Mahindra XUV700 Facelift Spied For The First Time! Here’s What To Expect!

After almost three years since it first hit the roads, the Mahindra XUV700 is getting ready for its first major update. Recently spotted on test in a fairly heavy disguise, the facelift appears to focus on cosmetic tweaks and feature enhancements rather than mechanical changes. 

Here’s a closer look at what the camouflaged test mule reveals and what it could mean for Mahindra’s flagship SUV:

Design: Tweaks At The Front, Subtle Elsewhere

The most obvious changes are at the front. The grille design appears to be new, replacing the vertical chrome slats with more angular, stylised elements. It's not a radical departure, but it should help freshen up the face of the car. The headlamp units seem to have been reshaped as well, with the test car featuring circular projector housings, hinting at a possible shift from the current C-shaped DRLs to a more conventional lighting layout, or this could very much be an early test mule with experimental headlamps.

The front bumper has been reworked too, possibly to accommodate a revised air dam and new fog lamp housings, although the heavy camouflage makes it difficult to confirm final details. From the side, the overall silhouette and proportions remain unchanged. Alloy wheel designs could be new, but again, the test car appeared to be running on placeholder units.

At the rear, there don’t appear to be any major updates yet, though a revised bumper or subtle tweaks to the tail lamp internals could be expected closer to production.

Interior: Familiar Layout, Likely Feature Enhancements

While we have not seen the cabin of the test vehicle, Mahindra is expected to retain the same overall dashboard layout, with changes focused on additional equipment and comfort features. There have been reports suggesting that the facelift could bring in an updated digital interface, including a triple-screen setup similar to what we have seen on the XEV 9e

Cabin comfort may also be addressed more directly, with Mahindra potentially introducing rear ventilated seats and more thoughtful additions to rear-seat convenience. Given the increasing competition in the premium SUV space, Mahindra could also consider improving perceived material quality and in-cabin refinement levels.

Expected Feature Updates: Playing the Catch-Up Game

The current XUV700 is already one of the more feature-rich offerings in its segment, but with newer rivals pushing the envelope further, Mahindra is likely to respond with some incremental additions. Based on what’s known so far, expected updates could include:

• Ventilated seats in the rear

• A more advanced infotainment setup with revised UI

• Digital key functionality

• Powered rear-seat ottoman (possibly for top variants)

• Self-parking assist

• Enhanced Harman sound system with Dolby Atmos

These additions would mostly be in line with trends seen across the segment and wouldn’t change the positioning of the SUV drastically, but they could help maintain the XUV700’s appeal among buyers seeking comfort and tech-forward features.

Powertrain: If It Ain't Broken...

Mahindra is unlikely to make changes to the engine and gearbox lineup with this facelift. The XUV700 will most likely continue with:

• A 2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 197 bhp and 380 Nm

• A 2.2-litre diesel engine in two states of tune (lower variants with ~155 bhp, higher trims with ~182 bhp and 450 Nm)

Both engines will remain paired to 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission options. The all-wheel-drive setup, currently offered with select diesel variants, is also expected to continue unchanged.

This decision to retain the powertrains is logical given that the XUV700’s engines have generally been well-received in terms of performance and refinement, and continue to be among the more powerful options in the segment.

Rivals: Spread Over Few Segments...

The XUV700 will continue to compete in the three-row SUV space, where competition has only intensified. The primary rivals include:

Tata Safari, MG Hector Plus, Hyundai Alcazar, Toyota Innova Crysta as well as the Innova Hycross.

With the facelift, Mahindra seems to be responding to both feature-based pressure and the need to keep the product visually current, especially as buyer expectations from Rs 20 lakh+ SUVs continue to rise.

Expected Price And Launch Timeline

The facelifted XUV700 is expected to make its debut by the early 2026, with a possible market launch in January or February 2026. 

As far as pricing goes, expect a mild increase over the current model. The present XUV700 range starts at Rs 14.49 lakh and goes up to Rs 25.14 lakh (ex-showroom), and the facelift could push the top-end variants past the Rs 28 lakh mark, depending on how many new features are added.

The XUV700 facelift does not appear to be a game-changer, at least not visually or mechanically, but that’s likely by design. Mahindra’s focus seems to be on refining an already successful formula by improving perceived value through features and design tweaks.

What do you think about the XUV700 facelift? Will you wait for it? Let us know in the comments below!