Mahindra XEV 9S : Electric SUVs in India have mostly been either tiny crossovers or ultra-expensive luxury machines. Suddenly, Mahindra has dropped something completely different: a proper seven-seat (or 6+1) electric SUV that starts at just ₹19.95 lakh (ex-showroom).
Meet the Mahindra XEV 9S – the more practical cousin of the sportier XEV 9e. Built on the all-new INGLO electric skateboard platform (developed with help from Volkswagen), it promises big-car space, modern tech, and a real-world range that finally feels usable for Indian families. We spent a full week with the top-spec 79 kWh version in Bengaluru traffic, highways, and broken village roads to find out if it actually lives up to the hype.
Looks Familiar, But It’s All-New
From a distance, you’ll swear it’s an electric XUV700. Walk closer and the differences pop out: completely sealed front grille, flush pop-out door handles, aerodynamic 18-inch alloys, and a sleek full-width LED light bar at the rear. The design is bold yet not alienating – perfect for buyers who want to go electric without shouting about it.
At 4.8 metres long with a 2,762 mm wheelbase, it’s actually a touch bigger than the XUV700, giving it genuine third-row space (more on that later).
A Cockpit Straight Out of 2030
Open the door and you’re hit with three massive 12.3-inch screens stitched together across the dashboard – one for the driver, one touchscreen in the centre, and a dedicated entertainment screen for the front passenger.
The graphics are crisp, the menus are fast, and it comes loaded with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, built-in Alexa, ChatGPT integration, and over 60 pre-installed apps (JioSaavn, Hotstar, YouTube, etc.). The passenger screen can play Netflix while you drive – though there’s no privacy filter, so expect some “Are we there yet?” distractions from the co-driver.
Front seats are ventilated and super comfortable for long drives. The second row slides and reclines generously, and surprisingly, even adults can sit in the third row for short trips (kids will love it). You also get a panoramic sunroof, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio, rear wireless charging, and Level-2 ADAS with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.
Far and How Fast Does It Really Go?
You get three battery choices:
- 59 kWh → ~500 km claimed
- 70 kWh → ~600 km claimed
- 79 kWh → 679 km claimed (MIDC cycle)
In typical Indian mixed conditions (Bengaluru traffic + highway), our 79 kWh rear-wheel-drive test car comfortably delivered 440–470 km on a single charge with the AC on – excellent for a 2.3-tonne seven-seater.
Performance feels punchy: 286 hp and 380 Nm let it hit 100 km/h in around 7 seconds. Instant torque makes overtaking effortless, and one-pedal driving works brilliantly in city stop-go traffic. It supports 180 kW DC fast charging – 20–80% in exactly 21 minutes at a 200 kW charger we tried in Electronic City.
Mahindra even gives an industry-first 15-year or 2 lakh km battery warranty, which should calm most range-anxiety fears.
How It Drives on Real Indian Roads
The suspension is tuned soft for comfort, soaking up potholes and speed breakers without drama. At highway speeds on patchy roads, there is a mild floaty feeling, but switch to Race mode and the dampers firm up noticeably – problem solved.
Steering is light in the city and weighs up nicely at speed. Being rear-wheel drive actually makes it more fun to drive than most front-drive EVs in this segment.
Why This Could Change the Game
At ₹19.95 lakh to ₹29.45 lakh (ex-showroom), the XEV 9S undercuts almost every comparable petrol/diesel seven-seat SUV (Innova Hycross, Safari, XUV700) on running cost while offering far superior performance and tech.
For a family that does 2,000 km a month, electricity + home charging will cost roughly ₹3,000–4,000 vs ₹18,000–20,000 in petrol/diesel. That’s ₹1.2–1.5 lakh rupees saved every year – the car practically pays for the price difference in 6–7 years.
Should You Buy It?
If you want a spacious, feature-loaded electric family SUV that doesn’t force you to compromise on range, performance, or third-row usability – and you have access to home/workplace charging – the Mahindra XEV 9S is currently without any real rival in India.
It’s not perfect (third row is still tight for long trips, fast-charger network is still growing), but it’s easily the most convincing electric family car under ₹30 lakh you can buy today.