Autocar India
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Nasir Ali

•4d

I have been driving a XUV700 Petrol AT, and it has done around 52,000 Km. I have been looking at EV options, and the only thing that appears to make sense is the XEV 9S. Does it make sense to go for a car with the same top hat, or should I wait for other better options? My running is 1200 km per month, so not sure it makes financial sense to take the depreciation hit.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2h
As a long-time XUV700 owner, you’re right that the Mahindra XEV 9S is the most natural upgrade. It will feel familiar, but also a clear step up. The basic body shape and seating layout are similar, but the 9S’s dedicated EV platform, triple-screen dashboard, far richer feature list (ventilated seats, boss mode, middle-seat adjustability) and quieter, smoother powertrain make it feel like a more premium, next-generation version of what you already like. The sliding middle row also gives you the flexibility you don’t get in the XUV700, especially if you often travel with family.
However, at 1,200 km a month, the fuel saving versus your existing petrol AT won’t fully compensate for the immediate depreciation hit of selling a 52,000 km XUV700 and buying a new EV. At least not in the short term. So switching purely for financial sense is difficult to justify.
We would look at it like this: if you want the refinement, tech, and driving experience of an electric car now and are okay with the depreciation as the price of that upgrade, the XEV 9S is a very logical move. If you’re on the fence and primarily worried about money, it’s perfectly sensible to hold on to the XUV700 a bit longer and revisit an EV when the next wave of models arrives.
Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9S

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Mahindra XEV 9S

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Dinesh Kanojia

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Autocar India team

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Verified
•1h

Go for the BMW X3 30i. For your mostly city usage and as a one-time luxury buy, it fits best and will keep you happy. Coming from the Hyundai Creta, the X3 will not feel unwieldy in town. The steering is light at low speeds, the view out is clear, and the 360-degree cameras and parking sensors make navigating tight spots easy. The petrol engine and smooth automatic respond keenly in traffic, and the size feels manageable once you get used to it. Ride comfort is on the firmer side at low speeds, but it stays very steady at higher speeds.One thing to be aware of: the X3’s ride can feel a bit busy on broken city roads at crawl speeds, and the rear seat is not the widest in this class.If you want a calmer SUV, with great seats and more active safety features, the Volvo XC60 is a fine alternative, though Volvo’s dealer network is smaller. If rear-seat comfort matters most, the Mercedes GLC is the one to go for.On timing, the best deals typically come at calendar year-end and around March. A fresh, in-demand X3 usually gets small cash benefits or freebies, while the XC60 and Q5 see bigger cuts more often. Since you’ll use minimal finance, ask dealers to convert low-interest schemes into a straight cash discount or add a long service pack and extended warranty.

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Posted on: 13 Apr 2026