pouring in for the upcoming Dusshera holidays, and we started our drive ahead, reaching Haldwani by 8pm and decided to spend the night there.

Next morning we left, and while refueling we got a fuel economy of 8.75 kmpl, consisting of 85% driving in the hills. I was expecting a slightly better figure, but this is still satisfactory.

Continue reading on BHPian actuallyankur's ownership of his Mahindra XUV700 AWD for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

The moment of truth was when we stepped into the cabin. It was distinctly a couple of generations ahead of the Safari. Mahindra had clearly taken the game away.

BHPian charade recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

A short introduction:

This is my first thread on Team BHP and I initially meant this to be about my XUV7OO ownership experience. But as I started writing this thread, I began to think more deeply about my relationship with cars (and bikes) and the many reasons how I ended up with the XUV 7OO. As the wise Master Oogway (note the two Os, as in 7-O-O) said: there are no coincidences.

For many of us on this forum, our wheels are an extension of our personality, and we are deeply connected to them. Some of us christen our cars giving them names, some of us treat them as part of the family. Some of our most memorable experiences are on account of the cars we drive and the places these cars take us to.

Cars have always been special to me since I was a child. I attribute my love for cars and road-trips to my dad. Sadly, my dad passed away before he could see me drive the XUV7OO and this thread is an ode to my dad and all things automobile and otherwise, that he taught me.

How it started:

I was born in the 80s. Which basically means that I am a part of the last generation that remembers times of scarcity & limited choices: waiting times stretching into years for getting a scooter or a telephone line; watching TV at a neighbor’s house and a grand total of two channels; waiting one week to watch three songs on TV, listening to cricket matches on the radio.

But there is one thing which always made me feel special, even privileged. We had a car, an imported car at that. It was a silver Daihatsu Charade and it was just two months younger than me Being an only child, I always thought of the Charade like a brother, a partner in crime. And I was very proud of our Charade. It was a 3-cylinder diesel but way more silent than any other Indian diesel car. It had a small 1000 cc engine but left most other cars behind while climbing the ghats. I guess I am getting emotional about our Daihatsu and digressing a bit. Anyway, back to my story.

Road tripping:

From the time I can recall, we were always a road trip family. My mum tells me that we did our first road trip in the Charade when I was 6 months old! We were based in Bombay and we drove all the way down to Kanyakumari and back. My dad was the only driver and as you can imagine, there weren’t any expressways back then in the 80s. It would have been one heck of an adventure and quite a daring one at that. In fact there was a particularly interesting instance of how my dad accidentally left the car key inside and locked the car. That wouldn’t have been so bad, except that I (6 month old me) was inside the car! Luckily my dad managed to jugaado a longish metal plate (like a ruler) and opened the car in a short time.

With a start like this in life, I guess road trips became the default mode for my vacations. We went to lots of places in our Charade – all the hill stations and beach towns around Bombay and Goa.

Partners-in-drive:

Go, Goa, Gone:

My earliest memory of a Goa road trip was one that we did in the early 90s. It was my summer vacation and my parents decided to do an impromptu drive to Goa. Yay!

There was no Mumbai-Pune expressway and the default way to get to Goa was via the two-lane NH17. We decided to leave really early to beat the traffic in Bombay and on the outskirts. We packed our bags the night before. I promised to get up at 4 AM and I was up and raring to go. My mum fixed sandwiches for the trip and we were off before sunrise.

My lasting memory from this trip is the conversations that I had with my dad. My job was to keep talking to my dad so that he doesn’t feel drowsy while driving. And we spoke about everything under the sun – how my dad learnt to drive, the road trips he had taken, geography, cars, science, politics et al.

Since this was an impromptu trip, we didn’t have any hotel bookings. But we landed up Calangute and found a small home – hotel which was a couple minutes’ walk from the beach. Calangute in those days was very different, there were hardly any tourists or shops – I wish I had some pictures! The next few days were spent chilling on the beach and, in general, having a gala time.

A couple of years later, we met with a horrible accident. One late night as we were driving back from a relative’s house, a truck which was exiting a fuel station rammed into our Charade from the left. The left door was shattered, glass shards all over us. Luckily, no one was hurt. No one except our Charade.

The major hit was taken by the front passenger door and the front tyres. An interesting aside: since the Charade had tubeless tyres which were a rarity in India in those days, most puncture shops couldn’t fix them. So my dad had his own puncture repair kit which he would get from abroad and fixed all punctures himself. Unfortunately, this time the tyres were beyond repair.

Since it was an imported car, parts were almost impossible to find. We had to depend on some local garages and jugaads to fix the door. The curved window glass was a big pain point and we had to go with a fiber-glass option. This was the beginning of the end of our beloved little car. My dad also had a company car by now, an M800 (which in my eyes could never be an upgrade from a Daihatsu, even a 12-year-old Daihatsu).

My dad was keen to sell the Charade. There were many buyers given that it was a Japanese diesel car. But I was firm that we can’t sell the Charade. Then while returning from one of our Goa trips, the Charade suddenly stalled near Pen (a town in Raigad district). We were in the middle of a traffic jam and had to push the car to the edge of the road. We waited for some time and finally my dad managed to start the car. We reached home but as it turns out the timing belt had gone for a toss. What followed was a series of trips to multiple local garages until we gave up and the Charade fell into a state of disuse.

My dad moved abroad on an office assignment, and I had just learnt to drive. So, it was up to me to start the car and drive it around a bit. It would heat up a lot within 15 mins and my joyride would come to an end. But my love affair with the Charade continues to this day.

Those 90s cars:

As 90s rolled into the noughties, my dad was moving up the corporate ladder. His first office car was a navy blue M800 and within a few years we got a white Maruti Zen. This was a gem of a vehicle. Nicely styled with interiors that were best in class (although one may argue that it was a very small class) at the time. Since I was too young to drive my favourite thing used to sit in the car and pretend that I am driving. For the first few weeks after we got the Zen, I did this every evening after my dad came home from work! And on that note, allow me to digress a little:

I was very good at this pretend-driving since my dad had taught me all the basics about driving – gears, clutch – brake – accelerator, handbrake, torque vs speed, how to change tyres, fix punctures, check the radiator water, engine oil etc. My dad lived abroad for some years in the 70s and 80s. He had driven cars in these countries and made it a point to pass on many of those good habits to me. This ranged from simple things like knowing the basics of your car, rotating tyres, using the handbrake every time you stop and not just on slopes to more evolved stuff like being able to fix punctures, etc. Other useful things which I practice even today and will hopefully pass onto my kids:

Peripheral vision – be observant, look around you and not just at the car immediately in front. Is the bus which is three vehicles ahead of you slowing down? Is it going through a pothole? Is some jay walker running in from a side street?

Listening – to the sounds of the engine and the car. According to my dad, you should be able to tell which gear you are by just listening to the sound of the engine. You should be able to tell if anything is amiss if you listen well. An added advantage is that this gets you really involved in the whole driving experience, you feel one with the vehicle & the road.

Sense of direction – my dad had an amazing sense of direction. He could retrace routes he had been even after many years had gone by. I think lots of people in his generation could do that given that the only maps were paper based, and India hardly had any decent road maps. I am glad he passed some of that onto me.

Safe distance – always keep safe distance with the vehicle in front of you. As a rule of thumb: mentally note a spot on the road and as the vehicle in front cross it, start counting – 1001, 1002 and 1003. If your vehicle crosses that same spot around 1003 or later, it is relatively safe distance.

The journey is the fun part – most times it wasn’t about the destination but the path that got us there. Our most memorable drives happened because my dad randomly saw a lake / hill / viewpoint / dam etc. on the map and said, “let’s take this route”. Life is what happens enroute to the final destination.

Now, back to where we were.

We drove the Zen a lot but as time passed and newer car models were coming into India, we became aware of some of its shortcomings. It now felt a little underpowered, a little too cosy, especially as I was no longer a kid and three at the back was a squeeze.

The Zen was followed by the Indigo (Petrol) and that was a definite move-up. It was our first sedan and what a chiller the AC was! The suspension was amazing and could take on any bad roads. The Indigo was very comfortable and everyone in the family loved it. And sometimes when the Indigo went into the service station, we got a diesel Indica as a loaner car. Although based on the same platform, the two cars were very different. I just loved the torquey diesel mill on the Indica, it felt a lot more fun to drive. In fact I used wait for the Indigo to go in for a longer stay at the service station. I guess it was fate’s way of reminding me of my first love – our diesel Charade.

Anyhow, fast forward a few years, I was off at college and the bug to buy a motorcycle bit me. I didn’t want to spend too much money since I wasn’t earning. The obvious way was to buy a second hand motorcycle. To give you guys some more context, we are in the middle of the noughties. The rich kids in college are buying fancy Pulsars with alloy wheels and I definitely don’t want to buy a pre-owned Hero Honda Splendour or Passion. Solution: I bought an old RX135 for Rs. 16,000. Seemed like a good buy till I realized that the tank is rusted and it’s leaking petrol. This was just the start and there were a lot of minor issues. Lessons learnt! Eventually, I found a good mechanic near college and spent another 3 or 4 thousand to fix it all up. To conclude, it wasn’t the most reliable of purchases but was definitely the fastest 0 – 60 on campus and never failed to put a smile on my face.

My dad retired and we now had to think of what car to buy. We narrowed down to the Honda City, Ford Fiesta & Renault Logan. The City was a little more expensive than the other two. Between the Fiesta and the Logan, the latter was way, way more spacious with a suspension that could just gobble up bad roads. We ended up going with the Logan Petrol 1.4. In hindsight, we should’ve probably spent the extra money and gone for the City – it would have been well worth it. The Logan was a nice car, not exciting, not fast but definitely very comfortable. Like an old dog who could hug you and make you feel better.

History repeats itself:

We went to Goa during the rains and decided to drive to Jog Falls in the Logan. This was the time when the mining industry in the state was in the news for the wrong reasons and I think the courts had stopped or severely curtailed mining in the state. We saw hundreds of large trucks parked one after another on both sides of the road. While returning from Jog Falls, we were driving on a narrow stretch of the road with these heavy trucks on both sides. Suddenly one truck turned and rammed into us from the side. It was Daihatsu déjà vu. Again the front passenger door was smashed.

Anyway, long story short, we got back to Bombay and claimed insurance. If I recall correctly, the insurance was with ICICI Lombard. They directed us to one of the garages where they had a cashless tie-up but this was not a Renault / Mahindra authorized service station. The car got fixed but the door didn’t have the original thud anymore. Instead, it would close with a hollow ‘thang’ and it just didn’t feel like the original door. We had the Logan for a few years thereafter and the replaced door even began rusting. Lesson learnt!

New beginnings:

I was working now, and it was time to marry my college sweetheart. We were getting married after dating for 10 years (almost all of which were long distance) and didn’t want to drive her back in the Logan which was already 5 years old and had the scratches to show for it. Since our wedding was planned a year in advance it gave me some time to think.

Since my college days, I always wanted to get a motorcycle and a new one. I thought – why not combine the two ideas? It would be brilliant to take the newly wed wife home on a motorcycle. I was already working for a few years and had saved some money but I was past the age where sports bikes were interesting. I wanted a bigger bike, preferably a cruiser.

Back in those days, Royal Enfield had just launched the Classic and second gen Thunderbird, and the waiting period was between 10 – 12 months. Went to check out the Thunderbird with my dad. We both loved it but RE was still sorting out multiple niggles and I was in two minds whether to take a punt on RE. And that is when I started reading TBHP forums and became a member!

After a long test ride on the Classic and Thunderbird, it was clear that for my height and requirements, the Thunderbird was perfect. We booked it roughly 11 months before the wedding with the hope that RE will deliver it before D Day. Luckily, they managed to set up a new plant and deliver the bike in 9 months, giving me enough time to run it in and get used it before the wedding.

After the wedding we rode out in style on our Royal steed. It was quite an experience. Sharing some pictures:

We were still in a long-distance relationship after marriage which meant frequent trips between Mumbai and Pune. My wife was driving an old, battered Zen and we decided it was time for an upgrade. We visited almost all major brand showrooms and test drove the Swift, i10, Brio, Eon, Indica Vista, Etios Liva and the Nano. The shortlist was down to Swift, Brio and Nano. Finally went with the Brio as it was the right mix of decent looks (except the rear which I must admit has grown on us over the years), good driving dynamics, small footprint and reliability.

One of our first and best road trips in the Brio was a South India road trip: Pune – Hampi – Bangalore – Pondicherry – Coimbatore – Kumarakom – Guruvayur – Manipal – Goa – Pune. We have since done many memorable road trips including Shirdi, Udaipur, Alibaug and so many times to Pune & Goa that I have lost count.

As my dad grew older, he was asked to stop driving for medical reasons. But he was always happy to be on a road trip. I guess it was like the old days, just that we had interchanged our positions. But then I had an opportunity to work in Singapore and that meant no more road trips for some time. A couple of years passed. I became a father. And then COVID hit. Eight months into the pandemic, tragedy struck: my dad passed away in Mumbai almost overnight. My mum was critical and in hospital.

I rushed back home but all that awaited me were my demons. I guess nothing can prepare you for losing a parent and one is never too old to lose a parent. Things got worse before they got better. It took a lot of hope and support from friends and folks through those dark hours. But little by little, we rebuilt our life. It’s been almost two years now. Baby number two is on the way. As is the new XUV700 – because we are a road tripping family.

Here's to you, dad. I know you’re watching, and you’ll be happy.

XUV700 & other options:

After I got back from Singapore and decided not to go back, I started seriously evaluating a new car in April 2021. The family had grown and travelling with our toddler was equivalent to packing half our house into the Brio. It also meant we couldn’t do road trips that were too long, or we had to split up and there was no fun in that.

My requirements were as follows:

• Capacity: Should be able to carry 6 people with luggage.
• Safety: NCAP rated with at least 4 stars.
• Fuel: This will likely be our last ICE car, and I really wanted a diesel for that torquey feeling which I remember from the Charade. Moreover, I wanted us to start doing a lot of road trips now that we were back in India. Also, I am the kind who looks at the mileage a lot.
• Creature comforts: I am not at all an after-market gizmo guy. I have neither the time nor the network for after-market fixes. I wanted as much as possible to be factory-fitted.
• New: Pre-owned doesn’t work for me, it has to be a new car.
• Reliable: Should be reasonably reliable. Can’t afford to get stuck in the middle of nowhere when travelling with kids.
• Automatic: This would be my wife’s 45 KM daily commute to work, a mix of highway and bumper to bumper traffic. My wife would thank me till the end of time. Or at least I believed so.

My ideal budget was INR 15 lakhs, give or take. Before I left for Singapore, I remember I could get a well-spec’ed (if not the top end) Hexa for under INR 20 lacs. And the Hexa was huge! But I was in for a bad surprise. With the stupendous amount of price inflation, a top-end hot hatch or CSUV would just about fit into my budget.

I decided to keep the budget aside for some time and started evaluating options in the market. In hindsight, the evaluation phase is probably the most exciting part of the car buying journey! Here is what the options looked like:

• Safari – It had just launched in Feb 2021. I had goosebumps looking at their ads. Like most 80s kids, I have some very fond memories of the original “Reclaim your life” ads. In fact, I was even a fan of the Storme. Quick aside: While evaluating cars in the Tata Motors showroom in 2014, I test drove the Storme (clearly told the SA that we are here for the Vista & Nano but I want to drive the Storme). I will never forget the king-of-the-world feeling on that test drive with high up seating position and auto rickshaws scrambling out of the way! So, the Safari was really pulling at the heart strings in 2021.
• Ertiga / XL6 – Fit into the budget & extremely reliable but safety was a compromise. Also, lacked road presence.
• Marazzo – Ticked almost all the boxes: reliable, safe, comfortable, in-budget. If buying a car was a financial decision, then this was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, we don’t buy cars because they make any financial sense. The wife just couldn’t digest the looks and also the rumours about Mahindra canning the product did not help.
• Triber – Another one that ticked all the boxes, and I could probably buy two of those in my budget! Absolutely good car and very well packaged by Renault. I read through the complete TBHP review thread but I just couldn’t fall in love with this baby.
• Hector – Ticked many boxes although I had reservations about its looks and Chinese origins. And no diesel automatic.
• Alcazar – This was launched in mid-2021 and I thought this might fit many of my asks.

So, those were my options. Since my heart was doing a lot of the thinking, it was obvious that the Safari finished at the top of the list! And my budget was getting stretched. A lot.

I devoured all the videos and read all the TBHP forums. But the more I read, the more scared I was. Maybe I could deal with the many niggles but what if I get a lemon? This was a very real possibility and Tata Motors Customer Service wasn’t really doing themselves any favours.

Nevertheless, I decided to go test drive the Safari. I dragged my wife on a weekend to Puneet Motors in Prabhadevi. We checked out the Safari on display and it was a little underwhelming. As sexy as it is on the outside, the interiors were just dull & drab. The space inside was really well-managed but it just didn’t feel worth INR 25 lacs. We had been at the showroom for close to 45 mins but we were nowhere close to getting a test drive of our preferred model – diesel automatic. Anyway, the SA took down my details and promised to set up a test drive.

Days turned to weeks, and I started the chasing the SA who essentially ghosted me! I went to the showroom again only to realize that the SA has quit. Obviously, being a Tata Motors dealership, they have no clue which customers were talking to the SA and there has been no handover. Anyway, I got connected with another SA but there was test drive vehicle. He promised to call me in a couple of days once a test drive vehicle was available.

And you can imagine how crazy I was about the Safari that I again went to the showroom for the third time to try and get a test drive. But sadly, no test drive vehicle again. In frustration, I walked across to the MG dealership across the street. I was simply blown away by the difference in the way the SA’s over here handled customer walk-ins, the look-and-feel of the dealership. I was almost immediately given a test drive of the diesel manual Hector. It was a boat on four wheels, trying very hard to be a car. It was a decent enough 5-seater but the last two seats were a joke.

After the Hector test-drive, I told the SA that this doesn’t work for me and how I landed up at the MG showroom. The SA from MG, to my surprise, said he can understand and spoke to a friend of his who works at the Tata Motors showroom and helped arrange a test drive for me at home! That is how I got my Safari test drive.

Now that I came through a reference, I got a long test drive. The Safari checked almost all the boxes except safety, which remains a question mark to this day. Other than safety, there were three major issues – dated looking interiors, buggy infotainment system and the ever-present threat of running into major niggles.

We were already in July 2021 and the XUV launch was around the corner. I was never a fan of the original XUV500 – I didn’t care for the over-the-top looks but I must admit that it was quite the package. I was in two minds, whether to wait for the new XUV or go ahead and book the Safari. As more information was leaked and M&M followed up with teasers I must say that it piqued my interest. Finally, I decided to hold off on the Safari and wait for the XUV launch. And the rest is history.

XUV700 booking & waiting:

The day the XUV was unveiled, I was at the nearest showroom to check it out. The only person who I managed to drag along with me to the showroom was my mother-in-law.

Anyway, the car looked handsome in the flesh. It didn't have the sex appeal of the Safari but it was no pushover. Like it or not, you couldn't ignore it. It seemed a lot better proportioned and maturely styled compared to some other Mahindra's over the years. Yes, I could definitely live with it.

The moment of truth was when we stepped into the cabin. It was distinctly a couple of generations ahead of the Safari. Mahindra had clearly taken the game away. This felt like a car worth a couple of million bucks. The large, double 10" screens add a lot of oomph value. The quality of fit and finish wasn't perfect but these were pre-production vehicles so some leeway there.

We went for a short test drive and it was easy to maneuver in Mumbai traffic. The 360 degree camera was a godsend for someone used to a hatchback. I got used to the auto-hold and EPB in no time - in fact, this was the feature I missed the most as I was driving back home through peak traffic at Saki Naka in my manual Brio! As we left the showroom, I could see a look of satisfaction on my mother-in-law's face. Decision made, XUV it is. AX7L diesel automatic.

Not writing too much about the booking process as my story is not too different from others. Had the vehicle in my cart and obviously couldn't book it on Day 1. I was quite disheartened that prices had increased for Day 2. Luckily, news trickled in that I could still book with Day 1 prices since I had it in the cart. Kudos to Mahindra for playing fair. I wasn't taking any chances on Day 2. Rushed to the nearest Mahindra dealer at 830 AM and paid the booking amount. Went for another test drive, this time with my mum. Even she felt this was much better than the Safari.

Now with all that done, came the long wait for delivery. I was not in a hurry. In fact, I was quite happy to wait for a few months as Mahindra ironed out the niggles. On that note, I must add that the feedback on TBHP was overwhelmingly in support of Mahindra - that they better manage niggles and proactively try resolving them; it was quite the opposite for Tata Motors (and I say this with a heavy heart - I have always rooted for Tata Motors and I am even a shareholder) who had a reputation of not doing enough to fix niggles.

After a long 10 month wait, we finally got delivery in Aug 2022. Since May 2022, I was in touch with the dealer. Largely uneventful, most times the SA / dealer weren't really interested. I guess I can't blame them. Given the order backlog that they're sitting on, they have probably met their targets for the next year as well. Once the vehicle reached the stockyard, I decided to change to a corporate lease instead of buying it outright in my name. My SA changed and the new SA was far more communicative and accommodating. For example, the insurance was quoted at INR 75K and they were OK to add all the riders I wanted. This was not too different from what other folks were getting it from outside. No pressure for buying accessories, no handling charges etc. I believe they have different rules of engagement for corporate customers. But it worked out well for me.

Cut to D-Day on 16th Aug and we brought the big guy home:

Continue reading on BHPian charade's Mahindra XUV700 diesel AT for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

The quality head test drove the vehicle while me at the co-drivers seat. Post which they agreed to replace the full lower arm assembly.

BHPian Msar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I had scheduled an appointment to update Apple Car Play and also re-program the 2nd key. While at it, I requested the dealership for a replacement of the suspension arm.

There was suspension noise, not a deal breaker for me- but then it was still audible at slow speeds. The quality head test drove the vehicle while me at the co-drivers seat. Post which they agreed to replace the full lower arm assembly.

After removing the old assembly and unpacking the new one- they found that one part was defective, so they had to fit the old one back and I got the vehicle back. They placed an order which arrived a week later and was successfully replaced.

After driving for more than 50 kms, I see a huge difference- there is no more noise from the suspension whole going on speed breakers.

Glad to know that Mahindra is taking customers feedback and actively taking actions.

Note: My vehicle is from July 2022 batch (Diesel AT L AWD).

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