Mahindra’s all-electric flagship SUV is turning heads for more reasons than one. With a bold design, luxury-focused interior, and real-world practicality, it’s quickly becoming a top pick among EV buyers. Here is an owner who’s driven the SUV and shared deep insights on why this electric SUV may just be the smartest buy under Rs. 30 lakh. Here’s everything he had to say after 5,000 km of usage — the good, the bad, and the unexpected.

Design & Road Presence

The owner says he bought the Mahindra XEV.9E primarily for its standout looks and long real-world range of over 450 km. He finds the SUV to be a complete head-turner, and says people often stare when it’s on the road due to its bold design.

Why He Chose XEV.9E Over Rivals

He compared the XEV.9E with rivals like BYD Atto 3 and Seal EV but felt the XUV 9 offered the best value, especially with its premium features at a lower price. He highlights that the triple-screen setup and gloss black interior panels give it a true luxury feel — much better than the Mahindra BE 6, which he feels is compact and sporty but lacks cabin space for five. He says the XEV.9E feels far more premium and spacious inside, with features like leather seats, ambient lighting, and illuminated logos elevating the cabin experience.

Booking, Delivery & Ownership Timeline

The owner says he was lucky to get the car with under a month of waiting, thanks to his contacts, and got one of the first black units delivered. He’s driven it for 5,000 km in nearly 2 months and mentions that charging costs are roughly one-fourth of a petrol car, making it extremely cost-effective for daily running.

Performance, Modes & Driving Impressions

There are no major negatives, but he points out that being rear-wheel drive, the car tends to skid slightly on muddy roads or during rains — although manageable if driven carefully. He says pickup is excellent and the car comes with multiple driving modes: Default, Range, Everyday, Race, and a Boost function that delivers a power surge for 10 seconds. He primarily drives in Default or Range mode but uses Everyday or Boost when he wants stronger acceleration. The owner warns that untrained drivers may find the sudden torque overwhelming, especially in the more aggressive modes. He says braking feels slightly harder compared to ICE vehicles, but it’s something owners will get used to.

Ride Comfort & Suspension Quality

Suspension is praised for being extremely comfortable — potholes and speed breakers are absorbed quietly and smoothly. He owns a Mercedes E-Class and says that while both cars belong to different segments, the comfort and premium feel of the XEV.9E are surprisingly comparable for the price.

Interior & Features

He is highly impressed with the fit and finish — calls it top class with a massive and bright cabin feel. The infotainment and screens are responsive with no major lags, though the 360° camera takes 5–6 seconds to activate on start-up. Camera quality is rated as excellent, comparable to what he has in his Mercedes E-Class. He praises the AC performance, especially the front ventilated seats, and notes fast cooling even during peak summers.

After-Sales & Minor Issues

No premium was paid for early delivery. He found the delivery experience from Mahindra smooth and well-organized. After-sales service is good, though he mentions Mahindra service centers deal with high volumes daily. He faced a minor issue with the electronic boot lock, which was fixed by his own detailing studio team. The boot can also be opened hands-free with a kick gesture, and the owner says it works perfectly in a single attempt — unlike in some rivals.

Features & Practicality

He demonstrates the remote forward/reverse parking feature and says even if the front wheel is turned, it straightens itself when the feature is activated. He appreciates features like “Groove Mode,” where the lights sync to the music, calling it unique even when compared to Tesla.

Charging & Range Experience

He took the XEV.9E on a road trip to Amritsar and says charging was never an issue as public fast chargers were easily available. He installed the charging app and usually charged the vehicle using 60 kW DC fast chargers, which took around 1.5 hours for 0–100%. With home charging, he says it takes 12–14 hours on 7.2 kW and around 7–8 hours on 11 kW AC. On that trip, he managed 450 km+ in a single charge and believes it can stretch to over 500 km in Range mode at moderate speeds.

Positive

• Bold, futuristic design grabs attention everywhere
• Spacious and premium cabin with leather seats and ambient lighting
• Triple-screen setup enhances the luxury feel
• Impressive pickup and driving modes, including Boost for instant torque
• Suspension offers excellent comfort over potholes and speed breakers
• Smooth, comfortable ride even during long trips
• 360° camera and screen clarity is excellent
• Front ventilated seats cool quickly, even in peak summer
• High real-world range of 450+ km, even touching 500 km in Range mode
• Remote parking feature works flawlessly and even auto-straightens wheels
• Feature-rich for the price — feels like a segment above
• Charging infrastructure is reliable; fast chargers are easy to access
• Home charging is convenient and manageable overnight
• Boot with kick sensor works accurately on the first try
• Charging cost is just 25% of a petrol car’s running cost
• No waiting period or premium paid thanks to early booking

Negative

• Slight skidding observed during rains or on muddy surfaces due to rear-wheel drive
• Braking feels a bit harder than ICE vehicles — takes time to adjust
• 360° camera takes 5–6 seconds to activate on startup
• Electronic boot lock had a minor issue (fixed externally)
• Mahindra service centers are usually crowded — long wait times possible
• Sudden torque can feel aggressive for inexperienced drivers

Final Thoughts

The owner calls the headlight throw powerful enough to dazzle oncoming traffic and praises the dipper beam strength. In conclusion, the owner is fully satisfied with the Mahindra XEV.9E and recommends it to anyone seeking a spacious, premium electric SUV in a Rs. 30 lakh budget. He says it offers a great mix of looks, features, comfort, and driving performance — and he has zero regrets.

Source: Deepansh Arora