Life is all about growing, learning, improving and maturing. Sometimes the change and results of transformation are good, and every so often, things change for the worse. But in case of the Mahindra XUV 700, I must say the process of metamorphosis has been appreciable and pleasant, and in its 7XO avatar it is significantly better in almost all aspects.

The XUV 700 was introduced in August 2021, a day before our 75^th Independence Day, and it was a huge jump for Mahindra, and some may say also India, because it was easily the most advanced, powerful, feature packed, and safe, desi or indigenous vehicle until then. It was also a substantial technological leap for an Indian manufacturer like Mahindra, and gave it the ammunition and firepower to take on the MNCs and other established players.

Now 5 years later, right at the very beginning of 2026, Mahindra has launched the face lifted version of the XUV 700 and called it the 7XO. In mathematics using ‘x’ allows mathematicians to write universal formulas and solve problems that aren’t tied to a single number, enabling broader applications. And I am guessing that Mahindra thought the changes made to the 700 to be so broad and expansive, that replacing a “0” with an “X”, was appropriate. And in my view, they are completely justified.

Normally facelifts are about few cosmetic changes like different lights, grille, bumpers, some trim, colours and so on. But as I just experienced on a drive in and around Jaisalmer, the changes made by Mahindra to the XUV 700 go beyond what one normally sees in a facelift. And what’s impressive is that almost all the changes are for the better, with the most significant being the improvement in ride quality and handling. And as was mentioned in the presentation made by R. Velusamy (better known as Velu), the main reason for this considerable improvement in the suspension, are the new dampers, which Mahindra call Davinci.

I am told that the earlier dampers were made by Gabriel India and the new ones are from Monroe. They have a new piston valve and rebound stopper that more effectively controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid inside the damper, and thus improves both its low and high speed damping ability. At lower speeds these dampers or shock absorbers are more compliant and soft, to absorb the bumps and cushion occupants from road surface impacts. As the speeds rise, the flow of hydraulic fluid is regulated in a manner where the shocks become stiffer, as a result of which they reduce the unwanted body movement and mushiness in the suspension.

In expensive luxury machines and sports cars, you often have an active suspension setup where at the press of a button you can change the settings of the dampers and their level of stiffness. But Mahindra have opted for an effective middle path with these new dampers, and I have to say they work quite well. In my view, now the low speed ride of the new Mahindra 7XO is excellent and ideal for our less than perfect Indian driving conditions.

The high speed ride is also positively nicer, with better body control providing that planted feel and grip, which you so like while travelling fast. And in the Mahindra 7XO you can motor rapidly as it has the same tried and tested engines from the 700, doing duty under the well-insulated bonnet. Both the engines are fairly refined and powerful with the 2.0 litre turbo petrol producing 200 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. The 2.2 litre turbo diesel, which is more popular and the higher seller, delivers 184 bhp and 420 Nm of torque in the manual, and 184 bhp and 450 Nm in the automatic. I assume the engine mated with the automatic transmission has been tuned for more torque, to deliver better response and smoother getaways at lower rpms and speeds. I am sure it must also make for more effortless cruising with the engine turning over at somewhat lower revolutions per minute (rpm).

I say must, because I drove the manual version on my drive from Jaisalmer towards our border with Pakistan, and did not get the opportunity to sample the automatic. The manual is adequately powerful and what I like is the smooth power delivery and absence of any really noticeable torque steer. The engine is at its lusty best in the mid-range and you can drive all day long at 3 figure speeds, without the 7XO ever breaking into a sweat, even when you decide to pull off a sudden overtaking maneuver on another fast moving vehicle.

What I don’t like though, is the long throw of the manual gear shifter and now that Mahindra are concentrating so much on improving the driving experience, I think they would also be well advised to look at finer elements like gear shift feel, length of throw and so on. I know it will not increase sales, and not doing it will also not result in any decrease. But at least it will satisfy fussy and demanding driving enthusiasts like me, and also make one feel good that an indigenous manufacturer like Mahindra, understands the importance of driving feel and enjoyment. For many auto enthusiasts, it is these factors that actually separate a good car, from a not so nice one.

Amongst the other things that I don’t like is the fact that the thick and sharply sloped A-pillar continues to create a large blind spot and block the sideways vision of the driver. This may not be so noticeable or troublesome on straight roads. But in the hills and on twisty roads, the need for better peripheral vision will certainly be felt. I understand that with the modern day safety requirements and need for thick A-pillars; one cannot expect sideways vision like in the cars of yore. But I am also sure that with the right seat placement and positioning of the steering, etc, the area of the blind spot can be reduced. And while I also appreciate that this would be very difficult to do in a face lifted version, I appeal to Mahindra to work on this in its next, second generation model of the XUV 700 or 7XO as it’s now known.

Now let me tell you about the changes in the exterior styling and interior. In my view the styling has undoubtedly evolved and improved, with the 7XO looking far better than its predecessor. The biggest change is the introduction of the 4 (or quad) headlamps, along with the 4 square fog lights placed below. The new grille is flatter, and the boomerang like indicators or DRLs integrated into the headlamp unit, are also sleeker and more elegant looking.

Interestingly, in 1957 a law was passed in the U.S allowing smaller 5.75-inch round sealed beams, and from then to the mid-1970s, all cars sold in America had a quad (four-lamp) setup, with two dedicated for low beams and the other two for high beams. Until then, the U.S. law had mandated a single, large (7-inch) round sealed-beam headlight per side, severely limiting designers and their styling options. Being someone who likes most classic things and touches, I most definitely appreciate the 4 (quad) headlamps (and fog lights) of the new Mahindra 7XO. But sadly, I was not able to test their effectiveness, as my drive to the border region was done mainly in the day.

The interior of the new Mahindra XUV 7XO also feels far more welcoming than before. It’s packed with even more features and goodies (you can check the manufacturer’s website for details) with one of the biggest draws being the coast-to-coast triple-screen layout, which has three large 12.3-inch displays integrated into a single horizontal panel across the dashboard. This is offered as standard across all variants and is sure to be a big attraction.

The interior is well finished and laid out, and both the front and rear seats offer more than adequate room and comfort. But I wish the powered driver’s seat could be lowered a bit more, as I found myself sitting higher than I desired, and due to this, I also had to raise the steering wheel more than I wanted. I am sure that there is enough room to increase the travel of the mounts and allow further lowering of the height of the seat, and I hope Mahindra addresses this. The last 3^rd row is a bit difficult to get into for adults, and is where only kids will be really comfortable.

As always, Mahindra have priced (check manufactures website for details) the XUV 7XO extremely attractively and I have no doubt that they will give their competitors, even those in higher segments, a run for their money. Overall, I must say the Mahindra XUV 700 has brilliantly metamorphosed into a better machine while donning its new name – 7XO.