Mahindra XEV 9e And BE6: Why You Must Be Mindful Before Driving These Powerful Electric SUVs

Mahindra launched their all-new blockbuster electric SUVs, the BE6 and XEV 9E, last year. They also announced the variant-wise pricing of these SUVs, and the cars have started reaching dealerships. The official test drives for both electric SUVs have begun in many cities. Official bookings will start later this month, and deliveries will begin in early March this year.

Since the test drives of the Mahindra BE6 and XEV 9E have started, we have come across several videos where customers have crashed these SUVs into other vehicles. Is there a reason behind so many crashes? Well, that is what we are here to find out.

The first video features a Mahindra XEV 9E. The red-colored EV can be seen with a damaged front end. The post does not explain exactly what happened, but it looks like the SUV crashed into another vehicle or an object. In the next video, we see an XEV 9E with a damaged front bumper and fender after it crashed into a Hyundai i20. We have also seen BE6 crash videos in the past.

The i20 is being taken to the service center on a tow truck, but the XEV 9E looks intact. While Mahindra EVs have proven their build quality in crash tests, why are so many customers testing it themselves? Well, we have a couple of reasons for this. We believe it is not the fault of the product but rather the people driving it.

The first reason is power. Mahindra’s electric SUVs are extremely powerful. Both the BE6 and XEV 9E models seen in the videos are top-end versions that generate 282 BHP and 380 Nm of peak torque. This is probably the first time an Indian manufacturer has offered a model with so much power. The power and instant torque in the XEV 9E and BE6 are much greater than most people can imagine.

Many people who test drive vehicles in India tend to drive rashly. They do this to determine whether the vehicle suits their needs and performs well. Most test drivers of Mahindra EVs are unprepared for the sheer power and instant torque. Many of them are surprised after experiencing a vehicle with such high performance.

When people are unprepared, they often make mistakes by pushing the EVs too hard, which leads to accidents. Additionally, both these EVs are rear-wheel-drive vehicles, and most Indian drivers are not accustomed to RWD vehicles. Yes, India has had RWD cars like the Innova, Scorpio, and Sumo, but the majority of cars in India are front-wheel drive.

The way RWD cars behave differs from FWD cars, and this also causes problems for many drivers. The car’s handling characteristics change significantly, increasing the chances of losing control while accelerating hard in an RWD vehicle. The combination of high power, an RWD setup, and inexperienced drivers creates a high-risk situation.

Furthermore, these cars are driven on public roads, which is not the right place to test high-speed performance. Public roads are for everyone, and anyone taking a vehicle for a test drive should drive responsibly. Drivers should not engage in aggressive maneuvers that could lead to crashes like these.

While multiple accidents have been reported, thankfully, none have resulted in serious injuries to the drivers or other parties. Many of these drivers also rely on safety features like ADAS, but it should be noted that the system is based on cameras, sensors, and radars. If any one of these components is slow to respond or fails, it could result in an accident. Additionally, there is a limit to how much ADAS can do to prevent crashes.

The Mahindra XEV 9E and BE6 are the safest cars in their segment. Both SUVs have, in fact, scored the highest points in the Bharat NCAP crash test. Always drive safely and responsibly. Do not risk your life or the lives of other road users during test drives. If you want to test a vehicle’s high-speed performance, take it to a closed track or a controlled environment to avoid such accidents.