2025 Mahindra XUV 700: When Mahindra launched the original XUV 700 back in 2021, few anticipated how thoroughly it would disrupt India’s SUV landscape.
That first-generation model challenged established segment boundaries with its combination of imposing presence, technological sophistication, and value positioning that undercut similarly equipped competitors.
Fast forward to 2025, and the latest iteration of Mahindra’s flagship SUV doesn’t merely continue this tradition—it amplifies it through thoughtful evolution rather than revolutionary reinvention.
The 2025 XUV 700 arrives amid intensifying competition in India’s premium SUV segment, with numerous domestic and international manufacturers vying for the attention of increasingly discerning buyers.
Against this backdrop, Mahindra has doubled down on the distinctive qualities that made the original so compelling while addressing the few criticisms that emerged during its production run.
The result is a vehicle that feels simultaneously familiar and fresh—evolutionary in its styling but significantly advanced in its technology, refinement, and overall execution.
2025 Mahindra XUV 700: Design Evolution: Refining the Bold
Park the 2025 XUV 700 beside its predecessor, and the family resemblance remains unmistakable despite numerous detail changes.
Mahindra’s design team has wisely preserved the original’s commanding road presence while enhancing specific elements to create a more cohesive and sophisticated visual package. The signature grille, now featuring a mesh pattern rather than vertical slats, retains the distinctive “seven-slot” motif but with more subtle integration into the front fascia.
Flanking this centerpiece, the LED headlamp clusters have been redesigned with slimmer profiles and more intricate internal elements that incorporate the brand’s evolving light signature.
The side profile maintains the strong character line that rises toward the rear quarter, but with more pronounced sculpting of the lower door sections that reduces the visual mass.
New alloy wheel designs—ranging from 18 inches on base variants to 20 inches on top-spec models—fill the arches more assertively while improving the stance. The floating roof effect, achieved through blacked-out pillars, carries over but with the addition of the option for a contrast-color roof on select variants.
At the rear, the most notable changes include redesigned LED taillamps that extend further into the tailgate, creating a more horizontal emphasis that visually widens the vehicle.
The bumper integrates more convincingly with the overall design, housing larger reflectors and a more prominent silver skid plate that reinforces the SUV credentials.
Interior design sees more substantial updates, addressing one of the few areas where critics found the original wanting in terms of material quality and fit-and-finish.
The dashboard architecture maintains the dual-cockpit layout but with more premium soft-touch materials and reduced visual clutter. Ambient lighting, now standard across most of the range, offers customizable color options that highlight the cabin’s architectural elements after dark.
Perhaps most striking is the new panoramic sunroof that extends nearly the entire length of the cabin. Unlike many competitors’ implementations that stop at the second row, Mahindra’s “SkyView+” roof brings natural light to all three rows of seating, creating an airier feeling throughout the interior that belies the substantial exterior dimensions.
Powertrain Options: Performance Meets Efficiency
Under the sculpted hood, Mahindra offers an expanded range of powertrain options for 2025, reflecting both regulatory pressures and evolving consumer preferences. The familiar 2.0-liter mStallion turbocharged petrol engine continues as the entry point, now producing 210 horsepower (up from 200) through refinements to the turbocharger and engine management system.
This unit delivers its peak torque of 380 Nm across a broader rev range than before, improving drivability in everyday conditions.
The 2.2-liter mHawk diesel engine also sees meaningful updates, with power increasing to 185 horsepower while emissions decrease through the adoption of a more sophisticated after-treatment system.
This powerplant continues to excel in long-distance cruising, where its efficient character allows impressive range from the 70-liter fuel tank.
New for 2025 is the eXUV hybrid variant, combining a 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor integrated into the transmission.
This system produces a combined 230 horsepower while reducing fuel consumption by approximately 30% compared to the standard petrol model. The 1.8 kWh lithium-ion battery enables brief periods of electric-only operation in urban conditions, while regenerative braking recovers energy during deceleration.
Transmission options include a six-speed manual that continues to find favor with enthusiast drivers and a refined eight-speed automatic (replacing the previous six-speed unit) that delivers smoother shifts and improved fuel economy through its broader ratio spread.
The automatic now features steering-mounted paddle shifters across all variants, addressing a feature request from the owner community.
Four-wheel drive remains available on higher-spec variants, with the system receiving updated software for better torque distribution in varying conditions.
The terrain management system expands to six modes (Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand, Sport, and Eco), each adjusting throttle response, transmission behavior, and traction control parameters to optimize performance across diverse environments.
Technology Integration: Connected Intelligence
If one area exemplifies the 2025 XUV 700’s evolutionary leap, it’s the comprehensive technology suite that transforms how drivers and passengers interact with the vehicle.
The dual 10.25-inch screens of the original give way to a more visually impressive curved-glass display that integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch central touchscreen.
This hardware runs Mahindra’s new AdrenoX+ operating system, developed in collaboration with technology partners to provide more intuitive operation and expanded functionality.
The voice assistant system, now powered by upgraded natural language processing, responds to conversational commands rather than requiring specific phrases. This system extends beyond infotainment control to vehicle functions, allowing adjustments to climate settings, sunroof operation, and even driving modes through voice commands.
Multi-language support, including regional Indian languages, demonstrates Mahindra’s attention to the specific needs of their domestic market.
Connectivity expands through the Mahindra BlueSense+ app, which now offers remote engine start, climate pre-conditioning, geofencing capabilities, and real-time vehicle diagnostics.
A notable innovation is the “Guardian Mode” that provides notifications when the vehicle exceeds preset speed limits or travels outside designated areas—a feature particularly valued by parents of younger drivers or fleet operators.
The driver assistance systems take a significant step forward with the introduction of Level 2 autonomous capabilities branded as “AutoPilot+” (despite the potentially controversial name choice).
This system combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering to reduce driver workload during highway journeys. Traffic jam assist manages stop-and-go driving in congested conditions, while automated parking now handles perpendicular spaces in addition to parallel scenarios.
Entertainment options benefit from a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system that replaces the previous Sony setup, delivering more balanced sound reproduction with dedicated subwoofers and active noise cancellation that counteracts road and wind noise.
Rear seat passengers gain access to individual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Android-based functionality, allowing independent content selection and even gaming capabilities when the vehicle is stationary.
Comfort and Practicality: The Everyday Experience
Behind the technological showpieces and performance specifications lies the reality of how the XUV 700 serves its primary purpose as family transportation.
Here, Mahindra has focused on refinement rather than reinvention, addressing specific pain points identified through owner feedback while preserving the fundamental package that made the original successful.
Seating comfort sees meaningful improvements across all three rows. The front seats now feature 12-way power adjustment on higher trims, including four-way lumbar support and thigh extensions to accommodate diverse body types.
Memory functions store positions for multiple drivers, automatically adjusting not just the seat but steering wheel position, mirror angles, and even preferred climate and audio settings.
Second-row accommodations maintain the option of either a traditional bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with the latter now featuring wider armrests and recline adjustment. Access to the third row improves through redesigned seat mechanisms that require less effort to operate.
The third row itself remains best suited to younger passengers or adults on shorter journeys, but additional contouring of the seat base and backrest improves comfort for those occasions when all seven positions are occupied.
Storage solutions throughout the cabin demonstrate thoughtful consideration of real-world usage. The refrigerated center console accommodates half-liter bottles, while dedicated smartphone storage includes wireless charging for two devices simultaneously.
Door pockets expand to hold larger water bottles, addressing a minor complaint about the previous model. The power-operated tailgate now features hands-free operation through a foot sensor, opening to reveal a cargo area that expands from 238 liters with all seats up to 1,754 liters with the second and third rows folded.
Driving Dynamics: Balancing Capabilities
On the road, the 2025 XUV 700 demonstrates measurable progress in refinement without sacrificing the substantial feel that owners appreciate.
The steering system receives particular attention, with variable-ratio calibration that provides greater responsiveness during cornering while maintaining stability during highway cruising. Feedback through the wheel improves through revised tuning of the electric assistance, addressing one of the few dynamic shortcomings of the original model.
Suspension architecture remains familiar—MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link arrangement at the rear—but with significant recalibration.
Frequency-selective dampers better distinguish between minor road imperfections and larger impacts, improving ride quality without introducing excessive body movement during dynamic driving.
Models equipped with the optional air suspension gain additional ride height adjustability, with an increased maximum ground clearance of 245mm for challenging off-road situations.
Braking performance benefits from larger front discs and a recalibrated electronic booster that provides more progressive pedal feel.
The system integrates with the expanded driver assistance features, including autonomous emergency braking that can now detect pedestrians and cyclists in addition to other vehicles.
NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) characteristics see comprehensive improvement through additional sound insulation, acoustic glass for the windshield and front side windows, and active noise cancellation on higher trims.
The result is a noticeably quieter cabin, particularly at highway speeds where wind and road noise reduction contributes significantly to the perception of quality and refinement.
Market Positioning: Upward Mobility
Mahindra’s positioning strategy for the 2025 XUV 700 reflects growing confidence in the brand’s premium credentials.
While maintaining competitive pricing against domestic rivals, the feature set and quality execution increasingly invite comparison with international competitors typically positioned at higher price points.
This calculated upward mobility leverages the strong reception of the original model to expand the brand’s footprint in more profitable market segments.
The variant structure evolves from the alphanumeric designations of the original to a more descriptive approach with Essence, Thrill, Luxury, and Pinnacle trims.
Each represents a distinct character rather than simply adding features sequentially, allowing buyers to prioritize technology, performance, or luxury appointments according to their preferences without necessarily stepping up to the highest price point.
Compared to key competitors like the MG Gloster, Tata Safari, and Toyota Fortuner, the 2025 XUV 700 positions itself as the technology leader while matching or exceeding their comfort features.
Against more premium offerings like the Jeep Meridian or entry-level German SUVs, it continues the value proposition that made the original compelling while narrowing the gap in perceived quality and refinement.
2025 Mahindra XUV 700: Confident Maturation
The 2025 Mahindra XUV 700 represents a confident evolution rather than a desperate revolution—the product of a manufacturer increasingly secure in its identity and clear about its target market.
By preserving the fundamental character that resonated with buyers while systematically addressing shortcomings and introducing meaningful innovations, Mahindra has created a more complete and cohesive product that builds upon an already strong foundation.
In the broader context of India’s automotive industry, the new XUV 700 symbolizes the continuing maturation of domestic manufacturers who no longer merely adapt global products for local conditions but design and engineer vehicles that can compete on their own merits in international markets.
The gap between Indian brands and established global players continues to narrow, with models like the XUV 700 serving as compelling evidence of this progression.
For potential buyers, the 2025 XUV 700 presents a proposition that’s increasingly difficult to ignore—a genuinely premium experience that doesn’t demand the premium pricing of imported alternatives.
Whether this translated to sustained commercial success remains to be seen, but Mahindra has unquestionably delivered a product worthy of consideration against any competitor in its segment, regardless of origin or badge prestige.