I’m in the market for a practical electric SUV for my family, and I’m seriously considering the Mahindra XEV 9S. My budget is around ₹20–28 lakh, and I live in a Tier-2 North Indian city

Mahindra XEV 9S, or Competitors?

Question: I’m in the market for a practical electric SUV for my family, and I’m seriously considering the Mahindra XEV 9S. My budget is around ₹20–28 lakh, and I live in a Tier-2 North Indian city where the roads are far from perfect. Ride comfort and suspension maturity matter a lot because my parents and kids travel with me often. We also do the occasional hill-station trip, sometimes with five or six people plus luggage, so cabin space and a usable boot are important. I don’t necessarily need a seven-seater every day, but having the option for extra seats once in a while is useful.

I’m not sure whether I should pick the XEV 9S now or see whether something like the Tata Harrier EV, MG ZS EV, or the upcoming Maruti eVitara will suit me better. My priorities are comfort, range, real-world usability and a car that can handle rougher roads without making passengers complain. Based on this, is the Mahindra XEV 9S the right choice for me, or should I be evaluating the competition more seriously?

Mohit, Meerut

Answer: If your day-to-day driving involves broken roads, speed breakers that appear out of nowhere, and the kind of rough patches that make elderly passengers immediately reach for grab handles, then the Mahindra XEV 9S fits your usage pattern surprisingly well. It is one of the few EVs in your budget that feels genuinely designed for Indian driving conditions and not merely adapted for them. Its suspension tuning leans towards comfort rather than stiffness, which helps it absorb poor roads with more maturity than many of the smaller EVs you might be cross-shopping. This is especially important because electric SUVs tend to be heavy, and the XEV 9S manages that weight without feeling unsettled over bad surfaces.

Do note that it is best if you have the ability to charge overnight at home. Regular public charging can be a huge headache for ANy electric vehicle, though its manageable on long trips.

The Harrier.ev is a 5-seater, so that could be a problem for you. There is no Safari.ev yet. The Kia Carens Clavis EV suits you in many ways, but living in a Tier 2 city, perhaps its too much of a risk at the moment. But we suggest do take a test ride of it just the same.

Inside the cabin, it offers genuine space. The third row isn’t something you will use daily, but for occasional relatives, extra kids, or luggage flexibility on hill trips, it becomes very practical. With the third row folded, the boot is large enough for family luggage, duffel bags and even the extra blankets and jackets everyone carries for hills. Families tend to appreciate the tall seating position and panoramic visibility too, especially older passengers who dislike low, hatchback-like entry heights.

Where the XEV 9S also scores is its range flexibility. With its multiple battery options, including packs that claim well over 500 km on the test cycles, you will have enough usable range even with four or five passengers and the AC running constantly. Real-world range will, of course, drop in the hills, but it still remains far more confidence-inspiring than smaller EVs designed purely for the city. For you, who value both comfort and long-trip practicality, this makes a big difference.

The competition, however, should not be ignored. The Tata Harrier EV feels more premium inside and has a more rugged overall stance, though its pricing tends to drift slightly higher depending on the variant. The MG ZS EV remains a very polished, well-finished product but is smaller and not as comfortable on broken roads when fully loaded. The upcoming Maruti eVitara is expected to bring strong range figures and excellent service reach, but until it arrives and we see how it handles real-world roads, it remains an unknown quantity for your specific comfort-heavy use case.

In comparison, the XEV 9S is available today, is attractively priced, and gives you the combination of space, practical third-row usability, mature suspension, and strong range that directly aligns with your needs. If your family’s comfort on uneven roads is your top priority, and you frequently travel with more than four people, the XEV 9S becomes easier to recommend than its rivals.