Mahindra XEV 9e Ownership Review After 14,000 Km: Real Range, Battery Health, Service & Truth

When we invest a huge amount of money on a modern electric SUV like the the Mahindra XEV 9e, one expects integration of advanced technologies rather than just a fancy triple-screen layout. Thus it is very important to understand whether it will be able to thrive on the Indian roads or not. 

However, AllAboutEVs got the chance to review the XEV 9e and various insights revealed by Mr. Vinay, a proud owner of the XEV 9e who has successfully covered more than 14,000 Km in his top-spec XEV 9e (Pack 3 Trim). 

He has tested the car extensively, from doing the road trips to Himachal to the daily city commutes, here is a detailed review from the owner about how it is to live with Mahindra’s electric SUV. 

XEV 9e Real World Range

Let’s address the important question in the mind of EV buyers, the range anxiety!!! The company claims a range of 550 Km, but what’s the real-world range of the XEV 9e? According to the owner Vinay, the XEV 9e truly scores in this department. 

• Real-World Numbers: He was consistently getting an ideal range of 480-490 Km on a single charge, which is quite close to the claimed numbers by Mahindra. 

• The Winter Bonus: On a genuine surprise, the range has a significant increase in 20-30 Km especially in winters as compared to hot climates, likely because the battery cooling fans work overtime in peak temperatures. 
• Road-trip Test: He also did a road trip from his home to Bharatpur and back (a total of 362 Km Round Trip), and he returned home with 32% battery still left. That’s enough for extra 100 Km, providing a decent range on highways. 

Mahindra XEV 9e Ride Quality & Handling

Vinay, who also has Thar and XUV700 in his garage, praised his new XEV 9e for its premium ride quality providing a superior riding experience. According to him, the comfort was at par with luxury German cars. 

Suspension: The XEV 9e is equipped with semi-active, independent suspension which handles potholes and big speed breakers with absolute charm, offering a much smoother ride than the XUV700. 

Space: Unlike the BE6, which feels tighter and a bit claustrophobic from the back, the XEV 9e emerges as a proper family car providing ample space and practicality with numerous storage spaces. 

Hidden Gems and Misses

Ownership is all about discovery. It took Vinay eight months to find out that the car has a sports car-like sound mode, which produces artificial engine sounds into the cabin, the moment you rev the accelerator. However, it could have been tuned more aggressively. 

• The owner also finds the touch buttons on the steering wheel to be finicky as you might try to open the menu, but instead end up pressing the horn. 

• There are also issues with visibility as the XEV 9e’s coupe design restricts the rear visibility. Also there is a miss of a Digital Rear View Mirror (IRVM) and should be provided as default offering especially in a 30 lakh rupee car. 
• For a premium car of this size, there are no electric controls as the passenger seat is adjusted via the traditional “clip and side” mechanism. 

Mahindra XEV 9e Service Experience

According to Vinay, the ownership experience could have been better. Vinay explained that after the truck rear-ended the SUV, the overall repair process was tedious and long. 

The Wait: It took more than a month to repair the damages. According to the owner, this process shouldn't take much longer. 

Parts Shortage: Another big problem with XEV 9e is the less availability of spare parts, as it's a new product. 

The Bill Issue: During a software update, the owner was handed a bill of Rs 3,000. However, after some time it turned out to be an internal billing error (customers are not entitled to pay for updates), but it created an unnecessary panic. 

Charging Economics

Vinay primarily charges his XEV 9e at home utilising the company's 11 kW home charger. 

• Speed: 40% charge in 3 hours; full charge in ~6 hours.
• Cost: A full tank generally costs him merely ₹550–₹600 at home. Compare that to petrol prices, and you’re laughing all the way to the bank.

PROS: 

• Decent Real-World Range of 480-490 Km on a single charge.
• Semi-Active suspension provides world-class driving dynamics. 
• Zero Degradation and advanced thermal management ensures the LFP battery pack is built for longer runs. 
• Economical Running Costs at Rs 1.25 / Km which is significantly cheaper than XUV700 Diesel. 

CONS:

• Mahindra’s Service Network doesn’t provide a seamless service experience especially for ‘premium’ EV users. There is also a lack of slow part logistics which is one of the major issues. 
• The capacitive touch buttons and manual passenger seat are annoying especially for the car costing 30 lakhs. 
• Poor Rear Visibility due to coupe-type shape and lack of necessities like digital mirror. 

Conclusion

So does he recommend it? Absolutely! The Mahindra XEV 9e is a perfect buy for those seeking advanced technology or a family looking for their primary car with electric power. According to Mr Vinay, it offers a luxury experience that rival cars offer at double of its price. However, buyers must be careful about the after-sales experience, which is like a hit or a miss and it is advisable to have a second car as an alternative not because of range anxiety, but because of service anxiety, as if you need a part, it might be off-duty for a month. 

However, Mr Vinay, despite the service issues, recommends this car and has an attractive design that he loves, an emotion which is expressed by the majority of early buyers who prioritise the drive more than the service experience.