Home-grown carmakers Mahindra and Tata Motors are butting heads in several segments, and their respective flagship five-seat electric SUVs are most certainly direct rivals. The Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e have similar claimed figures, battery sizes and prices, which is why we’ve dug through our performance data to find out which eSUV offers better real-world performance.
Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e: Specifications and price
XEV 9e has a larger battery and costs more, while Harrier EV AWD has more power, torque and weight.
*7.2kW charger costs Rs 49,000
^7.2kW charger costs Rs 50,000; 11.2kW charger costs Rs 75,000
On paper, the Harrier EV AWD seems to have the edge in terms of specifications and price. Not only does the Harrier EV cost up to Rs 1.51 lakh less than the XEV 9e, but it also has a 27hp and a massive 124Nm advantage. More power and torque also mean that the Harrier EV AWD’s 134kg higher kerb weight doesn’t play spoilsport, as it has much higher power- and torque-to-weight ratios. Tata’s claimed 0-100kph time is also 0.5 seconds quicker than the Mahindra’s. The Harrier EV also gets an additional Boost drive mode, though the XEV 9e does have a Boost function (the button is on the steering) for a short burst of full power in Everyday and Range modes.
Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e: 0-100kph acceleration test
Harrier EV AWD is 0.71 seconds quicker than XEV 9e, though Mahindra EV has a higher top speed.
On the ground, the Harrier EV continues to hold the advantage, out-accelerating the XEV 9e from a standstill to the 100kph mark and beyond. The AWD system helps put that 504Nm of torque cleanly, giving the Harrier EV a 0.16-second lead from 20kph and widening it to 0.71 seconds at 100kph, as measured by our GPS-equipped timing equipment. On the other hand, the Mahindra EV has a higher top speed, reaching a little over 200kph, while the Harrier EV maxes out at 180kph.
A point to note is that both models’ tested 0-100kph times are slower than their respective claimed 0-100kph times, with the Harrier EV lagging by 0.44 seconds and the XEV 9e by 0.65 seconds.
Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e: Rolling acceleration tests
Harrier EV AWD is also quicker in 20-80kph and 40-100kph acceleration tests.
Again, the Harrier EV AWD proves itself marginally quicker than the XEV 9e thanks to its higher output figures. The Mahindra EV falls behind by 0.28 seconds in the 20-80kph acceleration test and by 0.29 seconds in the 40-100kph test.
Our Harrier EV vs XEV 9e on-road comparison noted that while the Harrier EV’s dual-motor setup belies its portly 2.3-tonne kerb weight and delivers power in a linear manner, the XEV 9e’s rear axle-mounted 286hp motor performs more aggressively and feels a bit more effortless.
Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e: Braking and regen tests
Despite higher kerb weight, Harrier EV out-brakes XEV 9e.
Both executive eSUVs have an all-wheel disc brake setup, but it’s the Harrier EV that brakes sooner from 80kph to a standstill – by 1.52 metres and 0.41 seconds – despite being heavier than the XEV 9e. Both also have three levels of regenerative braking, and here as well, the Tata EV is the relatively stronger candidate. However, note that the Mahindra EV offers a single-pedal regen mode, which is a much more aggressive setting that can bring the XEV 9e to a complete halt. Further, our comparison also found that the brake pedal feel on the Harrier EV left much to be desired.
Autocar India’s testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressure based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car is charged to 100 percent. The car is then tested in a controlled environment with two people on board, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Saumil Shah
Saptarshi Mondal
