Mahindra XUV700 And Tata Safari: Two Made-In-India SUVs That Changed The Premium Space

Two 'made for India' premium SUVs have changed the hotly contested SUV space. These SUVs also showcase how Mahindra and Tata have evolved over the years.

Mahindra XUV700 & Tata Safari

New Delhi: The Indian automobile segment has changed with the biggest evidence of that being the two SUVs that you see here. Last year, these two SUVs dominated the headlines being a duo of iconic brand names in an all-new avatar.

We are talking about the Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV700 of course. Two 'made for India' premium SUVs have changed the hotly contested SUV space. These SUVs also showcase how Mahindra and Tata have evolved over the years.

There is little doubt over the brand image that Safari enjoys. It is an icon of sorts but for the new Safari, Tata Motors again went and did a modern-day interpretation of what the Safari should look like today.

Like the Harrier, the Land Rover-derived platform serves the base for a competent SUV and for us, the ride plus the tough suspension is what makes the new Safari a capable SUV.

Despite no 4x4, the Safari does the rough stuff quite well with Terrain response modes coming in handy. Compared to the old Safari, the new one is a world away in terms of dynamics with better body control and a more powerful 2.0l diesel engine. Further change is in the cabin with the new Safari packing in tech and comfort features like ventilated seats for 1st and 2nd row!

The interior with the white upholstery with the standard Safari feels plush enough while space in the second row is good enough for being chauffeur driven. Crucially, the new Safari has the big and imposing stance which is required while the Harrier styling theme suits it. The old Safari had charm but the new one takes it to a new level and turns it into a premium SUV.

Similarly, the XUV700 is a giant leap forward for Mahindra plus also from the XUV500. It was such a change that the XUV700 name had to be done to make way for another SUV below it. Mahindra did everything new with the XUV700 including a new platform, new interior, body panels, design, suspension, engine, etc. That means while in many ways the XUV700 resembled the XUV500 in terms of design, the entire experience is elevated to being a luxury SUV of sorts.

The new logo, smoother design with flush door handles make the XUV700 a more premium SUV in design while the large double screen layout enables a more tech-focused cabin.

If compared with the XUV500, the XUV700's interior is a huge change with better quality and loads of tech including ADAS, etc. Features and space aide, like the Safari, the core driving experience represents how modern-day Mahindra/Tata cars have changed.

The new platform does a world of good for the XUV700 since the handling and overall suspension takes a fine line between tough SUV and sportier dynamics. If anything, the diesel or turbo petrol engine makes the XUV700 a quick SUV with surprisingly light steering for ease of use.

Much like their earlier versions, the Safari takes a more rugged approach while the XUV700 takes the tech-focussed route along with dynamics in mind. If anything, these two bring the proper SUV flavour at a much more affordable price when compared to much more expensive SUVs.

Hence, it's commendable how these two homegrown SUVs have now been turned into the top premium rugged SUV choices in this segment.