The Ssangyong Rexton will be allegedly christened as Mahindra XUV 700. However, thanks to the initial failure of Rexton, the automaker is reluctant to brand this new offering as the same. This SUV was unveiled at the Auto Expo 2018, where it still had the Rexton badging.

Mahindra XUV700

It will be a localised product, with its drive-train made to suit local conditions. It sports a fresh, modern, and revamped avatar for the Indian buyers. Mahindra wants to pose a tough competition to the Toyota Fortuner through this offering as a completely Indian full-sized SUV. It will be offered globally with petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric options.

The new XUV 700 will become the new flagship for the Mahindra brand and is expected to play a key role in boosting their sales figures. This new SUV boasts of a  good range and network.

Mahindra has always been known for adopting new technologies, and this vehicle is no exception. Its line-up includes modest that is not only reliable on all fronts, but also promise a blend of performance and utility. The Mahindra XUV 700 will be an affordable SUV, but the premium quotient will still be high.

Though it will share its technologies with the Ssangyong, this SUV will be manufactured locally. The powertrain will also be well-suited to Indian conditions and priced aggressively. The XUV 700 is going to be a big car manoeuvring it is going to be quite challenging.

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The spy shots suggest the presence of a big touch-screen with the 360 degree camera. You can expect a minimum of four cameras mounted on the sides of the car, which will sync up and provide a 360 degree vision for the driver. These cameras will also facilitate off-roading and ensure that you can park or drive comfortably in narrow lanes without hitting obstacles. It is going to be bigger in size than the Toyota Fortuner, though both belong to the same segment.

The pricing of the XUV 700 will, however, be comparatively lower. There will be a six and seven seater configuration available. This is a very spacious SUV offering generous space in the second as well as the third row.

In terms of fuel efficiency too, it is expected to be quite decent. The petrol variant, in all likelihood, will give a mileage of around 8kmpl while the diesel variant will have a mileage figure of about 12kmpl in city traffic. On the highway, the fuel economy is expected to be around 11kmpl and 14kmpl, respectively.

India will get an electric version instead of the hybrid, which will be available overseas. The range of the electric batteries, as per speculations, is expected to be about 300 kilometres in one charge at least since even the KUV 100 electric will have that kind of a range.

The new design language will bear a close resemblance to the other Mahindra vehicles. You will surely be impressed by the seven slat front grille, with a lot of lines running across. Its looks will be more like a proper SUV rather than a crossover. You can also expect 17 inch alloy wheels and proportionate looks from every angle. There will also be an AWD option available, and the car will also feature scuff plates below, which will improve its ability to go off the road with ease.

The XUV 700 will be available with an automatic transmission. This is a six-sped unit, which will be similar to the one in the XUV 500, with some slight modifications to carry the extra load of the powertrain.

The ground clearance will be at least 220mm, which makes it a reliable off-roader. In terms of styling elements, the car flaunts LED headlamps, with daytime running lights and LED tail lamps too. The design will be muscular and have rugged elements.

The Rexton design will be carried forward on the XUV 700, along with certain characteristicMahindratraits added to it. so, the front grille will have seven vertical slats. Headlamps will be protector with daytime running LEDs and an imposing front facade. The fog lamps are LEDs and there is chrome on the grille. From the side profile, it bears a lot of similarity to the previous Rexton, though this has a more mature look. The car is also accompanied by roof rails.

Coming to the interior, the Mahindra XUV 700 will come with an all-new dashboard, though the images of the same have not yet been revealed. It will share many of its elements with the Rexton. However, the touch and feel will be more premium. It will host a neat centre console, with a large dashboard, touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. It will also be accompanied by a reverse camera. The infotainment system will be about 7 inch in lower variants and about 10 inches in higher variants.

The Mahindra XUV 700 also offers cruise control which will be an adaptive one and there will also be micro-hybrid technology. The seats will be well-bolstered, thus making it a great pick for long journeys. The second and third row will come with rear AC vents. Mahindra will also offer a better NVH package which will further up its premium quotient.

As far as the engine is concerned, Mahindra has been refining its petrol as well as diesel powertrains. The petrol will be the 2.0litre mill that also powers the Rexton 2017. This all-new engine will expectedly churn out about 225bhp of power with the maximum torque output being close to 250Nm. It will come mated to a six-speed manual and also an automatic transmission. The XUV 700 petrol mill will be majorly exported and some units will find their way into the Indian market.

For the domestic market, however, the 2.2litre mHawk diesel will be made available. This engine will be the biggest seller. The oil burner will have the capacity to develop about 185bhp of power and 800Nm of torque. The diesel will also be offered with six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

In terms of safety, this car will be equipped with seven airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, TC, and hill assist. The body reinforcements will be stronger as compared to other Mahindra vehicles. A proper seven-seater, it will ensure sufficient comfort in the second and the third row. You can also expect dual airbags and ABS+EBD on all variants, which overall, will make it a desirable package for car-buyers.

The new Ssangyong Rexton is based on the LIV-2 platform and this same one also underpins the Mahindra XUV 700. The new Rexton will be rebadged as XUV 700, however, this will undergo heavy modification for Indian weather and road conditions. Heavy localization will help in bringing down costs.

With regard to dimensions, it will be similar to the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour. It will lend it an intimidating presence on the road. The biggest difference of this car from the XUV 500 will be in terms of its space and ground clearance.

These dimensions translate into enhanced space in the interiors. This vehicle will be an efficient off-roader too, as it will come with low range AWD. As a huge SUV, it also promises good all-round visibility. This feature-loaded SUV promises a new improved music system. You can also enjoy a 7 inch touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, reverse camera, and voice enabled command system. A panoramic sunroof will be made available in top variants.

There are also a plethora of other features on offer, which include, wifi support, electrically adjustable front seats, projector headlamps, daytime running LEDs, leather upholstery, electric tail gate and electrically foldable third row seats. Second row occupants can even get LED screens, which makes the XUV 700 a fit choice for chauffeur driven ones. However, this will come only with the top variants.

It will rival the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, and even the Isuzu MU-X. Besides these 3 SUVs to compete against, the Mahindra XUV 700 will also put up a tough fight against the Skoda Kodiaq. Mahindra will aim to beat the competition in terms of pricing, due to its localization levels. Since this will be a highly localized product, it will have a lesser initial cost and even the maintenance cost will be lower than competition.

Difference Between Mahindra XUV 700 and XUV 500

The family of both the SUVs will be the same. However, the XUV500 is more of a crossover that is perfect for daily city driving. The XUV500 guarantees quite good driveability on the highway too.

The Mahindra XUV700 promises to be more powerful and spacious. In terms of features and luxuries too, the XUV 700 will be accompanied by an exciting package overall. As far as off-roading is concerned, the XUV 700 will have better capabilities.

Mahindra XUV 700 will be a complete off-roader, while the 500 is more of a soft roader. The XUV 700 comes with low range gearbox that is missing in the XUV 500, and of course, the higher ground clearance. The road presence of the XUV 700 will also be better than the XUV 500. You can also by used Mahindra XUV500 in Mumbai