Australia, how open-minded are you when it comes to family SUVs?
Very, it seems, as the success of the MG HS, Haval H6, BYD Atto 3 and other value-focused Toyota RAV4 rivals suggests – especially ones from China.
But what about Mahindra from India then? Dating back to the 1940s and available in Australia for three decades, the brand’s been focused mainly on rural markets up north, specialising in tough recreational and agricultural vehicles, like the basic Pik-Up and a dozen-strong tractor line-up.
And while the XUV500, a strikingly styled seven-seater mid-sized SUV available from 2012 to 2021, was low on price and high on passenger space, it lacked the polish, poise and safety specification to seriously bother rivals like the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan Allspace.
Mahindra reckons its XUV700 replacement is good enough to change buyers’ minds.
Will we? Read on.
Keyword: Mahindra XUV700 2023 review