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Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Futuristic SUV Coupe Looking For Present-Day KO
Just over two years ago, Mahindra's then newly minted design head Pratap Bose (freshly poached from Tata Motors) took the covers off the firm's born electric concepts in England. These concepts and the new born electric brands that they spawned created quite a buzz at the time, but then everything went silent as Mahindra got to work getting them ready for production.
Now, just over two years since that faithful day in Blighty, in conditions that were similar to those you find on most days in England, Mahindra took the covers off the production-spec versions of the new XEV 9e and BE 6e EVs in Chennai, leaving us with a sense of deja-vu at first glance.
But after rubbing our eyes for quite a bit, blinking away the cobwebs and pinching ourselves, we were relieved to find that these were not the concept cars from two years ago but the actual EVs that you and I can buy at a nearby dealership.
A day later, a bit dazed with what we had in front of us, we got into the driver's seat of the new Mahindra XEV 9e and the BE 6e and drove them around Chennai for the very first drive. Below is the review of the first drive in the Mahindra XEV 9e, with the one for the sportier BE 6e set to follow soon...
Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Exterior Design - A Concept Car In The Real World
The Mahindra XEV 9e is, in simple terms, a concept car running about in the real world. Just look around this coupe-SUV and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the concept car from 2022 has come to life in the real world.
The front end of the XEV 9e is dominated by the blocked-off grille section above which sits the lightbar connecting the inverted L-shaped DRLs. These daytime running lights also act as indicators and flank the triangular sections housing the headlights, which look like the eyes of a robot from the Transformers movies.
The lower section of the front bumper is finished in Piano Black. This shiny black material stretches across the sides and wheelarches of the new XEV 9e to the rear bumper. The XEV 9e sports a long, flowing coupe-like roof, flush door handles, sculpted sides and rides on 19-inch aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels (owners can opt for 20-inch wheels).
At the rear, the sloping roof melds into the boot lid, which sports a small spoiler element. Underneath the spoiler sits the slimline connected LED taillights that mimic the shape of the DRL setup at the front. There is another small spoiler element above the rear glass hosting the third brake light, ahead of which sits the shark fin antenna for the radio.
The boot lid sports the new Mahindra Infinity logo for its EVs. Next to the taillights on the left side of the Mahindra XEV 9e sits a panel that pops open to reveal the charging port for the electric SUV. Lower down, you find the rear fog lamps and reflectors and the diffuser element sitting underneath the Piano Black portion of the rear bumper.
The boot lid electrically opens to reveal a rather large 663-litre boot that is enough for most road trips with the family that you can think of. The 18-inch space-saver spare wheel sits underneath the carpeted boot floor. For those looking for even more storage space, the XEV 9e offers a 150-litre frunk.
Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Interior & Features - Familiar Yet Enhanced
Step inside the new Mahindra XUV 9e's cabin and you're greeted by a cabin that looks somewhat familiar but is dominated by a triple-screen setup that stretches across the dashboard of the new EV. These three 12.3-inch screens (touchscreens for the passenger and infotainment units) come with different colours for the chosen driving mode - Range (Green), Everyday (Purple) and Race (Red).
The large triple display setup is powered by Mahindra's AdrenoX operating system and these are run with the help of MAIA, the firm's in-house automotive AI that helps with a lot of the connected car tech. There is wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as 5G connectivity and the infotainment touchscreen feels quite responsive.
What we do have an issue with is the fact that Mahindra has opted to move almost every controller for functions like the climate control system, audio and drive modes to the infotainment screen. Thankfully a knob and the buttons surrounding it on the centre console do bring some physical control over these elements back to your hands.
The seats on the Mahindra XEV 9e are quite plush and comfortable to sit on. The powered driving seat allows you to get into the perfect driving position. The seatback for the seats up front each features a single 65W USB C charging port and a section above to dock your own device.
The rear seats offer quite a bit of support and the headroom is decent even for a person around 6 feet tall despite the large sunroof and coupe-style roofline. Both the knee and shoulder room are good and three adults can sit at the rear without much issue thanks to the flat floor.
The sunroof stretches across the roof of the XEV 9e and while we do appreciate the large size, the ambient lighting setup for it feels more like a gimmick and just a bit tacky. The rear windows do get sun blinds, which will be quite nice in the summer.
The 16-speaker Harman Kardon system boasts an output of 1400W and Dolby Atmos support. While we couldn't fully explore the soundscapes, the music we played sounded noticeably better than the systems found in other cars within this segment.
In terms of storage, the XEV 9e offers a generous amount of space for your extra gear. Each door comes equipped with bottle holders and additional space for stowing knickknacks and other everyday essentials. There is also extra storage between the front seats. Additionally, the central spine section of the dashboard features two wireless phone charging pads and two USB-C charging ports in the storage area, providing further convenience.
Other highlights of the XEV 9e's cabin include the two-spoke steering wheel with controls for the infotainment screen, an augmented reality heads-up display, 360-degree camera and ambient lighting.
The new XEV 9e from Mahindra comes packed with an array of safety features including 7 airbags (6 are standard across all variants), a driver alertness system, Level 2 ADAS, blind spot monitoring, auto parking and even a Pawpal feature that keeps the cabin cool and secure for your pet if you have to dash out to grab something in a hurry.
Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Specs & Dimensions - An INGLO Revolution
The Mahindra XEV 9e is based on the firm's new modular INGLO skateboard platform for EVs. This INGLO platform allows for a flat-pack battery pack and a rear-axle-mounted motor in the new XEV 9e.
The XEV 9e is available with two battery pack options-59kWh and 79kWh. Both packs use BYD's Blade battery tech and utilise LFP chemistry. The larger 79kWh unit delivers a claimed range of 656km, while the smaller 59kWh pack offers 542km of range (MIDC).
Both battery packs can charge from 20 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes when connected to a fast DC charger. The 79kWh pack supports DC charging speeds of 175kW, while the 59kWh pack supports 140kW fast DC charging. Both packs are compatible with 8.7kW and 11kW home AC chargers. The 8.7kW charger takes between 8.7 and 11.7 hours to fully charge the 59kWh and 79kWh packs, whereas the 11kW charger reduces this time to six and eight hours, respectively.
The XEV 9e's battery packs connect to a single electric motor mounted to the rear axle of the coupe SUV. The motor produces 228bhp and 380Nm of torque when connected to the 59kWh pack. The XEV 9e's power output rises to 281.6bhp for the 79kWh model, though the torque figure remains the same. This version of the Mahindra XEV 9e can sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 6.8 seconds.
The Mahindra XEV 9e features semi-active suspension with a McPherson Strut i-Link independent suspension and a stabiliser bar at the front and a 5-link independent suspension and a stabiliser bar at the rear to deal with the rough stuff. Disc brakes all around help bring the SUV coupe to a stop and are aided by the regen braking system that harvests energy to charge up the battery when the brakes are applied.
The all-new Mahindra XEV 9e measures 4,790mm in length, 1,905mm in width, and 1,690mm in height and features a 2,775mm long wheelbase. The XEV 9e offers 207mm of ground clearance and a turning circle diameter of 10 metres.
Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Driving Impressions - Sporty Yet Silky Smooth
On the move, the Mahindra XEV 9e grabs attention with its striking looks, drawing the eyes of pedestrians and drivers alike in Chennai. However, where it really did surprise them and even us behind the wheel is the way it moves through the streets.
Mahindra claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds and the XEV 9e consistently managed that time when we pushed it at the Mahindra Research Valley facility managing to get quite close to that official number.
With the XEV 9e in Race Mode, the coupe SUV picks up its skirts and punches forward like nobody's business. Sure it is not sports car quick, but the instant torque response of the electric motor is enough to push you back into your seat as you quickly make your way into triple figures. And with boost mode active (for 10 seconds), overtakes become child's play.
The steering setup of the XEV 9e is light and easy to handle. At lower speeds, it can be turned from lock to lock with remarkable ease, making it effortless to manoeuvre this sizeable SUV coupe through traffic. When you're out driving on the highway at higher speeds, the steering gains a bit more weight, giving a stable and planted feel that fills you with confidence to keep pushing ahead.
The semi-active suspension on the XEV 9e is tuned for comfort, so it leans towards the softer side. This means the Mahindra XEV 9e effortlessly smooths out bumps and glides over ruts without breaking a sweat. At the same time, thanks to the semi-active suspension and its low centre of gravity, you can change direction quite easily. And despite its size, there's barely any noticeable body roll, which is seriously impressive.
The disc brakes on all four wheels offer a strong initial bite, bringing the XEV 9e to a stop quickly and confidently. The regen system has three modes, with Mode 3 even letting you enjoy one-pedal driving. That said, we did run into some issues with the regen on our test car, a pre-production unit, so we couldn't fully put it through its paces. We also wish Mahindra hadn't gone for the low rolling resistance tyres. These 245/55 R19s just don't do a great job when it comes to helping the car stop quickly.
On the plus side, NVH levels are impressive. The acoustic side door glass and the foam inside the tyres do a terrific job of keeping road noise to a minimum, making for a more refined driving experience.
Mahindra XEV 9e Review: Verdict & Final Thoughts - A KO Punch From the Future
The Mahindra XUV e9 is finally here, and after spending about a day behind the wheel, we can confidently say Mahindra might just have a winner on its hands. The XEV 9e stands out like nothing else on Indian roads today. Its bold, hypnotic design is backed up by impressive features and performance to match. Competitors take note-the SUV king has entered the electric arena, and it's gearing up to deliver a knockout blow.
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