There isn’t as much buzz around the Mahindra XEV 9S as there was around this time last year, thanks to the spaceship-like BE 6 and the stylish XEV 9e coupe-SUV. The reasons are clear. It lacks the shock value of the futuristic BE 6, and it doesn’t have the XEV 9E’s sloping roofline appeal. In essence, it looks like an electric XUV700, much like how the Hyundai Creta Electric and Tata Harrier EV mirror their ICE counterparts.
However, with prices and details now out, the XEV 9S shapes up to be a compelling product on paper and one that could easily outsell both the XEV 9E and BE 6, not just individually but combined.
Mahindra XEV 9S price
Price range is Rs 19.95 lakh-29.45 lakh, ex-showroom
| Price and battery options | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 59kWh | 70kWh | 79kWh | |
| Pack One Above | 19.95 | – | 21.95 |
| Pack Two Above | – | 24.45 | 25.45 |
| Pack Three | – | – | 27.35 |
| Pack Three Above | – | – | 29.45 |
We expected the XEV 9S to cost more than the XEV 9e, given its larger body and third row. Surprisingly, it sits between the BE 6 and 9e and is, in fact, closer to the smaller BE 6. It undercuts the 9e by a hefty Rs 1.9 lakh in the base Pack One variant and by about Rs 1.8 lakh in the top variant. It is only around a lakh more than the BE 6. Do note these are introductory prices, and Mahindra will increase them over time, as it has done with previous models.
Mahindra XEV 9S features
Even entry-level Pack One Above trim is well-equipped with a panoramic sunroof and more
The attractive pricing hasn’t come at the expense of features. The 9S is well-equipped from the base variant, and in the top variant it packs even more wow features than the 9e, including ventilated middle-row seats, powered boss mode and an openable panoramic sunroof.
Mahindra XEV 9S practicality
Sliding middle row makes it more practical than the XUV700
The addition of a third row makes it far more practical than the 9e, but there’s one feature that even makes it a better 7-seater than the XUV700. The 9S gets a sliding middle row, which offers much more flexibility than the fixed setup in the XUV700. You can adjust it based on the space needed in the third row, which has long been a pain point in the XUV700. Mahindra also claims to have improved the H-point for the third row, which should improve under-thigh support, though the knees-up posture remains, and it still won’t be as comfortable as the Kia Carens Clavis EV.
Mahindra XEV 9S performance and range
Has a marginally higher ARAI range than the XEV 9e
Unlike the BE 6 and XEV 9e, which offer two battery sizes and power outputs, the XEV 9S offers three. The base Pack One can be equipped with either a 59kWh or a 79kWh battery pack (the XEV 9e Pack One gets only the 59kWh unit). Power outputs stand at 231hp and 286hp, respectively, while torque remains unchanged at 380Nm.
Pack Two also offers the 79kWh pack but replaces the 59kWh unit from Pack One with a larger 70kWh battery. The 70kWh version produces 245hp, while torque stays at 380Nm.
Mahindra’s claimed range figures for the XEV 9S are 521km for the 59kWh version, 600km for the 70kWh version and 679km for the 79kWh version. The claimed figures for the 59kWh and 79kWh packs are slightly higher than those of the XEV 9e, likely due to tuning.
Overall, the Mahindra XEV 9S looks very promising, and we will be driving it soon.
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