Polished And Powerful: Reviewing The Mahindra XEV 9e Experience
The XEV 9e based on the Inglo platform is the bigger and more premium EV which starts at Rs 21.9 lakh while coming with two battery pack options- 59 and 79kwh
Electric cars are different and Mahindra has thrown everything at their new range of EVs in terms of a new electric architecture along with specifications normally seen on luxury cars. The XEV 9e based on the Inglo platform is the bigger and more premium EV which starts at Rs 21.9 lakh while coming with two battery pack options- 59 and 79kwh.
The 79 kwh battery pack means 656 km range and 284 bhp which means 0-100 km/h is just 6.8 seconds. The big XEV has lots of road presence due to its size and the sloping coupe-like roofline too. The front-end has a blanked off grille which might divide some people in terms of looks but flush door handles, 19-inch alloy and plenty of curves turns a lot of heads. Paint finish is high and so is the quality. The interiors have a XUV700 vibe with the basic design but everything is different with a new steering wheel for EVs which Mahindra have added plus no less than three screens!
Yes, there is a digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen and a passenger touchscreen too. The looks and quality is from luxury cars while the passenger touchscreen has entertainment functions to use. The main screen feels slick and is loaded with features. Some of them include an excellent HUD, a 16 speaker audio system which sounds good along with a 360 degree camera with autopark, dual zone climate control, various modes plus customisable ambient lighting even on the glass roof!
All this is normally seen on much more expensive cars. That said most of the controls are on the touchscreen with not enough physical controls while dual powered seats or V2L is missing. The in-car connectivity also involves AI with a Snapdragon chipset. Safety features include 7 airbags and ADAS level 2. Space is big with rear seats having enough headroom plus legroom (with movable front passenger seat from the back) despite the coupe-like styling plus there is a huge frunk as well as a boot!
To drive, the XEV 9e is fast and even in the lower range mode feels smooth along with lots of performance. Put it in the faster modes and the power will thrill you. This is the fastest Indian EV and feels like it. What surprised me is the cushioned ride quality which handles bad roads quite well. Despite being a big car, the steering is light and it is easy to drive but more feedback at higher speeds would have been nicer.
A 207 mm ground clearance also means no issues over going bad roads as we did too. In terms of handling, it does feel a bit heavy and big but has good control along with stability at high speed which is needed with so much power. Expect a real world 500 km plus range depending on the way you drive. There is regen braking of course which can be modulated.
The XEV 9e has everything and Mahindra have stuffed it with features not seen on cars costing a crore! There is a selfie camera, inbuilt apps and it can auto park too along with lots of other features. We think the stand out highlights include the performance, range and the features on offer but the Rs 22 lakh version isn't as well equipped and Mahindra has yet to reveal the prices for the top-end. However, for space, range and looks plus a premium driving experience, the XEV 9e gets off to a good start.
What we like: Performance, range, space, quality, comfort
What we do not like: Top-end trims could be pricey
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