Mahindra BE 6

The Mahindra BE 6 is one of the most futuristic, technologically advanced, and modern cars that not just the carmaker has ever built, but also ever built by any Indian marque. It is a car that doesn’t necessarily need more of anything and yet, that’s exactly what Mahindra has done by launching new variants of the 2026 BE 6, called the SPORTEQ (for the regular variants) and an updated version of the Formula E Edition, which is now called the Formula E Freedom Edition. 

With relatively sober and docile rivals like the Hyundai Creta Electric, Toyota Ebella, Maruti e-Vitara, and Tata Sierra EV, the Mahindra BE 6 continues to stand-out as a spaceship from the future, which is now even more futuristic with the new variants. Let’s take a look at what it gets:

It’s been some time since the initial launch fever, and despite that, it is still hard to believe that the Mahindra BE6 is not a car that’s only sold in a Hotwheels box. That bit of the BE 6 remains unchanged (have a look at it in images here). 

It looks sporty, striking, and racy, with an undeniable X-factor that grabs everyone’s attention. The nose is dominated by a very prominent C-shaped LED DRL, which houses the LED headlights somewhere within them. The bonnet looks aggressive, and that’s because it is with a huge aerodynamic front spoiler-like design cue which you see in cars like the Ferrari 488 Pista. It isn’t just for show and helps the aerodynamic flow which reduces drag and increases stability at higher speeds. 

It gets LED fog lights too, and the DRLs double as turn indicators, which also have sequential functions in them.

From the side angle, you can truly appreciate the car’s size. The piano black wheel arches and cladding might hide its bulk, but it is a large SUV. The shape is undeniably a coupe SUV with a sloping roofline, bold body lines, and striking aesthetics.

Details such as flush-fitting door handles that pop out when you unlock the car, and a cleverly concealed rear door handle are very well integrated into the design. Mahindra offers 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels on the top-spec ‘Pack Three’ variant of the BE6. You can choose to get 20-inch alloy wheels as well by paying a premium. Lower variants get 18- and 19-inch steel wheels. 

At the rear, the styling is still very loud, but not as sharp. The angular front is met with a rather flat rear with C-shaped LED tail lights outlining the tailgate. The tail lamps also have a new gimmicky feature, where it can now display messages. Then there is the diffuser, which is aggressive, but not very functional, unlike the split design for the roof-mounted spoiler. The extensive use of piano black elements continues here as well. They look great, but also are notorious for scratching easily. So, if you’re planning to buy this car, the first thing you should do is invest in a quality PPF, at least for these panels. Otherwise, every scratch will be a painful reminder on this otherwise stunning car. 

Overall, while things might have not changed for the BE 6 with its latest update, it continues to look unlike anything else on the road. It definitely feels like a car that belongs in the racing games more so than it does on our roads. 

Even the colour options of the Mahindra BE 6 are striking with 7 options to choose from for the regular variants: Ruby Velvet, Tango Red, Firestorm Orange, Deep Forest, Stealth Black, Everest White and Desert Myst. If you opt for the SPORTEQ Launch Edition, it is available in an exclusive Graphite Stone paint scheme, while the Formula E Freedom Edition gets a sweet-looking Rosso Impulso colour, which is a matte red hue (click here to explore variant-wise colour options available). 

With the update to the Formula E Freedom edition, Mahindra has tweaked the special edition’s styling significantly. The nose reverts back to the original design by deleting the circular headlights and the aggressive bumper design. It gets the same headlights and C-shaped LED DRLs as the standard vehicle, but now the bumpers have the Indian tri-colour insert. It also sports new design for the alloy wheels and the usual Formula E Freedom badges all around. 

The cabin of the Mahindra BE 6 is as futuristic as the exterior itself. The overall layout is certainly very cockpit-like with a halo (now exclusive to the Formula E Freedom Edition only) that separates the driver and the passenger. However, do note that except for the base One variant, the new SPORTEQ variant doesn’t get one across the rest of the variants. That’s because it now gets the addition of the third passenger screen on the same bezel as the infotainment system and digital driver’s display, just like we’ve seen in other Mahindra EVs. 

In fact, the SPORTEQ also gets a more chic dual-tone theme that uses a new black-and-tan colour scheme for the seats and dashboard. 

The rest of the quirks of the cabin continue as before: the cloth door handles, the squared-off steering wheel, the aircraft thrustor-like gear lever and individual top-mounted toggles for various functions like controlling the 360-degree camera add to the uniqueness of the details. 

Not much has changed in terms of quality, where you get a mix of soft-touch leatherette on the dashboard, steering wheel and seats, and differently-finished plastics in other places. We do wish Mahindra had done something about the piano black finishes that aren’t very good from a longevity point of view as they tend to scratch easily. The aircraft thrust-like gear selector too could’ve been made sturdier.

Front Seats

The seats in this car are very comfortable and come with a dual upholstery design. The bottom portion features leatherette material with ventilation, and the upper section is made of fabric, which Mahindra claims is composed of 50% recycled materials. Adding to the comfort, the headrests are well-padded and offer excellent support, enhancing the overall seating experience for both the driver and passengers.

For a good driver, a proper driving position is essential, and this car nails it. You can sit relatively low, with extended legs and a steering wheel perfectly within reach—uncommon in SUVs, which typically have a higher seating position. 

The power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function makes it convenient to adjust the seat while the steering wheel offers both tilt and telescopic adjustments to get the right placement. The cabin successfully merges sportiness with functionality, delivering a premium, driver-focused experience unlike anything else in its class.

Rear Seat

In coupe SUVs, you neither get adequate knee room nor the headroom. However, you might be surprised by the BE 6. If a 6-foot-tall person is sitting in the front, another 6-foot-tall person can sit comfortably behind them. The foot room is also decent. As for headroom, you’ll have enough unless you’re over 6 feet tall or wear a turban. Your hair won’t brush against the roof, and there’s plenty of headroom for users of an average height. 

These seats are very supportive. They’re slightly angled upwards, providing adequate under-thigh support, which is better than you’d expect from an EV—especially a coupe SUV. The recline angle is also very comfortable, and the headrests are highly supportive. Overall, these seats are designed to keep you comfortable, even on long journeys.

Visibility outside, however, is somewhat compromised. The rear windows are small, offering a narrow view. In fact, the large headrests, while very comfortable for the driver and front passenger, obstruct the view from the back. To see forward, you’ll need to lean left or right. The glass roof doesn’t open, so kids won’t be poking their heads out but you also have to skip the open-top drive experience when the weather and temperature make you want it. Plus, because the roof is so large, it lets in plenty of light. Even with a black interior, the cabin feels airy and spacious, not suffocating.

That said, keep in mind that three people cannot sit comfortably in the back. The floor is flat, so the middle passenger won’t have a problem with foot space, but the seats are positioned a bit inward, meaning the two side passengers sit close together, making it less ideal for a third passenger.

As for features, you get a center armrest with two cupholders, and mounting points for attaching a tablet or phone behind the front seats. There are AC vents in the middle, but their design is a bit unconventional. They can’t swivel left or right; you can only open or close them.

Storage and Practicality

With the halo removed in some of the variants, the Mahindra BE 6 has increased the number of cupholders in the central console from one to two. This also makes the access to the two wireless phone trays much easier. Below this an open space where small items can be easily stored. 

The door pockets can easily hold two 1-litre bottles. The glovebox has a slim opening but is deep. The seatback pockets are only large enough for magazines, while the door pockets can accommodate bottles ranging from 500ml to 1 litre. Finally, there’s some more storage space under the rear AC vents. 

Charging Options

Charging options are plentiful. At the front, you get two Type-C ports along with the two wireless chargers. Rear passengers also have two Type-C sockets mounted on the seatbacks, and these are 65W fast chargers, so your devices will charge very quickly. 

If you’re looking for a 12V socket, it’s available only in the boot.

Boot Space

The car features a powered tailgate, which is a significant plus and a very handy feature. Inside, you can fit about three overnight cabin trolley bags, but that will almost entirely fill the boot. Beyond that, you’ll only have room for smaller bags like laptop bags. If you opt to store a large suitcase, there won’t be much space left for anything else. For small family trips, packing in compact bags should work just fine. However, for trips with five people or larger families, you’ll need to pack smartly to make the most of the available space.  

Interestingly, the car also provides some additional storage in the front. This frunk can hold up to 35 kg of weight. While it’s not large—only suitable for small items like laptop bags—it’s perfect for carrying essentials like the car’s charger.  

Clearly someone at Mahindra thought that the feature package of the BE 6 was not sufficient and hence, the carmaker has now made the car even more loaded with frills. 

Creature comforts like keyless push-button start/stop, dual-zone auto AC with rear AC vents, steering-mounted controls, power windows continue to be part of the package. 

What is new is one more screen that takes the total count to three. We’ll start at the right most screen, which is a 12.3-inch display for the driver. It is a crisp display that shows details of the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), including the distance to the car in front and alerts for vehicles approaching. Navigation is directly integrated here, so if you’re using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you can see the maps on the display itself—minimizing distractions by reducing the need to glance at the infotainment screen. The transitions between modes are smooth, and the execution is impressive.  

Above it is an augmented reality heads-up display (AR HUD), which shows vital information such as speed, navigation and range in your line of sight.

Coming to the main screen, the size of which is once again 12.3-inch. Resolution is good and so are the response times. Connecting your phone wirelessly for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is easy, and the screen has a lot of menus, which can take some time for you to get used to. But the basic functionalities are easy enough.

The new addition is the passenger display, which is not viewable by the driver. It is for the entertainment of the passenger and allows you to connect headphones or even a controller to watch a show or play a game. The screen can also be used to download various apps, attend meetings and even order groceries. 

Other feel-good features like the extensive use of ambient lighting that follows into the glass roof, powered driver seat with front seat ventilation, powered tailgate and ‘Bring Your Own Device’ are also part of the package. A big shoutout for the 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio sound system which delivers excellent audio quality. It creates an immersive sound experience, whether you prefer symphony hall vibes or concert-level intensity.  

There are also party trick features like ‘GrooveMe’ that syncs all of the vehicle's lights from the headlamps, tail lamps, turn indicators, interior ambient lighting and roof lights to the music that’s being played. It is perfect for a disco-like atmosphere at your next farmhouse party. Mahindra also offers full auto park functionality on the BE6. This means the car can detect parking spots on its own, whether parallel, perpendicular or diagonal and park itself. You can also use the key to retrieve the car from its parking spot. 

If the car is sporty, then safety is just as important, and that's why Mahindra has gone the extra mile by not just offering 6 airbags but 7 airbags in this car. Along with this, you also get ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), and Hill Hold, ensuring all-around safety. It also features a driver and occupant monitoring system that will alert if the driver is distracted or fatigued. 

There’s Level 2 ADAS as well, which consists of a host of functions including auto-emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and more. Mahindra’s calibration of ADAS has been done thoughtfully, keeping Indian driving conditions in mind. It’s not overly sensitive and adapts to Indian driving styles rather well. 

Performance

The BE 6 is based on the INGLO platform that’s capable of supporting both rear wheel drive and all wheel drive. However, at launch Mahindra has only introduced the rear-wheel drive. It is available with two battery packs: 59kWh and 79kWh. 

If you want to know about the powertrain for each variant, click here!

Mahindra BE6 79kWh 

City Performance 

The performance numbers are mind-blowing. But what’s even more impressive is how easy the BE6 is to drive inside the city. Power delivery is smooth and instantaneous. We wouldn’t blame you if you gunned for small gaps in traffic purely because you could. The acceleration is addictive and the drive experience is fun or relaxing depending on what you want it to be. 

Inside the city, you can explore the BE 6’s single-pedal drive mode. When you lift off the accelerator pedal, it automatically brings the car to a full halt. The calibration is done very well and the car comes to a complete stop without any abrupt braking. First time EV buyers will need some practice to get used to it but it does prove to be useful especially in heavy traffic. Otherwise, you can select the different levels of regenerative braking via the paddle shifters to tailor it as per the situation demands. 

Highway Performance

0-100kmph time of 6.7 seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 202kmph. I drove it at Mahindra’s test track in Chennai, and can confirm those numbers are achievable all-day, everyday in the real world. 

This means highway performance is blistering quick as the BE6 can hold even illegal speeds all day long, with a full passenger load. Even at triple digit speeds, you can simply floor the throttle to get even more acceleration. Add the healthy noise insulation package into the mix and the BE6 becomes an effortless long distance highway cruiser. 

There are practically no petrol/diesel cars available under Rs 50 lakh that deliver a performance that’s even remotely close to the BE 6.

The BE 6 is an easy car to maneuver owing to its light steering and while it does get heavier at higher speeds, the feel is quite artificial. Ride quality is set slightly on the firmer side. It feels comfortable over smooth roads but there is some side-to-side tossing passengers will experience over uneven roads. This behaviour is likely to get amplified if you get the optional 20-inch wheels vs the 19-inch wheels of our test car.

That said, on the handful of sharp bumps and potholes we dealt with, the suspension did a good job of controlling any shock in the cabin nor did it crash or get noisy over bad bumps.

The entire variant lineup of the new BE 6 now comes under the SPORTEQ category and is available in five variants: One, Two, Three, Three +, and Four (here’s our detailed story on what each variant gets).

The Formule E edition is based on the Three and Four variant, while the Launch Edition is limited to the top-spec Four variant. Let’s take a look at what each variant gets:

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ One

• Sporty and modern styling with bi-LED projector headlights, LED DRLs and LED tail lights. Gets 18-inch wheels with covers and spring-loaded flush door handles too.

• Dual-tone Sage Green and Grey fabric upholstery inside. 

• Driver gets a tilt and telescopic steering wheel with height adjustable seats.

• Covers all basics with power windows, push button start/stop, auto headlights with rear AC vents, rain-sensing wipers and auto AC.

• Gets three Type-C charging ports (15W and 65W at the front and 65W at the rear)

• Dual 12.3-inch digital screens for infotainment and driver with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Also gets a 6-speaker sound system.

• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, tyre pressure warning system, all-wheel disc brakes, rear demister, electronic stability program and electronic parking brake.

• Read here to explore everything about the One variant in detail.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Two

• Improved styling with 19-inch wheels that get covers.

• The interior gets leatherette on the dashboard, door trims, steering wheel and shifter. 

• Feature additions include power-folding outside rear-view mirrors, auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror, wireless phone charger, dual-zone climate control and a 540-degree camera.

• Tech additions include the new 12.3-inch passenger display, digital key card, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos, and manual drive video recording. 

• New safety features include tyres pressure monitoring system, front parking sensors and auto defogger for windshield.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Three

• Entry-level variant for bigger 70kWH battery.

• Gets a more modern styling with animations and sequential turn indicators (front and rear).

• Interior features a fixed panoramic glass roof and acoustic laminated door glass. 

• 6-way powered driver seat with memory setting, front ventilated seats, auto-dipping ORVM, additional Type-C charging port at the rear, and BYOD device mounts are the new feature additions.

• No changes in the safety kit.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Three Formula E

• Only available with the bigger 79kWh battery.

• Adds virtual engine sounds and adaptive suspension (like in the top variant).

• Design gets Formula E badging and carpet lamps.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Three +

• Adds a bigger 79kWh battery as an option alongside the 70kWH battery.

• Full C-shaped LED DRLs and LED tail lights with illuminated centre tail lamp make the design distinctive with 19-inch alloy wheels. Also adds front fog lamps with cornering function.

• Design gets a customisable rear tail light signature and Groove me feature that turns the lights into a disco.

• Cabin gets ambient lighting on the door and dashboard.

• Feature additions include passive keyless entry, powered flush door handles, powered tailgate with gesture control, additional front wireless charger and parcel shelf. 

• Gets auto regen function that adjusts regen using ADAS.

• Safety kit features Level-2 autonomous driving assistance features with one radar and camera.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Four

• Improved tech with Google Gemini-based voice assistance, in-car gaming suite, Dolby Vision, auto park assist and AR head-up display.

• Also gets a smart air filtration system with AQI display, LED patterns on the glass roof, one touch driver window up/down, and approach lock/unlock feature.

• Full ADAS suite includes 5 radars and 1 vision camera for better functionality in all weather conditions.

Mahindra BE 6 SPORTEQ Four Formula E

• Features 20-inch alloy wheels.

• Interior gets capsense push button start/stop and virtual engine sound switch.

CarDekho Recommends

• The base-spec One variant packs all the essential must-haves and even covers infotainment and entertainment requirements. If you’re on a budget and want a sporty looking and driving electric vehicle, then this is the best package in the market with no compromise on functionality from a features point of view. 

• Pick the Three variant if you want a balance of functional and a few feel-good features. Price premium is acceptable and you get features that will actually improve your ownership experience. 

• Opt for the top-spec variant if you don’t want to compromise on anything. And given that the prices have been reduced, the value has never been better.

The BE 6 is a young, fun, fast, and tech-loaded SUV with a single focus: to keep that inner child of yours happy—the one who used to love driving cars in video games (and possibly still does). Its looks are straight out of a sci-fi movie. The driver gets a premium cockpit; it offers a good driving experience, and its real-world range of 400- 550 km (depending on the battery pack) will be adequate for most. And it does all this while keeping your family in mind as well. With its latest update, things like the interior experience and the tech package have only improved, and if you were dreaming of owning a sporty car that doesn’t demand too many compromises and remains relatively affordable, look no further!  

Other Cars To Consider

Hyundai Creta Electric

Reasons To Consider

• Conventional design

• Better rear seat experience

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as fun to drive

• Real world range is lower

Mahindra XEV 9e

Reasons To Consider

• Larger car

• Better rear seat experience

Reasons To Ignore

• Considerably more expensive