Mahindra has locked in its overhauled XUV700 SUV for Australia.
The 2022 XUV700 will touch down locally in the second half of 2022, at which point it’s likely to replace the XUV500 currently on sale in Australia.
Under the skin, the new Mahindra SUV has a McPherson strut front suspension with Frequency Selective Damping – essentially a system designed to adapt the dampers’ response based on the road surface.
Down back is a multi-link setup, again with FSD.
Inside, the XUV700 looks several generations ahead of the vehicle it replaces.
The centre stack features an infotainment system with a touchscreen measuring up to 10.25 inches, and a 10.25-inch instrument binnacle. Pale upholstery and a panoramic sunroof are both on hand to make the cabin feel light and airy.
Available features include blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Sony surround sound system, and faux leather interior.
There are two engine options available at launch, all paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol is rated at 147kW and 380Nm.
For turbo-diesel buyers, there’s a 114kW 2.2-litre four-cylinder which makes 420Nm when paired with manual or 450Nm when fitted with an automatic.
Up front the XUV700 wears a new grille, as well as a redesigned Mahindra logo.
This is flanked by a set of headlights that look as though they’ve escaped from a Renault factory.
The doors feature flush-fitting pop-out door handles, while the rear is much more dynamic than we’re used to from Mahindra.
LED lights are available front and back. While base models roll on 17-inch steel wheels, high-end variants have 18-inch diamond-cut alloys.
The XUV700 measures 4695mm long, 1890mm wide, 1755mm tall including roof rails, and rides on a 2750mm wheelbase.
Compared to the XUV500 it replaces, the new car is 110mm longer and has a 50mm longer wheelbase.
For those playing at home, Mahindra would like you to pronounce the car’s name XUV seven-double-oh.
