8.6 Lakh Gap Between Top And Base Mahindra XEV 9e: Differences Explained
Mahindra’s soon-to-hit-the-roads XEV 9e is offered in three variants- Pack ONE, TWO and THREE- almost the same as the BE 6. The base-spec Pack ONE has an introductory price of 21.9 lakh, ex-showroom, while the top-spec Pack THREE is priced at 30.5 lakh, ex-sh. This makes for a price gap of 8.6 lakh between the base and top variants. So what do you lose if you are to settle down for the pack ONE?
XEV 9e Pack ONE vs Pack THREE: What’s Different?
The XEV 9e is, in essence, an electric coupe version of the XUV 700. It borrows a lot of its design cues from the existing ICE model. Most of the important styling elements can be had on the base variant as well. The Pack ONE stands significant as the stepping point into the XEV range.
Like the BE 6 Pack ONE, the base variant of XEV 9e comes just with the 59 kWh battery pack. The rear-sitting electric motor produces 228 hp and 380 Nm. The 59 kWh unit is claimed to return up to 542 km in range.
The range-topping Pack THREE, on the other hand, offers the choice of a 59 kWh and 79 kWh batteries. The larger battery pack can make the motor churn out 282 bhp and is said to deliver a range of up to 656 km per charge. The real world numbers could be low. It even supports up to 175 kW DC fast charging- 20-80% can be juiced in 20 minutes.
The base variant gets a sporty yet minimalist design that gets an illuminated ‘Infinity’ badge, 19-inch steel wheels with fancy covers, connected LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lights), and LED tail lamps. The headlamps aren’t LED units. The Pack THREE, on the other hand, has a design that looks much more premium and attractive. It has connected LED DRLs, LED headlamps and tail lamps, a blanked-off EV grille, better-looking bumpers with integrated skid plates and good-looking dual-tone alloy wheels. These can either be 19 inchers or 20 inchers, depending on buyer preferences.
The cabin of the base variant gets fabric upholstery and looks good. The good part here is that the Pack ONE gets the triple-screen layout- just like the top variant. It gets three 12.3-inch screens- a central infotainment unit, a digital instrument cluster for the driver and a passenger infotainment screen.
The infotainment unit gets built-in Alexa integration, connected car tech, OTA support, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The audio system, however, gets just 6 speakers (4 speakers and 2 tweeters). Plus the rear occupants get external device compatibility. On the BE 6, this feature is not offered on the base trim.
Other features on the Pack ONE are:
- Auto climate control and rear AC vents
- Keyless entry and go
- 150-litre frunk
- Cooled glove box
- Front and rear 65W Type C ports
- Second-row recline with 60:40 split-folding function
- Driver’s seat height and seat belt adjust
- Tilt and telescopic steering adjust
- Standard cruise control
Pack THREE adds a lot of features to the list like a panoramic glass roof, multi-zone AC, ventilated and powered front seats, head-up display and a Harman Kardon audio system with 16 speakers. The audio system gets Dolby Atmos and is an absolute gem in sound quality and performance. The cabin here uses several soft-touch trims and premium materials. It features a leatherette upholstery and has a layered dashboard design.
In terms of safety equipment, the base variant gets airbags, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and an electronic parking brake, driver drowsiness detection, and TPMS. It misses out on level 2 ADAS, which only makes on the Pack TWO and above.
The range topping XEV variant has a plethora of additional safety features on offer like 7 airbags, a 360-degree camera, ISOFIX child seat mounts, Level-2 ADAS with functions like autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The automatic Park Assist also marks its presence on this variant.