The SUV, in the new form, stays true to what people loved, but is smartly refreshed to meet modern expectations.
By T. Murrali
When a vehicle has already found more than three lakh buyers, change becomes a careful exercise. Too much of it risks losing what people love; too little makes it feel dated. That was the tightrope the design team – led by Mr. Pratap Bose, Chief Design and Creative Officer, Mahindra, walked while updating XUV 7OO—four years after its original launch in August 2021.
Speaking to this publication Mr. Bose said, his goal was simple but challenging, which is to “create a sense of newness without losing familiarity. What happened over four years is that technology evolved and the market changed, so naturally the product needed to be updated. So, for the design team, it was very important that we keep what is familiar and yet give a feel of the car which is fresh. The newness with familiarity – I think that’s that balance we wanted to achieve, that people can recognize it’s a 700 because they love that, but can also recognize that there’s something fresh, something new,” he explained.
Sharper & Contemporary
From the outside, the SUV still feels instantly recognisable. The upright stance and the signature vertical grille remain, but they have been reworked to look sharper and more contemporary. The biggest visual shift comes from the lighting. The new C-shaped edge daytime running lamps are bolder and more defined, giving the vehicle a stronger road presence. To someone seeing it for the first time, it feels clearly new, yet existing owners can still spot the familiar DNA, he pointed out.
Step inside, and the transformation becomes more obvious. The cabin now features a three-screen layout across all variants—a first for an internal combustion vehicle in this segment. This design was already well received in the brand’s electric models, and bringing it here adds a strong sense of modernity. The focus, however, was not just on screens. Seating comfort received serious attention, with improved foam density and refined seat pads. The result is better support, lower noise, and a more relaxed feel over long drive.
Mr. Bose said material choice also plays a key role in the refreshed interior. A new Chestnut Brown colour theme has been introduced, inspired by luxury architecture and fine leather goods. It adds warmth and a premium touch without feeling flashy, making the cabin feel richer and more inviting.
Audio Systems
Sound was treated as part of the design, not an afterthought. The SUV now comes with a 16-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system developed with Harman Kardon. To achieve the desired sound quality, the design team had to follow strict guidelines—from speaker placement to the exact mesh pattern on the grilles, as suggested by Harman. Every detail was tuned so the cabin design supports the audio experience, not distracts from it, which according to Mr. Bose an “interesting challenge.”
Together, these updates reshape the SUV in a thoughtful way. It looks new, feels more refined, and sounds better, yet it never forgets where it came from. For customers, the experience is clear: this is the same car they trusted—just carefully brought up to date for a changing world, he signed off.
