Mahindra XEV 9e: Upsides And Downsides Of The Premium Electric SUV Coupe

The Mahindra XEV 9e is a premium electric SUV coupe sitting under the Indian marque’s newly introduced XEV subbrand. It is based on the INGLO platform and it retails at a price range between Rs 21.9 lakh to Rs 30.5 lakh (ex-showroom). It is now available at dealerships across India and before you run out to take a physical look at it, here are all its pros and cons summarised below:

Mahindra XEV 9e: The Good Things

With generous dimensions, the XEV 9e is a great-looking SUV coupe. It features 207 mm ground clearance and its modern and uniquely styled vertically stacked LED headlights with connected LED taillights and hidden rear door handles give it a great commanding road presence.

The cabin is premium in the XEV 9e, which sports a 43-inch triple-screen setup, smooth plastics, and leatherette padding. Space-wise, it does well with headroom and legroom even for tall passengers. The rear seat can easily seat three average-sized adults, with the backrest adjustable.

One of the biggest strengths of the XEV 9e is the tech. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is provided, plus a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, along with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The screen on the passenger's side up front allows for entertainment streaming and video calls. And, as icing on the cake, it includes an onboard selfie camera and interactive lighting.

Performance-wise, the XEV 9e is smooth, quick, and efficient. It has two battery options: a 59 kWh pack with a 535 km claimed range and a 79 kWh pack with a 682 km claimed range. In real-world conditions, these figures should translate to around 380-550 km. The single rear-wheel-drive motor delivers up to 285 PS and 380 Nm of torque, helping it achieve a 0-100 kmph sprint in just 6.8 seconds.

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Charging is another highlight, as the 79 kWh battery can reach 80 per cent in just 20 minutes using a 175 kW charger. For home charging, it supports 7 kW and 11 kW AC chargers, taking between 6-12 hours for a full charge. 

Safety is also very well covered with 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, and a 360-degree camera system. XEV 9e also gets ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, auto-braking, lane-keeping assist, and auto-parking that can be operated via the key fob or phone app.

Mahindra XEV 9e: The Not-So-Good Things

Despite its strengths, the XEV 9e has a few drawbacks. While the 19-inch wheels are well-designed, they appear small for a vehicle of this size. The coupe-like sloping roofline, although stylish, reduces boot space, making it less practical for large luggage. Moreover, despite its bigger size than the XUV700, it only seats five people, whereas the XUV700 offers a 7-seater configuration.

The cabin has a few usability issues too. It is quite hard to use the piano black control panel for the AC and the hazard lights. The digital instrument cluster though was a feature rich could have had faster response times as well. Then there's the issue of the front passenger's screen remaining active even in motion which can prove somewhat distracting for the driver.

On the road, the XEV 9e has steering that is light and easy to use, but steering-mounted controls sometimes result in accidental horn presses. Entering the car will likewise require care, because, for taller passengers, the sloping roofline can present a problem.

There is good provision for charging options, but public charging infrastructures remain unreliable in many places. Auto-park assist is useful but can sometimes not be accurate on uneven roads. A space-saver spare tyre without a full-sized spare tyre may be inconvenient on long trips.

What’s The Hook?

The Mahindra XEV 9e is a well-rounded electric SUV excelling in design, features, safety, and driving comfort; this is one reason the XEV 9e has the makings of a premium EV experience. However, there are also some practical limitations, such as its relatively poor boot space and usability quirks, along with reliance on public charging - those points need to be weighed up. 

That’s our thoughts on the fresh electric Mahindra SUV coupe. What do you think about it? Let us know in the comments below.