What you see here is the replacement for the soon-to-be-temporarily-axed XUV500. Mahindra calls it the XUV700. Naturally, the brand has high hopes for it. And why not, considering how well the XUV500 performed in its 10-year long run. The new SUV promises to be more versatile and significantly more powerful. Also, it’ll offer many segment-first features along with a variety of powertrain and drivetrain options.

Design

It isn’t what you might call conservative. The silhouette is more or less similar to the car it replaces. However, the finer details are likely to attract some polarising opinions. Either way, it’ll turn heads on the move. And that’s something Mahindra has always managed to achieve with its range of SUVs.

There’s almost nothing subtle about the XUV700’s design. Take the enormous LED headlamp enclosures, which house C-shaped DRLs. They demand attention. And so do the new grille, the new logo and the split taillamps. To top all that show-off-y stuff with some zing, Mahindra has equipped the SUV with pop-out door handles. All in all, it’s bold to behold.

Unfortunately, the interiors haven’t been revealed in full just yet. But what it will offer is a choice between a five- and a seven-seat layout. Surprisingly, there’s no six-seater in the portfolio.

Powertrains

Mahindra will offer the XUV700 with two engines. The first is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol producing 197bhp/380Nm. The second option is a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, which will be available in multiple states of tune. The entry-level variant will have 153bhp/360Nm. In derivatives higher up, the same engine will produce 182bhp/420Nm with the 6-speed manual transmission and 182bhp/450Nm with the 6-speed automatic. Both gearboxes will also be available with the petrol-fed powerplant. What’s more, Mahindra will provide the option of an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. However, it remains to be seen with what engine-transmission combination will AWD be offered. As per Mahindra, the XUV700 can hit 60kmph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds and clock 200kmph at full blast.

Trim levels and features

There are two trim lines – MX and AX. The former has just one derivative and acts as the entry point for the XUV700. It’ll pack features such as an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 7.0-inch display in the instrument cluster, pop-out door handles, 17-inch steel wheels and support for Android Auto.

The AX line has three derivatives – AX3, AX5 and AX7. Features shared amongst them include two 10.25-inch displays (one for infotainment purposes and instrument cluster each), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 60+ connected-car features, built-in Alexa and LED DRLs with front fog lamps.

In AX5 spec, the Mahindra XUV700 has some additional creature comforts over the AX3. That includes a Skyroof, curtain airbags, cornering lamps, LED headlamps and 17-inch alloy wheels. The range-topping AX7 packs even more stuff, including ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), Driver Drowsiness Alert, dual-zone automatic climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, side airbags and powered driver’s seat with memory function.

The XUV700 has a lot more in its package, like wireless mobile charging, a 12-speaker Sony sound system, Hill Hold Control, Dynamic Stability Control and multiple drive modes (Zip/Zap/Zoom). Eventually, Mahindra will announce optional packs, which will rope in even more features for the SUV.

Rivals

It has three direct competitors – the MG Hector Plus, Tata Safari and the Hyundai Alcazar. All of them offer a six-seat layout with captain seats in the second row. Barring the Safari, which has just one powerplant and two gearbox choices, the other two have petrol- and diesel-powered variants in their portfolios.

There’s no word on the launch date just yet. Expect that to happen either by the end of August or early next month. Expect Mahindra to price the XUV700 competitively, with prices starting around Rs 12 lakh.