The Tata Safari and the Mahindra XUV700 are three-row flagship SUVs for their respective brands. Both these SUVs were launched in 2021. The Safari is in its 2nd generation, and the Mahindra XUV700 was in its first generation when the particular model was discontinued. The Tata Safari delivers a mileage of 9-13 Km/l, while the Mahindra XUV700 delivers 10-15 Km/l. Both the SUVs are available in diesel and petrol variants, in manual and automatic transmissions.
The petrol variant of the Tata Safari is a recent addition. Safari has introduced the HYPERION 1.5L Turbo GDi petrol engine with its KRYOTEC 2.0L Turbocharged diesel engine. The Mahindra XUV700 has 2.0L TGDi petrol and 2.2L CRDi diesel turbo engines. Its diesel engine performs better than the petrol variants for better mileage, which reflects in its fuel cost as well. This article covers details on the mileage of Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700, focusing on different engine combinations and resultant mileage and cost.
Table of Contents
Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700 Specs
The key specifications are highlighted in the table below, which shows an overview of the differences between Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700.
| Specification | Tata Safari | Mahindra XUV700 |
| Engine | HYPERION 1.5L Turbo GDi PetrolKRYOTEC 2.0L Turbocharged Diesel | 2.0L TGDi Turbo Petrol2.2L CRDi Turbo Diesel |
| Displacement | Petrol: 1498 ccDiesel: 1956 cc | Petrol: 1999 ccDiesel: 2198 cc |
| Power | Petrol:170 hpsDiesel: 170 hps | Petrol: 197 hpsDiesel: 182 hps |
| Torque | Petrol: 280 NmDiesel: 350 Nm | Petrol: 380 NmDiesel MT: 360 – 450 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-Speed MT6-Speed AT | 6-Speed MT6-Speed AT |
| Drive layout | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel DriveOptional AWD in diesel 7-seater |
| Kerb weight | 1825 Kg | 1815 to 1960 Kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50 litres | 60 litres |
The Mahindra XUV700 has better power and torque with more engine capacity than the Tata Safari. While the Safari has the same power for both petrol and diesel variants, the XUV700 diesel engine is more powerful than the petrol one. The kerb weight is also similar for the base variants, but the Mahindra XUV700 mid and higher variants are heavier than the Safari. Both the SUVs have similar transmissions and drive layouts. Moreover, the XUV700 has more fuel tank capacity than the Safari. Despite all these factors, their mileage falls in the same range, especially for the petrol variants.
Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: ARAI Mileage Figures
The ARAI mileage figures show how the SUVs perform under controlled lab conditions. These only show how far their specifications help them perform and do not show how they will do in open conditions.
| Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | Tata Safari – ARAI Mileage (km/l) | Mahindra XUV700- ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| 1.5L Turbo GDi MT | Petrol | Officially not disclosed | NA |
| 1.5L Turbo GDi AT | Petrol | Officially not disclosed | NA |
| 2.0L Turbo MT | Diesel | 16.3 Km/l | NA |
| 2.0L Turbo AT | Diesel | 14.1 Km/l | NA |
| 2.0L Turbo MT | Petrol | NA | 15 Km/l |
| 2.0L Turbo AT | Petrol | NA | 13 Km/l |
| 2.2L Turbo MT | Diesel | NA | 17 Km/l |
| 2.2L Turbo AT | Diesel | NA | 16.57 Km/l |
Tata Safari has not officially revealed the ARAI mileage for its petrol variants. Its diesel manual variants show the same mileage as the diesel automatic of the XUV700. The XUV700 2.2L Turbo manual transmission shows the best figures and is the most fuel-efficient SUV between these two. The mileage of the Safari diesel automatic variant falls in the range of the mileage of XUV700 petrol variants.
Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Real World Fuel-Efficiency
The real-world fuel efficiency is different from what the ARAI figures claim. As real-time environmental conditions, road conditions, and other factors come into play, there will be differences in the actual figures from what is claimed. The table below shows the actual on-road mileage of Safari and XUV700.
| Tata Safari (Petrol) | Mahindra XUV700 (Petrol) | Tata Safari (Diesel) | Mahindra XUV700 (Diesel) | |
| City | Manual: 9.5-10.5 Km/lAutomatic: 8.5-11 Km/l | Manual: 9-11 Km/lAutomatic: 8-10 Km/l | Manual: 10-12 Km/lAutomatic: 11-13 Km/l | Manual:11-13 Km/lAutomatic: 10-12 Km/l |
| Highway | Manual: 13-15 Km/lAutomatic: 11.7-14.5 Km/l | Manual:11-13 Km/lAutomatic: 10-12 Km/l | Manual: 15-16 Km/lAutomatic: 14-15 Km/l | Manual:15.5-16.5 Km/lAutomatic: 14-16 Km/l |
| Average | 11 Km/l | 11.5 Km/l | 13.3 Km/l | 14.5 Km/l |
| Tank range | 450-700 Km | 550-750 Km | 450-700 Km | 550-750 Km |
When assessing real-world mileage, what is significant is how much the actual mileage stays close to the claimed figures. Here, the Tata Safari diesel variants show highway mileage staying close to the ARAI claims. XUV700 petrol variants show a dip in their actual mileage on both city and highways, but its diesel variants show steadier and closer mileage to the ARAI claims. Manual transmission always fares better than automatic transmissions. The diesel powertrains of both these SUVs deliver better mileage, and they are almost identical. However, it is the Mahindra XUV700 diesel manual transmission that emerges the winner with consistent mileage on highways and better mileage on city roads.
Also Read: How to Increase Mahindra XUV700 Mileage
Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700: Fuel Cost Comparison
Let’s compare the fuel cost for Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700. For convenience, we have taken an average distance of 1500 Km per month. The average price of petrol and diesel is used here, which are Rs.111 and Rs. 98, respectively, to calculate the monthly, annual, and 5-year fuel cost for these SUVs The table below provides the expenses for the two powertrains.
| Tata Safari Petrol | Mahindra XUV700 Petrol | Tata Safari (Diesel) | Mahindra XUV700 Diesel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 Km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 125L | 125L | 108L | 100-105L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 13,875 | ₹ 13,875 | ₹ 10,584 | ₹ 9800-10,290 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1.66 lakhs | ₹ 1.66 lakhs | ₹ 1.27 lakhs | ₹ 1.17 lakhs- 1.23 lakhs |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 8.32 lakhs | ₹ 8.32 lakhs | ₹ 6.35 lakhs | ₹ 5.88 lakhs- 6.17 lakhs |
The petrol variants of Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700 have a similar average mileage, and therefore the fuel costs are also similar. At the same time, the diesel variants of XUV700 have a lower fuel cost than the Safari. There is a significant difference of Rs.17,000 to Rs.47,000 in savings. Mahindra XUV700 can save you more, especially if you mostly drive on highways and have consistent speed and throttle for better fuel efficiency. Despite being more expensive than the XUV700 diesel, the Safari diesel powertrain can save almost Rs.2 lakhs over 5 years compared to its petrol variant.
Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700 Price
Here is a quick overview of the ex-showroom price of Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700.
| Model | Variant (Base to Top) | Price (Ex-Showroom) |
| Tata Safari | Smart to Accomplished Ultra | ₹ 13.40 lakhs to 27.34 lakhs |
| Mahindra XUV700 | MX to AX7 Luxury | ₹ 13.66 lakhs to 26.29 lakhs |
Although the XUV700 is a discontinued model and is currently only available in the used car market, you can get a general idea about the price difference.
Summary
The comparison of mileage of Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700 shows that the XUV700 is the winner. It leads in diesel engines straightaway and has a slight edge over the Safari in petrol engines. Moreover, it has a higher savings option with fuel costs. The XUV700 diesel engine is the most suitable option for those who drive mainly on the highways. For city drives, you can choose either Safari or XUV700 as they have a mileage that falls in the same range. However, in terms of fuel cost, the XUV700 takes the prize. In addition, the XUV700 is easily available in the used market at a much lower price than the Tata Safari.
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FAQs About Tata Safari vs Mahindra XUV700 Mileage
Q. How good is the mileage of Safari and XUV700 on hills?
On hilly roads, the mileage of Safari and XUV700 is low, somewhere between 7-11 Km/l. However, the Mahindra XUV700 is a slightly better option because of its better fuel efficiency when compared to the Safari. The XUV700 diesel is the best option between them as it has a more responsive engine delivering an average mileage of 9-11 Km/l.
Q. Which is better for daily commuting, Tata Safari or Mahindra XUV700?
Mahindra XUV700 has lighter steering, which makes driving through congested city roads easier. The Tata Safari is bigger and will not be easier on city roads. The Safari is most suitable for highway drives if you are looking for a more comfortable ride.
Q. Which SUV is more fuel-efficient on long-distance highway drives?
Mahindra XUV700 is the more fuel-efficient SUV than the Tata Safari. It has the best city mileage of 12 Km/l and 15 Km/l on highways.
Q. Which SUV is ideal to reduce annual fuel expenses for frequent drivers?
The diesel engine of Mahindra XUV700 is more fuel-efficient and costs around Rs. 1.17 lakhs to 1.23 lakhs annually. The annual fuel expense of the Tata Safari can be approximately Rs. 1.27 lakhs.
Q. Do manual variants have better mileage than automatic variants for Safari and XUV700?
Yes, the manual variants usually give better mileage than the automatics due to direct gear control, rather than the torque converter. It stays true with both the Tata Safari and Mahindra XUV700, which show better mileage with the manual transmission, regardless of the fuel option.
