2023 Mahindra XUV700 detailed: Australian launch confirmed for India's new Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander rival

Mahindra Australia has confirmed a local launch for the all-new XUV700, with the Indian mid-size SUV set to enter showrooms late next year.

Revealed last month, the XUV700 will take the fight to the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail and Mitsubishi Outlander in the most competitive segment in Australia.

It goes without saying, then, that Mahindra Australia has high hopes for the XUV700, which will replace the ageing XUV500. It will, therefore, be offered with the choice of five or seven seats, much like the X-Trail and Outlander but not the RAV4 and CX-5.

Notably, the XUV700 uses the Indian brand’s latest W601 platform (with MacPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension) and measures 4695mm long (with a 2750mm wheelbase), 1890mm wide and 1755mm tall, which means it’s on the larger side for a mid-size SUV.

As reported, the XUV700 debuts Mahindra’s new design language – pop-out doorhandles included – as well as its new logo. That said, the connection between it and the XUV500 is made clear via the C-shaped front light clusters and pronounced rear haunches.

That said, it’s inside where the XUV700 and XUV500 feel generations apart, mainly thanks to the former’s available panoramic sunroof and twin 10.25-inch displays, with the central touchscreen and digital instrument cluster housed under a single glass panel.

Even in entry-level guise, the XUV700 comes with an 8.0-inch central touchscreen and a 7.0-inch multifunction display, but only the larger set-up’s multimedia system can be had with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, and a 445W Sony sound system with 12 speakers.

Advanced driver-assist systems in the XUV700 extend to autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, driver attention alert, high-beam assist and surround-view cameras, while seven airbags are fitted.

Engine-wise, the XUV700 is offered with two turbocharged four-cylinder units with optional all-wheel drive, including a 147kW/380Nm 2.0-litre petrol that’s paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-converter automatic.

The 2.2-litre diesel is available in 114kW/360Nm and 136kW/420-450Nm tunes, with the former only mated to a manual, while the latter also has an optional automatic, which releases the maximum torque output.