Mahindra is not new to the automotive space in South Africa, in fact, they came in a few years back shook-up the bakkie market with the reliable old school Scorpio and Bolero back in the early 2000’s. Since then, the brand has gone back to the drawing board and added an element of luxury to the vehicles – enter the XUV700 AX7 L.

The XUV700 can be considered as the older sibling to the XUV300 and the middle child just before the Scopio-N(not to be confused with the Scorpio) and it is a sheer image of the brands plans to be seen as much more than just the ‘rough & tough car the belongs off-road’ but also the cheek SUV that can easily fit on a glamour night out with the family.

The Mahindra XUV700 was first launched in 2022 in South Africa and has since been an integral part in the brand’s place in becoming the fastest growing brand in the country, according to a report compiled by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). This has cemented the notion that South African consumers have been won over by the brands since they rolled out their rugged line-up in the country in 2004. So the question is, where does the XUV700 fit in that line-up?

The XUV700 is a flagship luxury SUV but the brand that has taken on the brands new identity and a step in ‘the next generation of sophisticated and authentic Mahindra SUVs’, as explained by Sachin Arolkar, Head of International Operations, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited. It’s no lie that the brand came into the market and immediately cemented itself as a reliable vehicle brand, and the XUV700 is testament of that.

The car is built on a long-base, hence the ‘L’ at the end of the model number AX7 L, and this means that one can enjoy an extra row of seats in this 7-seater. The rear seats do provide ample room for mid-sized adults, but legroom is a consideration as there isn’t much for an adults, although the kids would love the extra space. There is essential space in the boot, even with the last row of seats raised.

The flagship model has a classic interior that is simple and yet makes a statement – much that the brand is not to be taken lightly. The white interior extends right through with a dark tone on the door panes to create a contrast through the cabin. The dashboard also has a simple yet sophisticated look with a 10-inch infotainment screen mapped through the surround Sony sound system that is controlled through the infotainment system. Bonus points in that the climate control has its own buttons below the infotainment system and has been done in a clean setup.

The drive left some mixed emotions in me, in that the 6-speed 2L TDGi engine did not feel sluggish when putting out the 149Kw @ 380Nm of power. We did feel like the lack of drive modes meant that one was stuck with 1 “driving dynamic”, but it’s a great start for the brand. The steering felt like one is hauling a light vehicle, and perhaps firmer steering would be available as the brand grows.

Overall, we felt like the brand is off to a great re-entry into the South African market – heck, into the world of luxury SUV’s. If this is Mahindra’s step into that territory then it is worth looking forward to their upcoming models. Heck, the Scorpio-N seems like an even better step up, and we can’t wait to have a go at that model.

The price point for the XUV700 starts at R475 000 to R560 000 for the top of the range AX7 L and comes with the option of a 3 Year/ 60 000KM or 5 Year/100 000KM service plan.