The SUV did not feel out of place anywhere. I was able to explore a few ADAS features & I must also say that the car has great headlights.
BHPian abirnale recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
It’s been a week and a little more since the Red Sabertooth is home. It’s been an absolute delight and a matter of pride to see heads turn, people stopping on the signal asking curious questions! I also met some bhpian who recognized the car and waved at me to say hi! The neighbors have been asking questions as well as the kids in the neighborhood are making a beeline to see around! I never imagined this car to be such an attraction. I guess It’s just about time as more and more cars show on the road, this novelty will die down. Nevertheless, I loved the attention!
Now coming back to the continued experience with the car, I was pleasantly surprised with a longish drive I could manage on Sunday evening. Onward to a friend’s place near Denkankottai (She got an FWD AX7 L in TN the same day as I got mine!) was an easy drive whereas the return was a spirited night drive.
I was also able to explore a bit of ADAS features, especially the ACC system – it works like a charm! On the highway, where the traffic is orderly or lanes are followed a maximum number of times, this system is hugely predictable and helpful. I would not be using this system inside the city for sure! The LKA warnings were precise, the road speed signs were precisely read and flashed on the MID. The instantaneous FE numbers shoot up high when you cruise at 80-100 speeds! The car doesn’t feel out of place anywhere – the bumps from the unpaved country roads were gobbled up like anything! The twisting roads on farm side roads were a treat to drive in this car. No suspension thud or bottoming out anywhere (we were two folks in the car).
The return drive was post dusk – the lights were amazingly great! I put them in auto mode, the high beam wouldn’t work most of the time as it automatically shuts down at the slightest hint of oncoming light / street lights or any objects car detects. Then I had to put it into the manual (topmost slider position on the stalk) and then it revealed Diwali on the road! The Booster lamps came out as soon as the car crossed 80kmph – a quick and usable light that is! So now with full lights, high beam, booster – all ON above 80kmph speed, you wouldn’t miss a thing on the road! I am sure it would be a menace on the road for oncoming traffic. So technically, leave it into the AUTO mode, the car takes care of you as well as the cars around you. If you give a damn about others, go to manual headlights ON position, throw high beam and let booster add the spice to this! Finally, I think I found my light needs to be fulfilled by a stock setup!
Another friend driving behind me mentioned this – the XUV7OO tail appears to be planted on the twisties. No visible movements, unlike predecessors. The ride was extremely planted, silent, and non-exhausting!
The best thing is – the AT box controls the RPMs in ZIP or ZAP mode very well. Even when you are driving at 120kmph, the revs won’t cross 2000 (other than upshifting or downshifting moments). On the contrary, if you switch to Zoom mode, the revs would not fall below 1800/1900 RPMs or so! I did not feel at any time that I miss the MT shifting. The AT TC box almost read my mind and continued to behave as if I would have shifted the gears myself – or say better than me!
And with that, wrapping up the post – some pictures from the quick drive yesterday:
Some Bangalore TORC friends caught up with the car to explore:
The friend’s car: AT FWD AX7L Diesel
The pictures from the drive around the farm:
The ODO now stands at 600+ Kms, in a week’s time, the car should go for the first service.
Keyword: Mahindra XUV700: Performance on a long drive & at night