Mahindra XEV 9e Pack One 59kWh

In terms of running costs, an EV is certainly better than a diesel in the long run. Especially so if you charge mostly at your home and limit public charging, which is more expensive. 

However, you would also have to factor in resale value. If you are planning to sell your car, say in about 4 to 5 years, an EV could potentially have a significantly lower residual value than a diesel, as the used market for EVs is yet to be established and values set.     

If you are worried about the range on any EV, then it's best to stay away. An EV only makes sense if you have provision for charging at your home or place of work, and if your long runs can be done with ideally none, to no more than one stop to charge. 

We tested the larger battery (79kWh) Mahindra XEV9e in our standard test cycle, and it showed a range of 456 kms in the mixed city and highway cycle. Thus, if your long trips are around 300 to 350 kms with not too many inclines and a lot of load in the car, you should be fine for a stop-free trip. 

If this proves to be a problem for you, opt for the Toyota Innova HyCross. As for your query about the Exclusive edition, we don't think it will be available at dealers, as it was supposed to be a limited run. In any case, the differences were mostly cosmetic, with only an air purifier, a wireless charger, and a footwell lamp being the added equipment.          

The two cars which you are considering, the Mahindra XEV 9E and Tata Sierra Turbo-petrol, overlap in terms of pricing. Hence, the decision-making of whether to go for one or another is purely based on your personal choice. 

An XEV 9E is larger in size, has a large battery and strong motor, and it will deliver a more enjoyable drive experience, being quicker, smoother and quieter. 

Your running costs will be significantly lower than those of an ICE vehicle, even more so if you charge your car at your residence/office. At a similar price, you are likely to get a lower or mid-level variant (after discounts) of the XEV 9E. They are well-equipped but will have a few, feel-good features missing, compared to the top-spec Sierra. 

Moreover, with the bigger battery, the Mahindra's real-world range of over 400km is very impressive too. Its charging speeds are very quick, too, adding to the peace of mind for highway drives. Hence, if you are open to EVs, the XEV 9E is the one to go for.

As a city car, the Mahindra XEV 9E/9S offers a good range and will work well. You’ll typically only need to charge it every couple of days, depending on your usage. In fact, if you have home charging, an EV is even more convenient than an ICE car. 

On the highways, it's a different story altogether. A road trip in an EV can be an adventure, as the public fast-charging network can be hit-or-miss. With some proper planning and back-ups (for charging) built into your itinerary, it is possible to travel across India except for very remote locations. 

The good thing is that the XEV 9E/9S has a good range, and you can comfortably get 400+ km on one charge with some careful driving. 
The software issues are largely resolved, as Mahindra is constantly updating the software on its EVs to iron out bugs. We have also seen a dramatic reduction in customer complaints. 
Though the XEV’s INGLO platform is designed to take AWD, the cost of an AWD variant is too high. Therefore, Mahindra doesn’t feel that there is an immediate market for it. Hence, an AWD variant is unlikely to be launched in the coming year.