Mahindra launched the XUV700 in the Indian market roughly a year ago and, as expected, it took the Indian audience by storm. The car’s launch was so successful, in fact, that it had a waiting period of over two years at launch. The car looked refreshingly new with futuristic front and rear ends. It was bigger than its predecessor – the Mahindra XUV500 – and it commanded your attention from the time it entered a frame. The fact that Mahindra stopped the production of the XUV500 meant that Mahindra had a lot of hopes and expectations from the XUV700.
The base version of a brand new Mahindra XUV700 starts at Rs. 13.45 lakh and the top-spec AX7 trim with a petrol engine and an automatic transmission goes up to Rs. 21.84 lakh. Such is the response to the Mahindra XUV700 in the Indian market that even after one year of its launch, it still remains one of the cars with the maximum waiting period. Once you are done finalising the trim you want and make the booking, you will still have to wait for almost 16 months before you can have an XUV700 of your own. And if you consider yourself a ‘logical and rational’ human being, you might not want to wait for almost 1 ½ years to get a car for yourself and your loved ones. That is why, we bring you some alternatives you can consider if you do not intend to wait to get behind the wheel of your own car.
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Tata Harrier
Tata Harrier has been enjoying a good run in the Indian market from the time it was launched in 2019. According to Tata, the Tata Harrier is ‘Born of legendary Land Rover pedigree’ which is visible from the time you set your eyes on it. The Tata Harrier is beautiful and has an impressive road presence thanks to its low and wide look from the front and rear. The Tata Harrier currently is available only with a 2-litre diesel engine which can be clubbed either with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The lack of a petrol variant might not sit well with some, but diesel enthusiasts have very little to dislike here.
The base variant of the Tata Harrier starts at Rs. 14.7 lakh which is Rs. 1.25 lakh more than the base variant of the Mahindra XUV700. The top-end version of the Tata Harrier goes up to Rs. 22.2 lakh which is just Rs. 36,000 more than the top-spec Mahindra XUV700. The base variants of both the cars are five-seaters which makes it easy to compare as opposed to the top-end XUV700 being a seven-seater. There is no 4×4 option in the Tata Harrier, but the Mahindra XUV700 offers that only in the top-end AX7 variant. The interiors and the seats of both the cars look and feel premium and offer more comfort, but that boils down to personal choice.
The Mahindra XUV700 is longer and taller than the Tata Harrier but both cars have almost the same width and wheelbase. The lower height of the Tata Harrier gives you more planted driving experience on the highways and the six-speed automatic is refined and smooth. The Harrier can accommodate five adults with ease like the XUV 700, but the Mahindra XUV 700 can also accommodate seven adults in the higher variants. Talking about the looks and road presence, both the cars look very unique and purposeful.
The waiting period for the Tata Harrier is 3-5 weeks, much less than that of the Mahindra XUV700 . If you are lucky, you might get it instantly in some markets depending on the variant.
Tata Harrier Specifications
- Engine: 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual
- Mileage: 16.35kmpl, 14.6kmpl
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
MG Hector
MG Hector is one of the most able among the potential contenders to the Mahindra XUV700. The MG Hector was the first car from Morris Garages in India and provided a remarkable value for money when it launched in 2019. Soon, the midsize SUV went on to become one of the most successful cars in its segment, and still continues to be so. The MG Hector looks pretty big for a midsize SUV and does make people give way once they see it in their rear view mirror. The lights on the front and rear ends do remind you of the cars from the movie Transformers. Available with two engine options of a 1.5-litre petrol and a 2-litre diesel, it has a lot to offer to a wider audience. The transmission can be chosen from a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic. The MG Hector is a five-seater which makes it a good option to consider for the five-seater versions of the Mahindra XUV700.
The base trim of the petrol version of the MG Hector starts at Rs. 14.43 lakh and the most expensive variant with a diesel engine comes with a hefty price tag of Rs. 20.36 lakh. This price bracket is pretty much in sync with the Mahindra XUV700 as the base variant of the MG Hector is more expensive by almost a lakh when compared to the XUV700. The most expensive Mahindra XUV700 is almost Rs. 1.5 lakh more expensive than the top-end MG Hector.
In most of the markets, the MG Hector is available after waiting for 2-4 months. While this is still not preferred, it is nothing when you compare it with the waiting period for a Mahindra XUV700. This means one whole year of driving a brand-new MG Hector instead of waiting for the same period for a Mahindra XUV700.
MG Hector Specifications
- Engine: 1.5-litre petrol, 2-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, CVT
- Mileage: 15.81kmpl (Petrol MT), 14.16kmpl (Petrol AT), 17.41kmpl (Diesel MT)
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Hyundai Alcazar
Hyundai has established itself as the go to brand for a feature-rich midsize SUV with the Hyundai Creta. But even though the Creta is so much loved by the Indian consumers, it also has a waiting period that goes over 10 months in most of the markets. This makes us look up to its elder sibling – the Hyundai Alcazar. Available in either a six-seater version or a seven-seater, the Hyundai Alcazar does provide a good value for your money by offering more utility over the five-seater cars in the Indian market.
Available with a 2-litre petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel, the Hyundai Alcazar lets you choose between more power, or more torque. Both the engines get 2 gearbox options in the form of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. On the outside, the Hyundai Alcazar looks like a bigger version of the Creta due to the extra row of seats. The front grille does give it a mean look and a decent road presence, but it is nowhere close to that of a Mahindra XUV700, or the Tata Harrier, or the MG Hector.
The base model of the Hyundai Alcazar has a petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission and starts at Rs. 15.9 lakh which is almost Rs. 2.5 lakh more than the base version of the Mahindra XUV700. The most expensive trim of the Hyundai Alcazar stands at Rs. 20.25 lakh with a diesel engine and a six-speed automatic gearbox. This variant is Rs. 1.6 lakh cheaper than the most expensive Mahindra XUV700.
Depending on the variant and your region, you can have your Hyundai Alcazar in two to eight weeks. This is nothing compared to the time one has to wait for the Mahindra XUV700. Yes, it may not look as menacing as the Mahindra XUV700 on the road, but it has enough on offer to be a compelling choice for someone interested in buying a 7-seater SUV without waiting. If the Hyundai Alcazar sounds like the right car for you, it is time to visit a dealership.
Hyundai Alcazar Specifications
- Engine: 2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
- Mileage: 14.5kmpl, 20.4kmpl
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Petrol, Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 6/7
- Body Type: SUV
Used Mahindra XUV500
This is the car that made way for the Mahindra XUV700. Unlike the Scorpio, the arrival of an updated version meant the end of the road for the Mahindra XUV500. A certain section of loyalists hoped that Mahindra would continue the production of the XUV500, but that didn’t happen. What seemed to be a ‘temporary’ discontinuation eventually meant the end of the road for the Mahindra XUV500 to give the new SUV plenty of space to shine.
Powered by a 2.2-litre diesel or a 2.2-litre petrol engine, the Mahindra XUV500 was a very comfortable and able car. People had the option to choose between a six-speed automatic and a six-speed manual transmission. The base model started from Rs. 12.3 lakh and went up to Rs. 20.3 lakh for the top of the line variant. Despite being taken off from the market, there is still a sizable demand for used Mahindra XUV500s.
The XUV500 had a low and wide look which gave it a very raw and robust appearance. The low stance meant it stayed planted on the highways even at high speeds. It looks very different from the other Mahindra siblings, and found its own set of loyalists when it came to looks. The not-so-boxy look did give it a very refreshing and attractive presence. The AWD was available only in the top-end variants, and rest of the variants were front-wheel-driven but it had enough ground clearance and torque to take seven adults wherever they wanted to go.
Provided you get lucky, there is good enough chance to find a Mahindra XUV500 on Spinny or in the used car market. Depending on your budget and the way it has been kept and maintained, it is possible to find a used Mahindra XUV500 which is just short of being brand new. As we all know, there is no fixed price on a used car in any market, which means it all depends on how many boxes it ticks on your list. It is not a far-fetched idea to expect a Mahindra XUV500 in a fairly good condition starting somewhere around Rs. 7-8 lakh on Spinny.
Once you start looking around, you should be able to find an XUV500 that suits your budget and requirements in no time.
Mahindra XUV500 Specifications
- Engine: 2.2-litre diesel, 2.2-litre petrol
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
- Mileage: 15.1kmpl, NA
- Airbags: 2 airbags standard. Up to 6 airbags on the top end variant
- Fuel Type: Diesel, Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 7
- Body Type: SUV
Summary
With the years rolling by, time is considered to be one of the most expensive things a person can spend. Unless you already have one or two cars parked outside (or under) your house, there is little sense in waiting for almost two years before you can have a car that is yours. The inability of the dealerships and manufacturers to deliver cars by accepting orders much more than what they can handle leads to utter chaos and mayhem. This means a nightmare to some of the customers who are not familiar with the timelines some of these cars come with. While some can easily wait for their turn to arrive, others do not enjoy this luxury.
Unless you are a loyal Mahindra fan, and want nothing but the ‘latest’ XUV700 in your garage, it is pointless to spend months waiting for a morning when you can finally take all your loved ones and leave for that dream vacation. Instead of waiting for ‘the’ car, you might as well look around for alternatives and spend that time having fun with your loved ones in a car that delivers smiles sooner than the Mahindra XUV700.
