Mahindra has announced the starting price of the XEV 9e – ₹21.90 lakh (ex-showroom). More details on the pricing will be available when bookings open in January 2025, and deliveries are expected to begin in late February or March. The starting price of this ‘Pack 1’ variant is related to the smaller 59 kWh battery pack and is quite attractive. Some of the features included in the Pack 1 are 19-inch alloy wheels, Bi-LED automatic headlights, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers, 6 airbags, triple screen configuration, Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, 5G connectivity and more. The brochure and more details will be revealed closer to the launch.
Exterior:
A bold and imposing front with LED daytime running lights on the sides and the upper part of the grille. It’s an aggressive-looking front end with pronounced creases that make the car stand out:It’s the same story at the back. The LED taillights and indicator lamps cover the sides and stretch from one edge to the other, almost resembling a Mexican handlebar moustache. You get the neat Mahindra logo and the model name in large letters. I think Mahindra should have named it better. XEV 9e looks more like a product code which has a name:Viewed from the side, we can see that the silhouette is clear and homogeneous. The hood is quite flat and the roof slopes down to the rear. The wheelbase of this INGLO platform for these two cars – BE 6e and XEV 9e – has been kept at 2,775 mm. That is why you have large front and rear surfaces. The ground clearance is estimated at 207 mm, while the battery has a distance of 218 mm:XEV 9e has a length of 4,789 mm, a width of 1,907 mm and a height of 1,694 mm. Thanks to its design, which is very similar to that of a concept car, it attracts a lot of attention on the road. A muscular hood and a sharp nose add to the road presence:The overall build quality is solid and the car does not feel fragile anywhere. The doors are very strong. The paint quality is also satisfactory and overall the car looks good in person. Here is the Tango Red paint shade:The closed front grille features a simple layered pattern. Note the careful integration from the front camera to the top. The lower part of the bumper is finished in piano black, which is very reflective and also attracts scratches. The edge-to-edge daytime running lights emphasize the sense of width:Check out the headlight unit that has a jewel-like design. The automatic headlights also have an assist function that adds power to the high beams when you’re driving at high speed and there’s no oncoming traffic:Under the hood, you have this large trunk in front with a 150-liter capacity. Very useful for storing some things:XEV 9e is equipped with ADAS level 2+ which has 5 radars and a camera that you see here. Mahindra claims that it can detect cows, pedestrians, barricades and various types of vehicles and is tuned for the complexities of Indian road conditions:The dual-tone ORVMs have integrated turn signals and also house the camera for the 360 degree view system:These 20-inch wheels are optional. they add a bit to the durability of the ride. They are fitted with Goodyear ElectricDrive 245/50 R20 tyres that provide good grip. The 19-inch wheels are offered as standard with aerodynamic covers:The alloy wheels get aerodynamic inserts. Their design is quite simple and is what we expect from electric cars. Disc brakes on all wheels are standard:You have a large panoramic glass roof:
Interior:
Getting in and out of the front seats is not complicated. As soon as I entered the cabin of the XEV 9e, it reminded me of the XUV700. Of course, there are many differences, but there are also many similarities. The highlight of the cabin is the three-screen layout, which dominates the dashboard. The overall quality of the materials is good, with soft-touch elements throughout the dashboard. The quality of the plastics and the levels of finish are acceptable. It is a mix of high and mid-range materials:Mahindra’s new 2-spoke steering wheel seems to be inspired by Tata with the illuminated logo in the middle. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is almost round with a nearly flat bottom. It is flexible and telescopic. You also get a top dead center mark and the steering wheel is really nice to hold. The horn extends laterally, which is a bit uncomfortable. In the left shelf you have infotainment controls and on the right side you have the ADAS and MID controls. There are two buttons on both speakers that adjust the regeneration levels. The bottom left button is used to activate a foot control and the right one is used to activate the push function:The 12.3-inchMID is very clear and also has very nice graphics. You have a range display on the left and the power consumption display on the right:XEV 9e and BE 6e get a front display which is also integrated with blind spot monitoring and has augmented reality navigation:Quick access to many functions on the right side of the driver:Wide footwell with a good-sized dead pedal. The aluminum pedals are comfortable and look good too:The door trim design is exactly like that of the XUV700. The door pockets can hold liter bottles and other useful items. The gray color on the armrest and near the door handle looks a bit boring:New window and mirror control panel. The buttons are easy to use and seem sturdy:The large leather-covered front seats are very comfortable. They look good, have good support under the thighs, and the side bolsters keep you in place when you turn on winding roads. You also get manual lumbar adjustment and seat ventilation: The12.3-inch infotainment unit is paired with a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos. The sound quality is excellent and you can choose from different presets and sound experiences. The infotainment is packed with a lot of information and features. The screen is responsive, has a clear display, and is lag-free. Unfortunately, like many modern cars, the climate controls are integrated into the touchscreen and you don’t have physical buttons. The overall layout and user interface are very BMW-inspired in my opinion: theA/C air conditioning vents are placed below the touchscreen. Below that you have a panel with some vehicle controls.
