The Mahindra XEV 9S and Kia Carens Clavis EV are two of the most affordable 3-row electric offerings in India. Priced under Rs 30 lakh, the XEV 9S and the Carens Clavis cater to similar buyers despite having different body types. But which EV offers the better performance, range and battery regeneration in the real world? Let us compare the top-spec variants of both to find out.
Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Carens Clavis EV: Specifications, price
The XEV 9S is pricier, and its larger battery facilitates a higher claimed range
*Power-to-weight is hp per tonne
^Torque-to-weight is Nm per tonne
We tested the larger 79kWh battery variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S and the 51kWh battery version of the Kia Carens Clavis EV. Both 3-row EVs get a single-motor setup but with a different configuration – the XEV 9S’s motor is mounted on the rear axle (RWD) while that of the Carens Clavis EV sits on the front axle (FWD). The XEV 9S is also the more powerful EV here, producing 115hp and 125Nm more than the Kia Carens Clavis EV, but it is also heavier. Its larger battery allows for a higher claimed range, 189km more than the Carens Clavis EV’s.
As for price, the Pack Three Above variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S commands a Rs 4.94 lakh premium over the Carens Clavis EV HTX+ ER variant.
Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Carens Clavis EV: Performance tests
The more powerful XEV 9S is also quicker despite its heavier mass
As mentioned earlier, the Mahindra XEV 9S is the more powerful 3-row car, and in the real world, it completes a 0-100kph run 0.9 seconds quicker than the Carens Clavis EV. 20-80kph and 40-80kph runs are 0.51 seconds and 0.86 seconds quicker on the XEV 9S.
Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Carens Clavis EV: Range, regen tests
Higher regen setting allows Carens Clavis EV to be more efficient than the XEV 9S
In our real-world tests, the Kia Carens Clavis EV showed stronger battery regeneration in the higher settings. The gap was most noticeable in the High (Level 3) mode, though it narrowed slightly in one-pedal driving. Combined with its lower kerb weight, this helped the Carens Clavis EV deliver better efficiency of 7.45 km/kWh in the city versus 6.05 km/kWh for the XEV 9S.
However, the XEV 9S has a much larger battery (about 54 percent), which gives it a clear range advantage. In city driving, it travelled 95 km further on a single charge.
The XEV 9S offered stronger deceleration in the medium and low regen settings. It stood out especially in the lowest setting (Level 1). On the highway, the XEV 9S maintained its efficiency at 6.05 km/kWh, while the Carens Clavis EV dropped to 6.71 km/kWh. This widened the real-world range gap even more, with the XEV 9S going about 113 km further than the Carens Clavis EV.
Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Carens Clavis EV: Verdict
The XEV 9S offers a holistic package that does not compensate performance for range
The XEV 9S, with a larger battery pack and a more powerful motor, offers a comprehensive package that does not lose out on range while offering great performance. On the other hand, the Kia Carens Clavis EV offers better efficiency, especially in the higher regen settings, helping it compensate for its smaller battery. This makes the Kia Carens Clavis EV a better choice for buyers looking for an urban EV, while for highway driving, the more balanced XEV 9S is recommended.
Autocar India’s regenerative testing standards
To test regenerative braking, we pre-select a level of regen braking and then completely lift off the throttle pedal and allow the car to decelerate till under 20kph. This procedure is then repeated for as many levels of regenerative braking the EV packs in. The deceleration rate, the distance covered and the time taken to go from 80-20kph are recorded on a GPS-based VBOX system.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Rivan RS 
