The Mahindra XEV 9e won the
Green Car Award at ICOTY 2026
beating every electric vehicle
in India. Launched in November
2024 and continuously updated
throughout 2025 and 2026 the
XEV 9e has established itself
as India’s benchmark premium
electric SUV under ₹30 lakh.
Here is our complete review.
What Makes The XEV 9e Special
The XEV 9e is Mahindra’s first
born electric vehicle — built
from the ground up on Mahindra’s
INGLO platform rather than
adapting an existing petrol
car. This fundamental difference
gives it advantages that
ICE based EVs simply cannot
match — better packaging
optimised weight distribution
and purpose built EV dynamics.
Design — Coupe SUV Drama
The XEV 9e has the most dramatic
design of any Indian car under
₹30 lakh. The full width LED
DRL strip at the front connected
LED lighting at the rear coupe
SUV roofline 20 inch diamond
cut alloys and flush door handles
create a genuinely futuristic
road presence. Available in
striking colours including
Tango Red Nebula Blue Desert
Myst and Stealth Black it
turns heads everywhere.
The March 2026 Cineluxe Edition
adds exclusive Black and Brown
interior with Satin Black and
Satin White exterior finishes
for buyers wanting maximum
exclusivity.
Triple Screen Dashboard
The XEV 9e’s cabin is dominated
by three 12.3 inch screens
spanning the entire dashboard
— digital driver display
central infotainment and
passenger entertainment screen.
This triple screen setup costs
significantly more in European
cars. Finding it in an Indian
car starting at ₹21.90 lakh
is extraordinary.
The passenger screen allows
video streaming entertainment
and browsing while the car
is moving — a genuinely
premium feature that makes
long highway journeys more
enjoyable for front seat
passengers.
Battery and Range
Two battery options are available.
The 59kWh battery delivers
542km ARAI claimed range while
the 79kWh battery delivers
656km ARAI claimed range —
one of the longest claimed
ranges of any EV under ₹30
lakh in the world.
Real world range is approximately
420km from the 59kWh battery
and 500km from the 79kWh
battery in mixed Indian driving
conditions — genuinely excellent
figures for buyers worried
about range anxiety.
Ultra Fast Charging
DC fast charging from 20 to
80 percent takes just 20 minutes
on a compatible fast charger —
making long distance highway
driving genuinely practical.
This 20 minute charge time
is among the fastest of any
EV available in India and
makes a Delhi to Jaipur
return trip completely stress
free.
Performance
The single rear motor produces
286bhp and 380Nm delivering
a top speed of 202kmph —
genuinely quick performance
for a family electric SUV.
The rear wheel drive layout
gives it a sporty character
that front wheel drive EVs
simply cannot replicate.
Suspension and Ride
The suspension has been tuned
for comfort making the XEV 9e
smooth and composed on Indian
highways. Level 2 ADAS with
adaptive cruise control lane
keep assist and automatic
emergency braking makes
highway driving significantly
less tiring and genuinely safer.
One Honest Limitation
The coupe SUV roofline reduces
rear headroom for tall passengers
and under thigh support in
the rear seat could be better
for average sized adults on
longer journeys. The off white
and green interior colour
scheme while premium looking
requires careful maintenance
in Indian conditions.
Safety
7 airbags standard across
all variants 360 degree camera
Level 2 ADAS with over 20
functions and Mahindra’s
comprehensive passive safety
make it one of the safest
electric SUVs in India.
The INGLO platform was designed
with safety as a primary
objective from the outset.
Price and Variants
The XEV 9e is available in
five trim levels from Pack
One to Pack Three. Prices
range from ₹21.90 lakh for
the base Pack One 59kWh
to ₹30.50 lakh for the
fully loaded Pack Three 79kWh.
The Cineluxe Edition at
₹29.35 lakh offers exclusive
interior styling for buyers
wanting something unique.
XEV 9e vs Rivals
Against the Tata Curvv EV
the XEV 9e wins on range
performance and the triple
screen dashboard while the
Curvv EV wins on Tata’s
larger service network and
lifetime battery warranty.
Against the Hyundai Ioniq 5
at ₹55.70 lakh the XEV 9e
offers comparable range and
technology at nearly half
the price — extraordinary
value. Against the BYD
Sealion 7 the XEV 9e wins
on Indian brand trust and
Mahindra’s rapidly expanding
service network.
Verdict
The Mahindra XEV 9e winning
ICOTY 2026 Green Car Award
is thoroughly deserved. It
offers 656km range ultra
fast 20 minute charging
286bhp performance and
a triple screen interior
at ₹21.90 lakh — a combination
that no electric vehicle
anywhere in the world can
match at this price point.
It is India’s greatest
automotive achievement and
proof that Indian engineering
can compete with the world’s
best.
