Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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The VinFast VF7 is an able cruiser that's engaging to drive. The AWD version packs in plenty of performance, and you feel confident behind the wheel, with characteristics similar to the Jeep Compass. What also works in the VF7's favour is its upmarket interior that genuinely exudes a premium car vibe.To entice buyers, VinFast is also offering several attractive schemes, such as buyback offers, incentives to exchange your ICE car, free charging options, long warranty, etc.Do keep in mind, its high cabin floor could hamper comfort, the user interface isn't very easy due to the over-reliance on its touchscreen for all controls, and its (overall) range is around 391km, which is lower than the Mahindra XEV 9E's (456km).

Vinfast VF7

Mahindra XEV 9e

Jeep Compass

Autocar India

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Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S or Mahindra XEV 9E, both of which are more spacious than the Mahindra BE 6, which feels surprisingly cramped, especially for rear seat passengers. The 9E and 9S have front seats too, and they get a three-screen layout too, which your front passenger is likely to appreciate on long drives. The XEV 9E has an edge over the XEV 9S on account of its slightly firmer suspension setup, which results in a more settled highway ride.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

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What you’re experiencing is not unusual with EVs like the Mahindra XEV 9e. The standard Goodyear tyres are tuned more for efficiency and low rolling resistance, which helps maximise range, but that does come at the cost of outright grip, especially on wet roads and loose surfaces like sand. This is further amplified by the nature of the car itself — it is a relatively powerful, rear-wheel-drive EV, and the instant torque delivery means it is quite easy to overwhelm the rear tyres if you are not very progressive with the throttle in slippery conditions.The good news is that you can upgrade tyres without affecting your warranty, as long as you stick to the same size, load index and speed rating recommended by the manufacturer. Moving to a more grip-focused tyre will make a noticeable difference in wet braking, traction and overall confidence.Do keep in mind that while better tyres will improve grip, they will not completely eliminate the characteristics of a powerful rear-wheel-drive EV. Smooth throttle inputs and careful driving in low-grip conditions will still be important. That said, upgrading from the stock tyres is a worthwhile step if you are looking for more confidence and safety in challenging conditions.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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If you are planning to upgrade, the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid is the most sensible choice. It will significantly reduce your fuel costs in daily use, especially in city conditions, while still offering the space, comfort and reliability you are used to. It is also a very easy car to live with for long-distance travel with five passengers.However, an important point to consider is your current financial situation. You still have a ₹13 lakh loan outstanding and are paying ₹33,000 EMI. Replacing the car now will increase your financial outflow unless you get a very strong resale value. If your current Toyota Innova Crysta is running well, continuing with it for some more time is actually the most cost-effective option.As for electric cars like the Mahindra XEV 9e, they can drastically reduce running costs, but they make the most sense if your usage is mostly within the city or predictable daily distances. For frequent long-distance travel with family and luggage, charging stops and planning can become a limitation.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Innova Crysta

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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Your annual running of 10,000km isn’t very high, but the gap in running costs between petrol, diesel and EV is still significant over a few years.The Mahindra XEV 9e is naturally the cheapest to run, and it’s not a headache to live with if you can install a home charger and don’t regularly do very long drives beyond roughly 400-420km in a day. A home charger is like having a petrol pump at your house - you plug in at night and leave with a full “tank” every morning. It will actually make an EV more convenient to top up than a petrol or diesel car, where you always have to detour to a fuel station. However, if you don’t have home charging (or very reliable workplace charging), then an EV quickly becomes inconvenient because of the planning and the long waits for charging. Also, the uncertainty with public chargers, so in that case it’s best to avoid one.Between the petrol and diesel Mahindra XUV7XO automatics, the petrol is actually quite refined and much smoother than the diesel. The real issue is its very low real‑world fuel economy, especially in city use, which makes running costs shoot up. The diesel, on the other hand, is also reasonably refined and much more practical because of today’s pump prices and the efficiency gap. Moreover, you can recover the diesel XUV7XO’s roughly ₹1.4 lakh higher upfront cost in about a year of your usage.After that, you are clearly ahead on total cost of ownership. Also, the diesel’s resale value is likely to be higher as well. So between the petrol and diesel XUV7XO, the diesel is the better option for you. Between diesel and EV, it really comes down to whether you have stress‑free home charging.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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If you have home charging available, the Mahindra XEV 9e Pack 2 makes a lot of sense. Electric cars are extremely smooth in city traffic, offer instant torque and have much lower running costs compared to petrol SUVs.However, if home charging is not easily available and you prefer the convenience of quick refuelling for occasional long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic is the safer and simpler choice. It removes the need to plan charging stops and will feel more convenient for highway travel.Choose the XEV 9e if you have home charging and want lower running costs with a smoother city drive. Choose the XUV 7XO automatic if you want maximum convenience for long trips without worrying about charging.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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The Mahindra XEV 9e is actually one of the more impressive electric SUVs in its class, offering a strong mix of performance, space, comfort and technology. In typical Mahindra fashion, it also feels quite robustly engineered, which is important for Indian road conditions.Coming to your friend’s point about the car wobbling after 60kph, that hasn’t really been a characteristic we’ve experienced. The XEV 9e is generally quite stable at highway speeds. EVs, by design, have a low centre of gravity because the battery pack sits in the floor, and that usually gives them very good straight-line stability and planted road manners. So if your friend is experiencing a wobble, it could be due to something specific to that particular car, such as tyre pressure, wheel balancing, alignment or even poor road surfaces can cause that sort of sensation. It’s not something that appears to be an inherent trait of the vehicle.In terms of grip and handling, this Mahindra car feels secure and predictable. It’s not meant to be a sporty driver’s SUV, but the wide track, long wheelbase and low battery placement help it feel planted through corners. The steering is light and easy for city driving, though, like most electric SUVs, it’s tuned more for comfort and ease rather than outright driver engagement.As for the Cinelux variant, it’s essentially a cosmetic and feature-focused update rather than a mechanical one. The changes are mainly around new exterior colour options, fresh interior trims and some additional equipment aimed at making the cabin feel a bit more premium and lounge-like.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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Since you are considering the Tata Harrier EV, we assume that having seven seats is not a must. In that case, you could also consider the XEV 9e, which is the more direct competitor to the Harrier EV. It has largely the same premium cabin you like in the XEV 9S, but without the third row of seats.In terms of suspension, the Mahindra XEV 9S has a softer setup than the XEV 9e, which results in noticeable vertical movement on undulating tarmac. It isn’t exactly uncomfortable, but it can feel a bit unsettling out on the highway. The XEV 9e, on the other hand, has a firmer setup and actually feels more composed because of it.Since most of your driving is in the city, the XEV 9S’s softer suspension may not bother you, but do drive the XEV 9e back-to-back to see which you prefer.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

Tata Harrier EV

Autocar India

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Both the Tata Harrier EV and the Mahindra XEV 9e make for very good highway cars. However, between the two, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9e as the overall better package.The XEV 9e feels more like a ground-up EV, whereas the Harrier EV is derived from the combustion-engine Harrier. As a result, the Mahindra feels a touch more refined and slightly more stable at highway speeds. Both cars ride well and are smooth to drive, but the XEV 9e feels a bit more rounded and cohesive as a complete product.What really tilts the decision in Mahindra’s favour is the range. In our highway range tests, the XEV 9e delivered an impressive 488km, about 95km more than we achieved with the Harrier EV. For someone like you, doing around 3,000km a month largely on highways, that extra real-world range makes a meaningful difference and reduces charging frequency.The Harrier EV does offer a comfortable ride and a smooth driving experience, and Tata’s service network is fairly widespread. But when you combine better real-world range, slightly stronger highway manners and the more purpose-built EV feel, the XEV 9e Pack Three comes across as the stronger choice for your usage.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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You already have a good mix in the family with the Tata Tiago EV for city duties and the Tata Altroz for regular use, so this new EV will clearly step up as your primary workhorse, covering 80 to 100km daily plus a proper outstation run once a month. With both home and office charging in place, you’re in the ideal situation to own a larger electric car.Between the Tata Harrier EV and the Mahindra XEV 9e, we lean towards the 9e. It simply feels more sorted to drive. The ride and handling balance is better resolved, whereas the Harrier EV feels heavier and slightly top-heavy in comparison. That weight is noticeable, especially when changing direction or driving briskly.Range is another important factor in your case. The Mahindra XEV 9e offers roughly 90 to 100km more real-world range than the Harrier EV, and that extra buffer makes a meaningful difference for your monthly highway trips. It reduces range anxiety and gives you more flexibility with charging stops.If you are open to stretching within the segment, an even more compelling option is the Mahindra XEV 9S. It offers more equipment, more space and the added flexibility of a third row, which could be useful for family trips. The range is similar to the 9e, so you’re not compromising there. The only trade-off is that the ride is tuned on the softer side, and at highway speeds, there is a bit of vertical movement. It’s not as tied-down as the 9e or even the Harrier EV, but it’s not a deal breaker either.Given your usage pattern involving high daily running and regular highway trips, range, efficiency and overall driving polish matter most. For that reason, the XEV 9e is the more rounded choice between the two you shortlisted. If space and flexibility are higher on your priority list, the 9S would be our overall pick in this bracket.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Tiago EV

Tata Altroz

Tata Harrier EV