Complete Buying Guide: Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra’s electric cars, Mahindra BE 6 and Mahindra XEV 9e, are selling in great numbers. In only seven months of their run, both have collectively sold over 30,000 units. Now, Mahindra has launched its first three-row electric SUV, the Mahindra XEV 9S, aiming to attract even larger volumes of sales. While the XEV 9S looks a lot like and shares a lot with the Mahindra XUV700, it is not an all-electric version of the same. Instead, the XEV 9S is a ground-up electric SUV and is based on the same INGLO platform as the BE 6 and XEV 9e. If you are one of the prospective buyers of the Mahindra XEV 9S, this complete buying guide to the Mahindra XEV 9S will help you learn why you should or should not buy it and which variant will be the best for you.

Mahindra XEV 9S Specifications

Mahindra XEV 9S Variants

The Mahindra XEV 9S is available in four variants: Pack ONE Above, Pack TWO Above, Pack Three, and Pack Three Above. There are three battery pack options: 59 kWh, 70 kWh, and 79 kWh. The 79 kWh battery pack is available with all variants, while the Pack ONE Above is also available with 59 kWh, and the Pack TWO Above is also available with 70 kWh. As far as the colour options are concerned, the XEV 9S is available in Stealth Black, Ruby Velvet, Everest White, Desert Myst, Nebula Blue, and Midnight Black.

Best Mahindra XEV 9S Variant to Buy

The base variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S – Pack One Above comes equipped with triple 12.3-inch screen setup, auto headlamps, auto wipers, multiple drive modes, sliding and reclinable second row, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, LED projector headlamps, electronic parking brake, rear camera, panoramic sunroof, voice commands with Alexa and ChatGPT, all-wheel disc brakes, cruise control, six airbags, and more. Overall, the base Pack ONE Above model is a great value-for-money offering. If you are satisfied with its feature list, you can buy it with either of the two battery packs it is available with.

The next variant, Pack TWO Above, adds Auto dimming IRVM, Front parking sensors, 360-degree camera, Alloy wheels, Dual-zone AC, 6-way power driver seat with memory function, wireless phone charger, 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, auto high beam, ventilated front seats, auto regen mode, leatherette upholstery, Level-2 ADAS (1 radar and 1 camera), and more. Of all the XEV 9S variants, the Pack TWO Above is the most value-for-money offering.

The Pack Three adds driver’s knee airbag, ambient lighting, auto booster lamps, front fog lamps, windshield auto defogging, a full-fledged Level-2 ADAS safety suite with 5 radars and 1 camera, 6-way powered front passenger seat, powered boss mode, ventilated second row seats, semi-active suspension, and more. From a value standpoint, this variant is as good as the Pack Two Above.

The top-of-the-line variant, Pack THREE Above adds auto parking, projection puddle lamps, EyeDentity AI cabin camera, video calling with cabin camera, secure 360 with live streaming, augmented reality head-up display, capacitive touch, and more. This variant does not have any must-have feature for its price, though the head-up display is genuinely a standout feature and is brilliantly executed. It projects the right amount of data on the windshield, making driving easier and safer without ever feeling overwhelming. You should buy this variant only if you want all these features.

Mahindra XEV 9S Warranty and Service Cost

The Mahindra XEV 9S offers a lifetime/ unlimited kilometres warranty on the battery for the first registered private owner. However, once the ownership is transferred, the warranty on the battery is 10-year/ 2,00,000 km. So far, Mahindra has only announced the warranty offered on the battery, and to learn about the warranty offered on other parts and service costs of the Mahindra BE 6, you should contact the authorised Mahindra dealerships.

Why you should consider the Mahindra XEV 9S

The Mahindra XEV 9S embodies plenty of characteristics that make it stand out from the rest. Here are some of the key reasons you would want to buy a Mahindra XEV 9S.

Space, Comfort, and Practicality

The efforts of the Indian carmaker in designing the Mahindra XEV 9S are worth applause. Every inch has been utilised to the max of its potential. The XEV 9S is based on Mahindra’s INGLO – or Indian Global – electric architecture, which also underpins the Mahindra BE 6 and Mahindra XEV 9e. Like the BE 6 and XEV 9e, the XEV 9S is a rear-wheel-drive electric SUV, and its LFP battery, which is mounted in the floor, does not compromise on the ground clearance. The XEV 9S’s ground clearance is 205 mm, which, surprisingly, is even better than the 200 mm ground clearance of the XUV700. While the floor remains 205 mm high from the ground, ingress and egress are not a hassle at all.

Once you get in this rather large electric SUV, you find yourself sitting in a more natural and comfortable seating position compared to other electric cars, as Mahindra has placed the battery low enough for a comfortable sitting posture. Three adults can comfortably sit abreast in the second row, and the sense of airiness is added by the large windows and the large panoramic sunroof, which can be completely slid open, unlike the fixed glass roof of the Mahindra XEV 9e. The second-row seats can be slid backwards and forward, and reclined to balance out the space – another feature that adds to the convenience of passengers. The powered front passenger seat can also be pushed forward electronically to maximise the space for the passenger behind it. For the middle row passengers, there is a wireless charger, rear window sunshades, dedicated AC vents, and a 65 W charging outlet behind the front passenger seat.

While the third row is not suited for large-framed adults, approximately 6-feet-tall, average-sized adults will find themselves comfortable in it. The large window glasses help create a sense of space. There are dedicated third-row AC vents with blower control, 12-V charging sockets, and cup holders.

Plenty of Upmarket Features

The Mahindra XEV 9S is here to compete against the tech-laden cars like the Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e. Expectedly, Mahindra has loaded the XEV 9S with a lot of upmarket features. For one, the triple screen setup and the squarish steering wheel have been borrowed from the XEV 9e. This triple screen setup consists of three 12.3-inch screens – one for the infotainment system, one for the digital driver display, and one for the front passenger. In addition to that, the XEV 9S offers a 6-way-powered driver seat, a 6-way powered front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon music system with Dolby Atmos, dual-zone climate control, an augmented reality head-up display, ambient lighting, auto park, 360-degree camera recording with live feed, and more. Moreover, like all its rivals, the XEV 9S offers a Level-2 ADAS safety suite.

Value For Money

As capable as the Mahindra XEV 9e and Mahindra BE 6 are, they are not for everyone. The coupe-like rooflines that compromise the headroom and the fixed glass roof can be troublesome to some. However, with the Mahindra XEV 9S, the Indian carmaker has given the INGLO platform a more familiar, traditional, and more practical body, not to mention it is a seven-seater, which gives it the added advantage of the third row. For the way it drives, the XEV 9S can easily please the driver in you, and at the same time, it is a fantastic offering for a chauffeur-driven experience.

All of these qualities, Mahindra is offering for Rs 19.95 – 29.45 Lakh (ex-showroom).  At the starting price of Rs 19.95 lakh (ex-showroom), the entry-level Pack One Above variant undercuts the base variant of the XEV 9e by nearly Rs 2 lakh, while the top variant – Pack Three Above, which costs Rs 29.45 lakh (ex-showroom), is about a lakh more affordable than the equivalent XEV 9e. Taking everything into account, this is a magnificent value for your money. Moreover, the XEV 9S’s base variant, Pack ONE Above, sits in the price bracket of the AX7 variant of the XUV700, which makes the Indian electric SUV a considerable alternative to the XUV700.

A key point to note is that the XEV 9S is the most affordable three-row electric SUV in India.

Why you should not consider the Mahindra XEV 9S

Like any car in the world, certain characteristics of the Mahindra XEV 9S may make you skip it and look for any other car. Here are some of the factors you might not like in the Mahindra XEV 9S.

Over-digitalisation

In the driver’s seat, having to work your way through digital controls integrated in the touchscreen can be irritating. In the touchscreen, there are over 60 apps for everything from entertainment to shopping, and often it feels like overkill. Moreover, the touchscreen houses even some commonly used controls, such as climate control and seat ventilation.

Some Ergonomic Flaws

There are some ergonomic issues with the XEV 9S that can feel problematic on the go. For example, while the two-spoke steering wheel is modern-looking and feels nice to hold, often the touch buttons on the steering get accidentally pressed when you honk, instantly activating functions on the infotainment and digital display. Moreover, the screen in front of the front passenger seat lacks a privacy filter and distracts you when you glance at the far-side mirror.

Summary

As mentioned, the Mahindra XEV 9S is the most affordable three-row electric SUV in India. This makes it an appealing proposition for large families. While the SUV is mainly focused on comfort and practicality, it can also deliver oodles of driving joy with its largest battery pack. Barring some limitations, mostly ergonomics flaws, the XEV 9S is a great value-for-money electric SUV, and with this buying guide in hand, you should have all the knowledge you need to choose the best of its variants for you.

FAQ