I have a 2016 Maruti Brezza manual ZDI+ diesel. I am really happy with the car, but I need to upgrade, as Delhi has a 10-year limitation on diesel cars. I have a budget of ₹30 lakh. We are a family of five (including a 4-year-old child), with mostly city usage. I am looking for a good driving experience, comfort, and value for money. I am open to electric cars and have test-driven the Mahindra XEV 9S, yet to try the 9E. I have read a lot about the soft suspension on the 9S and could feel the vertical movement. However, the Pack Three variant of the 9S has more features compared to the 9E, such as electric seat adjustment for co-passengers, seven seats, rear ventilated seats, and is cheaper by a couple of lakhs. I am confused, as I do not want to spend ₹30 lakh and regret it later. My mother did not like the Harrier EV, so that is out of consideration. My running is around 500km a month.

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Autocar India team · Accepted Answer

The Mahindra XEV 9S is, in many ways, is a clean and logical upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki Brezza diesel. For a family of five, the flexibility of three-row seating is genuinely useful, even if you don’t use the third row daily.As you rightly pointed out, the Pack Three variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S is very well equipped and, in fact, offers more features than the 9E Pack Three, like the co-passenger electric seat adjustment, rear ventilated seats and the added practicality of seven seats. Given that it’s also a couple of lakhs cheaper than the comparable Mahindra XEV 9e variant, from a pure value perspective, the 9S Pack Three does look more compelling.On the suspension, yes, the 9S is tuned on the softer side, but it's not a deal-breaker. You do feel a bit of vertical movement, especially at highway speeds over undulations, and that’s probably what you sensed during the test drive. However, in daily city use (which is the bulk of your 500), a softer setup at low speeds can actually work in your favour, better absorbing potholes and broken patches.Importantly, Mahindra has responded to feedback by introducing a ‘Custom’ drive mode, which lets you choose a sportier or stiffer suspension setting while keeping steering and power delivery in Comfort. That flexibility helps tailor the car to your preference.Since your usage is just around 500 km a month and mostly in the city, an electric car makes strong sense. Just ensure you have convenient home charging, that’s key to a stress-free EV ownership experience.

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