[CentreOfGravity]

Mahindra have silently discontinued the 6-seater variants of the XUV700 in India. At launch, the XUV700 did not come with a 6-seater variant and was introduced earlier this year. The XUV700 is available with two engine options, a 2.0L turbo-petrol engine which produces 200 bhp and 380 Nm of torque, and a 2.2L turbo-diesel engine which produces 185 bhp and 420/450 Nm of torque. Both engines come with an option of a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed torque converter AT gearbox.

Source: Rushlane

For a very long time, Mahindra XUV700 lacked 6S variants that delivered premium rear-seat mobility appeal for chauffeur-driven buyers. Rivals like Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus offered 6S variants and there was an outcry by the enthusiasts. Mahindra sensed the need and added Captain Seat variants earlier this year.

Just a few months later, Mahindra has discontinued all 6-Seat variants on sale. There is a good probability that buyers preferred 7-Seat variants over 6-Seat counterparts. Regardless, Mahindra has axed 6-Seat variants offered with AX7 and AX7L trim levels across both Petrol and Diesel engine options in the latest price update.

[amtak]

Any specific reason why this was discontinued? If I had a choice, I would have picked the 6 seater than a 7 seater. This also helps in making some more space in the boot!

[Asoon]

Originally Posted by amtak

Any specific reason why this was discontinued? If I had a choice, I would have picked the 6 seater than a 7 seater. This also helps in making some more space in the boot!

Market is not there for rear captain seats in India (especially in sub 30L price bucket). I have not noticed any 6 seater XUV700, sales are negligible. Most buyer are seeking a family car when opting for XUV700 and captain seat do not fit in their requirement.

[amtak]

Originally Posted by Asoon

Market is not there for rear captain seats in India (especially in sub 30L price bucket). I have not noticed any 6 seater XUV700, sales are negligible. Most buyer are seeking a family car when opting for XUV700 and captain seat do not fit in their requirement.

ScorpioN comes with 6 seater, so does Innova (Crysta/HyCross) or for that matter, Invicto.

[naru80]

The idea of a 6-seater XUV700 was good only in theory: Captain seats, more "luxury," and a premium vibe.

The execution was meh.

1 Non-Sliding Seats: You’d think they’d make the captain seats slide to offer better third-row access, but nope. It’s as static as the regular bench.

2 Identical Recline: So, what’s the point? It feels like they just swapped out a bench for two chairs with no functional upgrade.

3 No Ventilation: In 2024, who buys a "premium" seat configuration without cooling vents?

4 Cramped Space: The gap between the two captain seats is so small, the "easier third-row access" promise is laughable. It’s not any better than crawling over a bench.

Last month, the 6-seater version was being sold with a 50k additional discount.

[Asoon]

Originally Posted by amtak

ScorpioN comes with 6 seater, so does Innova (Crysta/HyCross) or for that matter, Invicto.

Apart from Innova, no one is doing significant numbers with 6 seats variants, other will cease to exist. I have a theory - Moving excess inventory/captain seats is the reason why Australian Scorpio N come with 6 seat option only.

[ron178]

Originally Posted by Asoon

I have a theory - Moving excess inventory / captain seats is the reason why Australian Scorpio N come with 6 seat option only

Australia has a weird regulation (ADR 34) requiring a Top Tether (for child seats) at the back of every second row seat that has a seatbelt.

The XUV700 has a very different middle seat in Australia with a three-point belt, a much bigger, adjustable head restraint, and the top tether. I don’t think the Scorpio was engineered for this (maybe next year), hence only the 6 seat versions are exported. New Zealand for example gets the 7-seat version.

[ryanMathew]

Wait, so the captain seat version is gone?!

The captain seat variants definitely didn't sell huge numbers compared to the 7 seater and making it available on the top ends only definitely didn't help. I think almost everyone is following Renault's example with the Lodgy now and providing captain seats only in the top end versions. But removing it from a 'premium' car like the XUV is surely a mistake, right?

I really hope they bring it back later on. Maybe with some ventilated seats?

[kgt.v8]

Originally Posted by Asoon

Market is not there for rear captain seats in India (especially in sub 30L price bucket). I have not noticed any 6 seater XUV700, sales are negligible. Most buyer are seeking a family car when opting for XUV700 and captain seat do not fit in their requirement.

The sales of XUV700 6 seater was less, but still there were some people buying it. Mahindra could have built these on order basis instead of discontinuing and should have added sliding seats in 2025.

XUV700 6 seater had one touch action on left side captain seat. This made going into third row so much easier as compared to Safari or facelift Alcazar. I feel this was possible because XUV700 captain seats were not ventilated (like previous gen Alcazar).

The third row leg space in XUV700 is lesser as compared to Safari. This could have been fixed with sliding second row captain seats which in turn could have converted some Safari 6 seater sales to XUV700 6 seater.

There is definitely a market for 6 seater cars in sub 30 lakh segment as most of manufacturers are selling cars with captain seats for past 3 years or more.

Cars available with second row captain seats

• Kia Carens Luxury Plus. The captain seats on Carens feel nice and you have good leg room in both second and third row of Carens with captain seat configuration.
• Innova Crysta GX. I have seen couple of these in past 1 year on the road and in parking.
• Innova Crysta ZX. ZX has always been sold with second row captain seats for more than 8 years now. ZX variant still has highest sale in Telangana as compared to other variants of Crysta out there.
• Hycross/Invicto
• Scorpio-N Z8L
• Safari Accomplished+. I got an opportunity to sit in 6 seater Safari at a showroom and the seats felt snug. The handrest felt very thin and I did not feel that I could rest my hand on those thin arm rest for longer period. The biggest USP of Safari is ventilated captain seats which no other manufacturer provided until facelift Alcazar came in.
• Alcazar. The captain seats are ventilated in the facelift and I have seen couple of 6 seaters since launch. The captain seats do not tumble, just like Safari 6 seater. This makes going into third row very difficult in facelift Alcazar and head room is also not much. The captain seats are slidable so you can adjust leg room as needed.

Originally Posted by amtak

ScorpioN comes with 6 seater, so does Innova (Crysta/HyCross) or for that matter, Invicto.

Crysta, Hycross and Invicto have the best captain seat configuration as per my experience. These have been designed to give good comfort to the owners or family members travelling in chauffeur driven car.

[dsr001]

In family cars, 1 pax can lie down partly in the 2nd row. This is missed with captain seats.

Also, captain seats force a 5th person to the 3rd row so car becomes effectively a 4 seater.

[handsofsteel]

Originally Posted by kgt.v8

Cars available with second row captain seats

• Kia Carens Luxury Plus. The captain seats on Carens feel nice and you have good leg room in both second and third row of Carens with captain seat configuration.
• Innova Crysta GX. I have seen couple of these in past 1 year on the road and in parking.
• Innova Crysta ZX. ZX has always been sold with second row captain seats for more than 8 years now. ZX variant still has highest sale in Telangana as compared to other variants of Crysta out there.
• Hycross/Invicto
• Scorpio-N Z8L
• Safari Accomplished+. I got an opportunity to sit in 6 seater Safari at a showroom and the seats felt snug. The handrest felt very thin and I did not feel that I could rest my hand on those thin arm rest for longer period. The biggest USP of Safari is ventilated captain seats which no other manufacturer provided until facelift Alcazar came in.
• Alcazar. The captain seats are ventilated in the facelift and I have seen couple of 6 seaters since launch. The captain seats do not tumble, just like Safari 6 seater. This makes going into third row very difficult in facelift Alcazar and head room is also not much. The captain seats are slidable so you can adjust leg room as needed.

You missed out on the XL6. If you are including the Carens, this should be in the list too

[DevendraG]

IMHO, I believe the additional cost vs benefit of captain seats would be less enticing in current buyers market which would’ve caused the withdrawal.

[GTO]

One more thing we got to realise is, an MPV or SUV with captain seats is effectively a 4-adult seater only. Big problem in India where 5 onboard is common. No one looks forward to riding on the 3rd row seat. More so if it's not in an Innova or Carens. In the last 5 years, I have NEVER travelled on the 3rd row.

Captain seats are awesome in cabs or purely chauffeur-driven cars. Not otherwise. For family cars, the bench seat variant is preferred as it's a proper 5-adult seater.

[onco.opinion]

I currently own an XL6 and the captain seats in the second row offer supreme comfort in terms of the contour, recline, hand rests, and seat sliding facility for adjusting leg room. All these comforts are wholly or partly compromised in bench seat option. The bench seat configuration, on the other hand indeed provides the convenience of seating three because no one likes to shift to the third row that too without a co-passenger. The reluctance for the third row stems from the limited usable space and uncomfortable seating position and more importantly the feeling of being an outcast.

To get the best of both worlds, I am contemplating buying an aftermarket middle seat for the gap between the two captain chairs. That way I can continue enjoying the captain seats and their functionality and still accomodate the third person when required.

Am I thinking on acceptable lines?

[kgt.v8]

Originally Posted by onco.opinion

I currently own an XL6 and the captain seats in the second row offer supreme comfort in terms of the contour, recline, hand rests, and seat sliding facility for adjusting leg room.

To get the best of both worlds, I am contemplating buying an aftermarket middle seat for the gap between the two captain chairs. That way I can continue enjoying the captain seats and their functionality and still accommodate the third person when required.

Am I thinking on acceptable lines?

I cannot find out what to call such part which fills the space between captain seats and is removable. I have seen some XL6 and Innova Crysta where people put this part between captain seats. This part fills the space between captain seats and makes it look like a bench. The bench formed looked uncomfortable as it results in a weird shape. This part is not attached to the body, it is a risky modification and puts life of anyone sitting on it at risk.