By Ntambo Mabuza

I am not what is fondly referred to as a “petrolhead” in the true sense of the label, but I confess to being a “guy”. Like most guys, I would rarely miss an opportunity to try out new and appealing driving experiences. And so, when the key to the Mahindra XUV 700 was handed over, the moment was akin to a blind date. Without the professional prejudice of the well-wheeled, the encounter was a clean slate. Just a man and the machine getting to know each other over the bustle of the festive
season.

Milk white with a dash of tinted windows, this Mahindra XUV 700 is pleasing to the eye. The first impressions suggest a gentlemen’s car with luxury hinted at and not screamed, making the Mahindra XVU 700 feel at home amid even the most expensive cars in its class.

Being somewhat partial to imposing grilles, the XVU 700 fits the bill. The boldly designed charcoal black grille, along with the well-proportioned vertical chrome lines and the slanting LED lights. The front gives the car an “I am not a push-over” kind of look. In other words, the XVU 700 asserts itself as a player in the hood and the country club alike.

A fun “trick” I particularly enjoyed was watching dumbfounded first-time passengers trying to figure out where the hell are the door handles. The handles are holed into the body of the car. They slide in or out when activated to unlock or lock the car. It is also a source of amusement to watch people struggle with what to do when the unusual handle pops out of the door.

The dominant private jet cream interior nicely contrasts with the coal black door panel, dashboard, steering wheel and their well-placed chrome embellishments. A seven-sitter, the car is big enough to carry one’s small tribe, though much of my driving was solo. I did, however, carry a cow (well, almost, if the butchered meat parcels count as one) in its ample boot, while playing Father Christmas over the festive season.

Another fun feature is the panoramic sunroof, which I discovered by accident. The sunroof stretches from the front end to the back passenger seats of the car, which ensures that the often neglected back sitters also enjoy the blue sky. Apart from the constraints placed by driving, I could not fully enjoy the views as the weather was either too hot or rainy much of the time.

Powered by Sony, the car’s infotainment system required too much effort to navigate. Consequently, I was just happy to Bluetooth and use my phone to play music, even though the sound was not loud enough to share my taste of music with fellow road users which isn’t the point.

My day-to-day car is just over ten years old, but the “Red Devil” is still a stud performer and a looker, despite its many battle scratches. Most importantly, the Burmester sound system never fails to impress whether the occasion calls for loud sing-along or contemplative music.

Under the hood of our test model lies a healthy 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Mahindra has come a long way since the days of the XUV500 Now that the XUV700 has been around for over two years, it wouldn’t hurt to shop around for a good deal on a used or demo model. You are looking at paying anything from R400 000 up to R500 000 (for a new unit).

Lagging in the latest fuel-efficiency technologies, the 2013 Merc C-Class
is a fuel guzzler in comparison to the XUV 700, which is by no means small, visiting the petrol station less of a stressful affair.