Mahindra XEV 9e: Put simply, the XEV 9e heralds the electric vehicle era in India to stratospheric levels of performance and luxury – out-SUV’ing the best of European premium marques and comfortably eclipsing other EVs at the premium end of the market, and quite a few other internal combustion SUVs too.
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Mahindra XEV 9e Striking Design Language
With its dimensions and features, the XEV 9e is an electric car that stands out from the crowd, applying a series of distinguishing design cues to be futuristic but reasonable in use.
At the front, evolution of Mahindra’s signature grille, for the electric age, the illuminated grille element which does an anticipatory light show as the vehicle approaches.
Streamlined character lines along the sides minimize visual mass, yet also serve to improve aero efficiency – key to delivering the kind of range figures it enjoys. A fastback-like roofline flows across the sporty rear haunches, offering a profile that is both athletic and refined.
The lighting components are particularly special, providing matrix LED headlamps that also keep track of oncoming vehicles using segmented sections in the beam pattern so that it doesn’t dazzle the oncoming traffic, but at the same time provides the greatest degree of visibility. The one-piece, state-of-the-art rear light bar uses microLEDs to ensure precise signalling and increased visibility at night.
Cabin Experience Redefined
Mahindra XEV 9e Step into the XEV 9e and, conventional India automobile interior expectations are turned on their head. The cabin epitomises Mahindra’s new design philosophy of ‘mindful luxury’, where premium materials meet sustainable production.
“There is a purity to the design that shows what the iX is all about; less but better,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design, in a statement on Mini sums up new three-door model Mini sums up new three-door model Inside, the dashboard is expansive, cocooning the driver and front passenger in a sort of cockpit feel physical controls have been kept for vital elements but stand side by side with modern digital interfaces.
There is a 15-inch curved touchscreen (which appears to float above the dashboard) at the center, which is teamed with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster that offers a variety of individual display options.
Such was not the case with many of the competitors who’d just scaled up screen size without enhancing functionality, and Mahindra hasn’t skimped on UX, either—menus are intuitive, touch inputs respond quickly, even with gloves.
The seats are wide and comfortable (with vibration/heating and semi-bucket support) you wouldn’t expect this level of comfort in a workhorse like this.
The latter features electric platform, giving plenty of legroom on the rear bench (and a flat floor) while the captain’s chairs that come as standard fit in top-spec models mean you can stretch out just like a limo passenger on long journeys.
True Dhakad Range Performance
“Dhakad” summarizes the XEV 9e against its rivals – brutal no-compromise performance that is on another level. Ultrabattery the centerpiece of the performance is Mahindra ‘s advanced energy storage system with solid-state technology and advanced thermal management that enable great range without sacrificing battery life.
But with a 90 kWh battery (which provides an ARAI-verified range of 520 km) on the standard model, and a 120 kWh version on the flagship ‘Marathon’ edition, which claims a startling 680 km between recharges, those numbers make the idea of running out of charge even for intercity use hover on the edge of science fiction.
The wonderfully engineered motive source comprises twin motors that pump out 485 hp and instantaneous torque of 850 Nm. This equates to a 0-100 km/h sprint in a mere 4.6 seconds – impressive for a car of this bulk and luxury orientation.
Charging is equally awesome, with the ability to slurp up to 270 kW of DC fast charge which will add 200 km of electric distance in only 18 minutes – hardly enough for that cup of coffee on a long-haul run.
Home charging hasn’t been forgotten about, either – the 22 kW wallbox that comes as part of the package will deliver a full charge during the course of an evening.
Technological Innovation
The XEV 9e is a representation of Mahindra’s technical capabilities beyond just electric technology. The AdrenoX infotainment system has been developed with inputs from leading global technology players to offer a smartphone-like experience in the car, with intuitive and seamless smartphone integration, voice recognition in 10 Indian languages, and over-the-air updates.
As for the driving assist functions, you get Level 2+ autonomy with highway assist, automated parking with a smartphone-based remote control and a predictive emergency braking system optimised for Indian streets – that sounds like a recipe for real-world safety, considering our traffic.
This technology enables a head-up display-style overlay of navigation and a 360-degree low-level view of the SUV’s surroundings on the windscreen through the camera feed, which gives drivers a significantly better perspective when parking or navigating the GLS in suburban environments.
Luxury which Is Useful for Indian Conditions
Mahindra XEV 9e But the reason the XEV 9e stands out is how it feels comfortable in our Indian context. Its dual-zone air purification system features a combination of HEPA filtration and active carbon type materials for protection against urban pollution.
Adaptive damping is standard suspension on the ride with a unique “rough road” mode that monitors the road ahead with forward facing cameras to adjust the damper settings.
There are some signs of intelligent tailoring even in the audio system, which is the 18-speaker Harman Kardon unit – it comes with active noise cancellation that dampens specific frequencies that are prevalent in Indian traffic so that the cabin here is sea calm even as the world around it may be in complete chaos.
Market Positioning
XEV 9e has been positioned by Mahindra as a flagship product, exemplifying Indian engineering at its best without any compromise. The base version is priced from ₹45 lakh, while the fully-loaded Marathon edition is available at ₹65 lakh – a big-discount when compared to imported rivals with similar features.
The vehicle ownership experience would be further enhanced by Mahindra’s increasing number of a dedicated electric vehicle experience center in key cities and mobile service units that cover smaller towns.
The electric battery is also under warranty for 8 years or 180,000km – something which has been a point of angst for those early to the EV party.
Mahindra XEV 9e Conclusion
The Mahindra XEV 9e is not just an inspiring car, it’s a warning shot from an Indian carmaker with global ambitions. For the first time ever, by combining real dhakad range capabilities along with careful consideration for local Indian luxuries, Mahindra has delivered an electric SUV that hasn’t just taken on well established luxury brands – the XUV 300 has gone ahead and done so much better by truly understanding the local need and staying away from compromise-laden engineering.
