FAMILY CAR REVIEW: 2023 Mahindra XUV700 AX7-L

I am pretty sure the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 is the cheapest seven-seat SUV in Australia currently. At just $36,990 drive-away for the bottom-spec AX7 model and $39,990 for the top-spec AX7L model tested here, both with seven years of warranty and roadside assistance cover! Without doubt, this Indian-made SUV is a very affordable brand-new option compared with rivals from mainstream brands, so understandably I am very eager to put it through our BabyDrive testing. Let's find out how it gets on…

The XUV700 is full of features that you’d expect to find in much more expensive models.  These make family life easier, like air conditioning vents in all three rows of seats and you can turn it on and off from the front dashboard…

… and adjust the airflow in the third row too.

There are airbags in all three rows of seats and the third-row airbags go right to the back offering third-row passengers protection. There are 6 airbags in the AX7 model and the addition of a driver knee airbag makes it seven in the AX7L model.

Another difference between the bottom spec AX7 model and the top-spec is the steering wheel which is fully adjustable in/out and up/down in the top-spec AX7L and only up/down in the bottom spec AX7 model.

When it comes to installing child seats in the XUV-700, there are ISOFIX points in the two outer second-row seats they are within plastic guides and lovely and easy to connect to.

There are top tether anchorages on the back of all three second-row seats and they are within clearly labelled plastic guides and easy to connect to through the boot. The second-row seats do not slide forward and backwards so you can not slide them forward to access the top tether anchorages.

The second-row seats are really nice and wide in the 2023 Mahindra XUV700. I could easily install three Infasecure child seats across the second row.

I installed a few combinations; firstly the Infasecure Adapt More infant capsule, the Infasecure Versatile Folding booster seat and the Infasecure Accomplish More.

Then I tried the Infasecure Attain More, Achieve More and Adapt More Infant Capsule.

Both combinations fit really nicely with a little space still beside them and I could fit comfortably in the central seat between two child seats too.

Legroom is great in the 2023 Mahindra XUV700. We could fit a 190cm driver in front of the Infasecure Adapt More Infant Capsule. Which is an AMAZING amount of legroom!

There is no hump in the rear footwell either, which makes it much more comfortable for rear passengers as there is no hump they have to straddle with their feet.

There is a handle on the backrest of the front passenger seat in the XUV700 to allow the driver or rear passenger to move the seat forward or backward easily when getting in and out of the car. I call this ejector seat and can imagine if I was sat in the front passenger seat my kids pulling the handle to see if they could make mum fly out!!

There are no top tether anchorages or ISOFIX in the third row seats so you can’t put any child seats back there. The only seat you can put there is the Infasecure Versatile Folding Booster Seat.

For third-row passengers I found the legroom and headroom to be enough for me and I am 162cm tall.

To access the third-row seats, the second-row seats are split 60:40 and the single seat tumble-folds forward allowing you to climb through to the third row. You do have to have no child seat in that single second-row seat when you fold it.

If you are a family who is not going to use the XUV700 as a full-time seven-seater then you will have a nice big boot. When only using the first two rows of seats the boot of the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 will hold fifteen shopping bags. Which is comparable to the Mitsubishi Outlander, Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace which all hold fifteen shopping bags. The Nissan X-Trail holds thirteen and the Honda CR-V holds twelve shopping bags in the boot when using the first two rows of seats.

A twin pram fits nicely in the boot of the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 when using two rows of seats with room for five shopping bags around it.

A single pram fits in the boot with seven bags of shopping beside it.

Or you could fit a large family dog in the boot.

When using all three rows of seats the boot space of the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 is very small and I could only fit three shopping bags in there.

The third-row seats can be folded down individually so if you only need one third-row seat then it would allow you some extra boot space for a pram or other luggage.

Storage throughout the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 is good. Third-row passengers have a cup holder on either side…

…second-row passengers have two cup holders in a fold down in the central seat back, small map pockets and door bins that will hold a water bottle.

In the front there is a glasses case in the ceiling, two cup holders…

…a wireless phone charging tray and a central console box that can be kept cool by turning the vent inside.

The glove box is a practical size for family life to hold wipes and iPads and the door bins in the front will hold a water bottle and an iPad fits too.

One of the most surprising things about the new 2023 Mahindra XUV700 is the drive. It doesn't feel like a cheap car to drive AT ALL. Currently only available as 2WD, the steering is light, smooth and agile and there isn't the road and wind noise that you normally get with cheaper vehicles.

We had the pleasure of driving the XUV700 on a race track in the Gold Coast and I could not believe what it was capable of and how well this seven-seat SUV could corner.

The turning circle is tight for a seven-seat SUV which makes it good for school, supermarket and shopping centre car parks. I also found the excellent cameras helpful when parking.

The top-spec AX7-L has a 3D digital camera view too.

The rearview camera can be turned on while driving which is really helpful on motorways etc as visibility is a little tricky out of the back when you have three child seats in the second-row seats.

Luckily the XUV700 also has indicator cameras that show in the driver's display screen which are helpful when changing lanes on the motorway especially so you can see the lane next to you is clear in your blind spot.

The driver's display and media screen are both large 10″ screens that sweep the dash. The media system is modern and easy to navigate and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2023 Mahindra XUV700 also comes with a 1.3m sky roof which is a pretty impressive amount of sky. So front and rear passengers can enjoy it too. They said the glass does have UV protection and comes with a proper sunshade.

The AX7L model has a ‘welcome retract' driver's seat that moves backwards automatically when you open the door to make it easier to get into the seat. However, you can turn this off which is important if you have a child seat installed behind it so it doesn't move backwards and crush the child seat behind.

When it comes to safety the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 is yet to have been through ANCAP crash testing. It does have auto emergency, which we got to try out on our introduction to the car and I was pretty nervous driving at the mannequin and hoping the car would stop but I'm pleased to say it did all three times I tested!

The interior of the 2023 Mahindra XUV700 comes with white leather upholstery which looks fantastic, I do wonder how long this will last with the heavy usage of family life but only time will tell!

The XUV700 is a fantastic SUV for families. It is full of great features families love and the drive really makes it stand out for me as a car the grown-ups can enjoy driving as well as being practical for everyday life.