Mahindra XEV 9S

The Mahindra XEV 9S is an all-electric SUV. While there are commonalities with the XUV700 in terms of interior and exterior design, it’s based on Mahindra’s pure electric INGLO platform. Launched at Rs 19.95 lakh, it competes with a host of electric SUVs, right from the Hyundai Creta Electric to the Tata Harrier EV. You can consider other Mahindra electric SUVs such as the BE6 and XEV 9e for a similar price.  

The XEV 9S claims to be the complete 7-seater electric SUV for the family. Does it deliver? Should you consider it?

The XEV 9S has us drawing references from two popular Mahindras — the XUV700 and the XEV 9e. To put it simply, it looks like a combination of these two SUVs. Do you think the same? Check this detailed exterior photo gallery out to form a better opinion.

From the front, the XEV 9S shares a lot with the 9e. The massive tusk-like LED daytime running lamps make for a very imposing front profile. These feature welcome/goodbye animations and sequential turn indicators as well. 

Tucked neatly next to the tusks are a set of bright white full-LED headlamps. What’s more, the Mahindra logo is illuminated as well. Interestingly, the placement of the logo is different from the 9e, where it’s a part of the bonnet. 

The ‘fluted’ finish for the closed off grille and the large bumper are familiarly Mahindra. That’s to say it’s in your face, intimidating and attention-grabbing. 

I’m not particularly fond of the gloss-black finish used for the ‘cladding’. It looks great, make no mistake, but it’s going to be a dust and scratch magnet as the car ages. Consider investing in a PPF (paint protection film) for these parts at the least. Smaller details such as the integration of the front radar and parking sensors have been done thoughtfully too. 

Viewed from the side, the familiar silhouette of the XUV700 is immediately noticeable. There’s a minor 12mm difference in wheelbase, but the wheel size remains the same at 18-inches. You will also spot shared elements such as the motorised flush-fitting door handles, the pronounced rear fender and the flowing window line. 

The size of the XEV 9S is most obvious from the side, especially in lighter shades. It’s also here that you might feel like Mahindra should have offered larger alloy wheels. For reference, the XEV 9e, gets 19-inch alloy wheels on the top-spec variant and 20-inch alloys as an option. Nothing of this sort exists for the 9S. 

From the rear, the smoked-out tail lamps grab attention first. There’s cool honeycomb detailing in the lamps and it features dynamic turn indicators too. A large ‘ X E V 9 S’ badging sits on the boot lid. However, there’s no variant badging here (it exists only on the front fender). 

It’s this angle where the XEV 9S looks most like the XUV700, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. 

As for colour options, Mahindra has chosen a dark palette for the SUV. Colour options include Everest White, Desert Myst, Nebula Blue, Stealth Black, Midnight Black, and Ruby Velvet. Distinguishing between the blue and the two black colours is very difficult, you can check every colour in pictures here. The Ruby Velvet shade is truly unique and is my pick for the XEV 9S. Needless to say, the XEV’s size shines through in the lighter shades.

Design And Quality

On the inside, the design is a copy-paste from the XEV 9e. The same triple-screen layout, the same olive-white colour combination and the same central console. Mahindra could’ve opted for a different colour theme at the least to give the 9S its own personality. 

The wide dashboard has a ‘wraparound’ effect, making it seem like it flows seamlessly from one doorpad to the other. It’s split into multiple layers with different textures and finishes. Plastic quality feels hard and durable, if not outright luxurious. Mahindra has provided some leatherette-wrapped elements on the crashpad. 

Mahindra has opted for a lot of gloss-black elements inside the cabin too. These are prone to picking up scratches and dust. We’d recommend you consider investing in PPF to protect these panels. Check out these interior pictures to see every little detail of the Mahindra XEV 9S’ interior.

Front Seats

All doors of the XEV 9S open up wide, which makes getting in and out quite easy. Unlike the XEV 9e, where the floor felt very evidently raised, the 9S feels more neutral in comparison. Even elders in the family are unlikely to have an issue getting in and out of the car. That said, if you’re taller than 6ft, it’s best to duck and mind your head while getting in. 

The front seats are wide and well-contoured. Cushioning is the right amount of firm, making it suitable for longer drives. Even if you’re XL-sized, these seats will feel comfortable. The driver’s seat can be adjusted electrically and features a memory function that lets you store up to 3 driving positions. 

The steering too can be adjusted for rake and reach, making it easy to get into a comfortable driving position. The position is naturally high-set, giving you a clean view of the bonnet. This will make even the nervous new drivers feel a lot more comfortable with the size of the car quickly. 

Like the driver’s seat, the co-driver’s seat can also be adjusted electrically. Mahindra has also provided four buttons on the ‘shoulder’ of the seat, that lets rear occupants move the seat ahead / change the recline angle (“boss buttons”). 

Rounding things off is a central armrest. This is placed at a neutral height and will prove to be useful over longer journeys. 

Rear Seats

Second Row

With the driving seat set to my preference (height: 6ft), I could very comfortably sit in the second row. The second row can be slid front and back, so one can tailor the amount of kneeroom available based on the usage of the third row. There’s a recline function too, which will be appreciated by those who wish to catch a nap in the car over road trips. 

There’s no real issue with headroom either, even if you’re over 6ft tall or wear a turban. Underthigh support felt satisfactory, if not great. It is evident that the floor is slightly raised making you sit in a knees up position. 

In terms of width, seating three people here isn’t a problem at all. What’s more, like the front seats, the rear seats are wide and very accommodating of big-bodied individuals. You can very easily spend hours in these seats without feeling fatigued. 

I feel Mahindra should have offered a captain seat option with the XEV 9S (the Mahindra XUV700 already has this option). 

Amenities for the rear seat occupants include window sunshades, rear seat ventilation and a central armrest. 

Third Row

The second row gets a one-touch tumble (on the co-driver’s side), making it easier to get in and out of the third row. The space on offer is best-suited for shorter adults or children. 

Anyone above 5’5” will find themselves without any underthigh support whatsoever, which can get taxing over long journeys. In terms of kneeroom, adults up to 5’8” can sit here without their knees brushing against the second row set at its rear most position. 

Third row occupants get their own AC vents and blower speed control. 

Storage and Practicality

In-car storage is plenty. All four doors have sizable bottle holders. For the front occupants, the central area has space for two phones, a couple of cupholders and a large storage space under the front armrest. 

The glovebox is large too, with a dedicated shelf for the vehicle’s documents. Rear seat occupants can use the seatback pockets and the cupholders in the central armrest. 

Third row occupants have individual cupholders built into the side armrests.

Charging Options

Front seat occupants can use the wireless charger, and two USB type-C chargers to charge their devices. There are no 12V sockets here. 

Rear occupants get two 65W USB type-C chargers provided in the front seat backs, and a wireless charger below the rear AC vents. There are no charging options available for the third row occupants. 

Features

Mahindra set new benchmarks with the features on the XEV 9e. The 9S, simply copies the homework and adds in a few more for good measure. 

Here’s a quick run through of what’s available: 

• Keyless Entry

• Push-button Start/Stop

• Automatic Headlamps

• Auto-dimming IRVM

• Dual-zone Climate Control

• Ambient Lighting

• Front Seat Ventilation

• 6-way powered Driver’s Seat (with three memory settings)

• Powered Co-driver’s Seat (with Boss mode)

With that out of the way, let’s focus on the highlights:

NFC / Phone as a key: The door handles have an NFC reader. You can either choose to keep a key card (like a hotel room key) or simply have the key stored on your phone. You can also share this key digitally to your friends/family if needed.

12.3-inch Digital Driver’s Display: This screen is shared with other eSUVs. Crisp resolution, quick feedback and a host of information makes this super useful. It also shows the feed from the side camera when you indicate. Very handy! 

12.3-inch Touchscreen: Has a very Android-like interface which makes it easy to get used to. Operationally, the screen feels well sorted. It’s quick to respond and has interesting graphics too. I didn’t experience any glitches or freezes in my limited test drive. There’s support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

12.3-inch Co-Driver’s Display: Get access to a host of apps including OTT (such as JioHotstar, Prime Video), shopping (Myntra, Nykaa) and even food/grocery delivery (Zomato/Swiggy). You can also use this screen to take work calls via Zoom.

AR HUD: Get vital information such as speed, navigation and range in your line of sight. It has built in augmented reality, which means you get a ‘3D' view for a lot of information. 

16-speaker Harman Kardon Audio System: Among the best audio systems available in a car under Rs 50 lakh. This system delivers a truly surround sound experience and feels apt for a variety of music ranging from rock to hip-hop.

In-car Camera: A camera mounted above the rear view mirror can be used to click in-car selfies and also attend video calls.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): Mounting points behind the front seats that let you fit individual tablets. Via an app, these screens can sync with your infotainment, letting you view similar content across all screens.

540° Camera: Great video quality makes this camera quite dependable. There are 2D and 3D modes that help you navigate tighter spaces better. It also features a ‘transparent’ mode that lets you view what’s under the vehicle. For a large vehicle such as the XEV 9S, this feature is quite handy. 

Park Assist: The vehicle can park itself in parallel, perpendicular or diagonal spaces. You can also choose to park using the key of the car, and summon the car out of the parking space using the key. This feature did not work reliably during our test. It either never detected the parking spot, or didn’t park properly as required. 

There are other apps such as GrooveMe (that syncs interior/exterior lights with the music) and Live Your Mood (with sounds by A R Rahman!) that have been carried over from the other Mahindra eSUVs. 

Standard safety features on the XEV 9S include: 

• 6 Airbags

• Electronic Stability Program

• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts

• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

The top two variants get an additional airbag for the driver’s knee. 

A few ADAS features are available in the ‘Pack 2 Above’ variant. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Do note that this variant features a single front-facing camera and radar. 

From the ‘Pack 3’ variant — the XEV 9S gets 5 radars and a camera. This unlocks additional ADAS features such as front and rear cross traffic alert, emergency steering and blind spot detection. 

I’ve tested the ADAS on Mahindra SUVs across products such as the XUV700, XUV 3XO, BE6 and XEV 9e. The system is calibrated well and is apt for Indian conditions. For those who foresee a lot of highway usage, the ADAS can be relied upon to make drives safer and less fatiguing. 

With all three rows in use, there’s practically no boot space left. You can fit a couple of backpacks here at best. However, folding down the third row gets you 500-litres of space. 

The third row gets a 50:50 split, whereas the second row has a 60:40 split for added versatility. 

If you wish to travel with seven occupants and their luggage, we’d recommend you consider getting a roof storage box. 

The frunk has a storage capacity of 150-litres. This can accommodate a small-sized trolley bag or a few soft bags if needed. 

Mahindra offers three battery pack options with the XEV 9S. Here’s a quick snapshot of the specs:

City Performance

What immediately strikes you is that the XEV 9S is super easy to drive. The numbers suggest exhilarating performance, but it’s only if you want it.

The throttle response is sharp, but never overwhelming. If you want to attack gaps in traffic, you’ll appreciate the instant response from the powertrain. For city drives, you can use the ‘Range’, ‘Everyday’ or ‘Default’ drive modes. 

Highway Performance

On the highway, you’ll be able to experience the power of the XEV 9S to its fullest. The acceleration is super strong, especially if you floor the throttle in ‘Race’ mode. But, I have to say it doesn’t feel particularly scary at any point. Even newer drivers will feel confident in no time. 

It’s very relaxed while cruising at 100-120kmph. What is interesting is that acceleration is very strong if you prod the throttle here too! 

XEV 9S Real World Range

Here are our estimations of real-world range of the XEV 9S: 

Our estimates are based on our test of the BE6 and XEV 9e. Head here to see the real-world driving range we managed to get from both eSUVs.

Note: Braking and Brake Energy Regeneration

I liked the braking calibration on the XEV 9S. It felt natural and didn’t feel like I had to get used to it in any manner, as is the case with other new EVs. As for regeneration, you can toggle between L1, L2, L3 and Auto or switch it off completely.

I found the ‘Auto’ mode to be particularly helpful — it correctly calibrated the required deceleration based on the traffic in front of the car. Regen kicks in smoothly and there’s no abrupt nosedive to be experienced here.

This is where the XEV 9S seems to have missed a trick. The suspension is set up to be too soft for our liking. While this is great over super smooth roads at low speeds, it induces vertical movement inside the cabin on undulated surfaces and also at higher speeds. This is especially apparent in the second and third row. We don’t expect a large electric SUV to be a super sharp handler. That said, the body movement in the XEV 9S is more than expected even while changing lanes. 

If there are family members that get motion sickness quite easily, we’d urge you to take a long test drive with them to be doubly sure. 

Other than this, the 9S is quite easy to manage. The steering is super light, and the small 5m turning radius makes it quite convenient to maneuver and park, even in tight spaces. 

Mahindra is offering the XEV 9S in four broad variants: Pack ONE Above, Pack TWO Above, Pack THREE, and Pack THREE Above. 

Pack ONE Above

• Available with the 59kWh and 79 kWh battery packs.
• Gets Bi-LED headlamps, LED position lamps, LED tail lamps, illuminated logo, a rear spoiler, and 18-inch steel wheels with aero covers.
• Cabin gets fabric upholstery, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 6-way manually adjustable driver seat, 4-way manually adjustable co-driver seat, leather-wrapped drive selector, and a panoramic sunroof.
• Features include auto AC, electrically adjustable ORVMs, push button start/stop, cruise control, and auto headlamps.
• Infotainment package gets a triple screen setup (12.3-inch each), wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Fun&Work, and a 6-speaker sound system.
• Safety kit has 6 airbags, electronic stability program, rear parking sensors, rearview camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system, a rear defogger, and a rear wiper and washer.

Pack TWO Above

• Offered with 70kWh and 79 kWh battery packs.
• Changes on the outside include 18-inch alloy wheels.
• Inside, it gets leatherette seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and 6-way powered driver seat with memory function.
• Feature additions include ventilted front seats, dual-zone climate control, auto dimming ORVM, power folding ORVMs, Dolby Atmos, and a front wireless phone charger.
• Infotainment system gets a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and mounts for personal tablets.
• Additions to the safety kit include front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera with a blind view monitor, and Level 2 ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep asisst, and autonomous emergency braking.  

Pack THREE

• Available with only the 79 kWh battery pack.
• Exterior gets connected LED DRLs, sequential turn indicators, and welcome and goodbye animations. 
• Cabin gets ambient lighting on the doors, dashboard, and sunroof along with a 6-way powered co-driver seat and second row seat ventilation.
•  Additional features incllude a rear wireless phone charger, booster lamps, and rear window sunshades.
• Safety kit gets 7 airbags and Level 2 ADAS with 5 radars, which adds features like front and rear cross traffic alert, highway assist, and evasive steering assist.

Pack THREE Above

• Top-spec variant offered only with the 79kWh battery pack.
• No major changes to the exterior or interior design.
• Additional features include an in-car camera, an AR head-up display, and full auto parking.
• No changes to the infotainment package.
• Safety kit gets secure 360 with live view.

CarDekho Recommends

• If on a budget, pick the base Pack ONE Above variant as it covers all the basics, offers a good design inside and out, and comes with a great infotainment package.
• Go for the one-below-top Pack THREE variant if you want the best deal. It offers a great overall package with all the modern features, and only misses out on a few pieces of flashy tech.

You should read our detailed variant-wise features explained story where we have given a thorough breakdown of features available in each variant.

Mahindra has got a lot right. The space, tech and feel-good factor of the XEV 9S is exactly where it should be. A real-world range of 400-500km means the SUV can do city and inter-city trips with equal ease.

Given its Rs 19.95 lakh - Rs 29.45 lakh price tag, it’s quite a lot of car for the money too. The lower variants are well-equipped, which means you don’t really need to spend a bomb for a great experience. Check this article for more details on how to book the XEV 9S and delivery timelines.

Whether you have high use within city limits, want to lower fuel costs over long but fixed routes — the XEV 9S is worth considering. 

Other Cars To Consider Mahindra XEV 9E

Reasons To Consider

• Coupe-SUV design

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as spacious and only seats 5

Tata Harrier EV

Reasons To Consider

• Better ride quality

Reasons To Ignore

• Lower range

BYD Atto 3

Reasons To Consider

• Unique Interior Design

Reasons To Ignore

• Smaller SUV, with lower space and boot

• BYD’s skeletal service network