Comparison: Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700

Bringing home an SUV that caters to the entire family is no easy task. Be it overall comfort, practicality, utility or features, a seven-seater SUV has a lot to deliver. On top of it all factors such as safety, powertrain and even dimension come into play. While there may be a plethora of sizable SUVs available in the market when it comes to bringing home an SUV that offers a package that’s premium, practical, comfortable and safe, the Tata Safari as well as the Mahindra XUV700 are two of the most popular choices.

Locking horns in a bid to dominate the 15 to 27 Lakh price bracket, each SUV offers its own set of advantages. While the freshly updated Tata Safari now comes forth as a futuristic, premium and feature-loaded option, the XUV700 on the other hand, stands tall as an iconic SUV that is known for its sheer comfort, technology-oriented features and impressive value for money. But with that said, picking one from amongst the two isn’t as simple as it seems since both SUVs offer a lot more for a lot less. But the crucial question is, which one of the two takes the crown? Let’s find out in a head-on comparison of the new and updated Tata Safari head-on with the Mahindra XUV700

Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Dimensions

As far as dimensions go, the comparison above reveals that both SUVs largely stand shoulder to shoulder, but with a few differences that set them apart. The overall choice ultimately comes down to personal preferences since both SUVs offer a rather distinctive look.

When seen from that perspective, the XUV700 comes in as a 7 mm longer option with a 9 mm larger wheelbase, all set up in a package that offers great leg space and overall cabin comfort. Another area where the XUV700 shines is the boot space (3rd row down), which is about 30 litres more than what the Safari offers thereby allowing users to pack in a bit more; something that can always come in handy. In terms of looks, when compared to the Tata Safari, the XUV700 offers a bit more subtler look with a rather balanced stance. Other than that, what makes the XUV700 different from the Tata Safari is the fact that the SUV is also available in a 5-seater avatar in addition to its 7-seater glory. This gives quite a practical advantage to the XUV700, especially when it comes to cabin comfort and boot space.

Coming to the Tata Safari, the SUV with its 32 mm wider, and 40 mm taller bodyline comes in as a beefier and muscular option when compared to the XUV700. What works in favour of the newly facelifted Safari is its contemporary look that gives the SUV a premium feel while maintaining an assertive road presence. With a wheelbase of 2741 mm, there’s ample room for up to seven passengers, and with a ground clearance of 205 mm, there’s no worrying about bumpy roads. The boot space (3rd row down) on offer, despite being less than the XUV700, is sufficient enough to cater to your luggage needs, when on the road. Available in a 6/7 seater avatar, the Safari is quite a stylish machine.

The final choice, therefore, comes down to the buyer’s preference. While the XUV700 shines bright as a classic, tall, and balanced SUV that is garnished with modern style elements, the Safari on the other hand is inclined towards offering a contemporary, futuristic yet muscular stance. 

Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Engine and Transmission

As is crystal clear from the comparison above, when it comes to the petrol game, the Mahindra XUV700 takes the lead, leaving behind the Tata Safari, which is only offered with a diesel engine, with no petrol option available. The Safari on the other hand comes with a well-refined and peppy 2.0-litre Turbocharged petrol engine onboard that produces 200 PS of power with up to 380 Nm of peak torque, translating to an exhilarating driving experience. With both a 6-speed manual as well as automatic trims on offer, the petrol-powered XUV700 also does well on the efficiency part, returning a decent 15 km/l depending on the trim chosen.

Thus, as far as the petrol game is concerned, the XUV700 single-handedly takes the crown, with its power-packed turbo petrol engine.

The diesel comparison is where things get spicier between the two SUVs. While the Tata Safari comes with a single 2.0-litre Turbocharged Diesel engine producing 170 PS of power with 350 Nm of torque, the XUV700, on the other hand, offers a bigger 2.2-litre Turbocharged Diesel Engine that is available in two states of tune with one producing 155 PS with 360 Nm of torque while the other producing 185 PS with up-to 450 Nm of torque. 

Talking of the Safari, the SUV performs well with its punchy Turbocharged diesel engine that is grounded, stable and fun to drive with ample torque for bursts of power. Available with both a 6-speed manual as well as automatic transmission, the Tata Safari’s sole diesel engine fairs well on the efficiency part as well, returning a mileage of up to 16.8 km/l, depending on the variant chosen. 

Coming to the XUV700, the 2.2-litre Turbo Diesel engine with its absolute Turbo bliss, offers buyers a choice between two equally well-performing iterations. While in the 155 PS/360 NM avatar, the XUV700 literally lock horns with the Safari in terms of performance, with a little more torque on offer, but at the cost of less power. Overall, the performance of the engine in this tune is neck to neck with the Safari with both engines offering an exhilarating performance. However, it is the 185PS/450Nm iteration where the XUV700’s 2.2-litre engine truly stands out offering a whole new level of power, torque, performance and punch. Having said that, the engine does better in terms of efficiency as well, returning up to 17.5 km/l depending upon the variant chosen. With both 6-speed manual and automatic trims on offer, another area where the XUV700 takes the crown is the availability of a 4×4 diesel drivetrain, which the Tata Safari completely misses out on. This gives the XUV700 an all-terrain edge over the Safari.

Overall, when it comes to the engine and performance, it seems as if the XUV700 enjoys quite an edge over the Safari, which misses out both on a petrol powertrain and a 4×4 diesel drivetrain. But with that said, the sole 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine of the Tata Safari does perform well and gives tough competition to the XUV’s 2.2-litre unit, especially in its 155PS/360NM iteration.

Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Features and Comfort

The head-on comparison above proves why both the Tata Safari, as well as the XUV700, are two of the most popular choices in the SUV segment. Both cars come well equipped with several premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, touch infotainment system, cruise control, climate control and much more. 

However, when pitched head-on, the recently updated Tata Safari gets a slight edge over the XUV700 with some of the latest features such as a powered tailgate, paddle shifters and ventilated seats. Other than these, both SUVs do really well in terms of features, with each offering a premium cabin topped with all modern-day comfort and technology features. 

Overall, both SUVs stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to features, with the Tata Safari enjoying a slight edge over the XUV700 with a few more goodies up its sleeve. 

New Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Safety Features

When it comes to safety, both the Tata Safari as well as the Mahindra XUV700 are class apart. With both SUVs scoring a perfect 5-star safety rating, safety is something that is very well taken care of by both SUVs. 

With almost all modern-day safety features onboard, both SUVs truly impress. But with that said, when compared head-on, the Tata Safari does have an edge over the XUV700 with 6 airbags that are offered as standard across all variants.

Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Price Comparison

When it comes to the price comparison, the Tata Safari comes with a four-trim lineup that includes Smart, Pure, Adventure and Fearless. The trims are spread across 29 variants. On the other hand, the Mahindra XUV700’s variant lineup is spread across 4 trims, including the MX, AX3, AX5, and AX7 which is spread across 30 variants.

While both SUVs have ample options to choose from in each trim when it comes to pricing, the Mahindra XUV700 offers a better price advantage in each trim be it the base variants or the top ones. If you are looking to bring home the SUVs in their base avatars, the XUV700 offers a price advantage of about Rs. 2.16 Lakh. Even the mid and upper-mid-trim variants of the XUV700 offer better choices and price advantages when compared to the Tata Safari with savings ranging between Rs. 2 to 4 lakh. Finally, for those looking to bring home the top-of-the-line trim of both SUVs, savings of up to Rs. 3 lakh can be availed when choosing the Mahindra XUV700.

Thus as far as price is concerned, the Mahindra XUV700 is undoubtedly a better value-for-money option considering that it also offers the advantage of a 4×4 diesel along with a petrol powertrain.

New Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Summary

Be it the Tata Safari or the Mahindra XUV700, both SUVs offer a highly alluring package that offers everything that one might look for in an SUV. While the Mahindra XUV700 comes as a technology-oriented SUV with classic styling and a tall-boy charm, the Tata Safari comes as a modern-day marvel that offers everything top-notch from style to safety.

While in terms of dimension, the choice is more or less based on body preferences, and style when it comes to the powertrain, the XUV700 offers two extremely capable and peppy engines that include a petrol and diesel engine, while on the other hand, the Safari brings only a sole diesel engine onboard offered in a single tune of power and torque. When it comes to features and comfort, both cars are very well-equipped offering a lot to enjoy in every trim. Finally coming to the price, the XUV700 does offer slightly better value when compared to the Tata Safari. Overall both SUVs are two of the most iconic offerings in the segment, with each offering a unique and distinctive package.