Need For Speed Mahindra Edition: 5 Quickest Mahindra Cars We’ve Tested

Mahindra is predominantly known for its big displacement SUVs and their rugged styling and demeanor. The focus towards tech and comfort is apparent as well but with their new range of SUVs, performance is now becoming a big talking point too

So in this story, we take a look at the 5 quickest Mahindra vehicles we’ve tested to date:

Mahindra XUV400 EV: 8.44s

No surprises here. The Mahindra XUV400 EV packs 150PS/310Nm from its electric motor. And while that number might not be dramatic in the EV world, it still is good enough for a 0-100kmph time of 8.44 seconds; quicker than both the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 DSG and Hyundai Verna 1.5 DCT. It tops this list with more than a full second to spare compared to the next quickest Mahindra vehicle. Silent killer? We leave that for you to decide after you give our first drive review of the XUV400 EV a read.

Mahindra XUV700 2.0-litre P AT: 9.48s

Surprised? Yeah, one might not expect the XUV700 to be a sub-10 second car, but the 2-litre turbo-petrol powertrain packs quite the punch! With 200PS and 380Nm underneath the hood, the petrol XUV700 recorded a 0-100kmph time of 9.48 seconds. That’s quicker than a few turbo-petrol sedans! Impressive, especially for a 7-seater family SUV.

Mahindra XUV700 2.2-litre D AT: 9.67s | Mahindra XUV700 2.2L D AT AWD: 10.09s

The Mahindra XUV700 gets a 2.2-litre diesel engine, which puts out 185PS/450Nm in the AX trims. While the petrol XUV700 is the more eager version of Mahindra's cheetah, the difference is negligible. With this combination of punch and fuel-efficiency, it's no wonder why most XUV700 customers choose the diesel, which recorded the sprint in 9.67 seconds.

The all-wheel-drive powertrain (limited to 200PS diesel automatic), on the other hand, took 10.09 seconds to record a 0-100kmph time. The slight difference vs the front-wheel-drive XUV700 can be linked to the AWD variant’s heavier weight.

Mahindra Scorpio N 2.0-litre TP AT: 10.16s

The Scorpio N comes in fourth, but with a respectable time of 10.16 seconds. The run was recorded with its 200PS/380Nm 2-litre turbo-petrol engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission – the same powertrain found in the XUV700 as well. But unlike the XUV700, the Scorpio N is driven using the rear wheels as standard, and gets a 4x4 drive option with the diesel automatic. You can read about our driving impressions on the Scorpio N here.

Mahindra Thar 2.0-litre P AT: 10.21s

This thing right here is supposed to be a proper off-roader. But despite its off-road cred and 4x4 abilities, the Thar’s 150PS/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol is quick!. It took just 10.21 seconds to hit 100kmph. Apart from its 4x4 drivetrain, the Thar also gets rear-wheel-drive variants with slightly different powertrain options. You can read about the 4x4 Thar here, while deets on RWD Thar’s experience out in the city can be found here.

Also Read: Need For Speed Hyundai Edition: 5 Quickest Hyundais We’ve Ever Tested

Were you surprised to see any of these Mahindra models make the list? We reckon with Mahindra’s born electric lineup in the pipeline, the portfolio will become a whole lot quicker thanks to the more modern electric powertrains. In fact, Mahindra had even dropped a teaser, showing the XUV.e9, XUV.e8, And BE.05 recording 200kmph at Mahindra’s proving grounds.