Mahindra is one of the biggest SUV manufacturers in India. Mahindra not only sells its products in India but also in international markets. The brand is very well known among buyers in Australia and South Africa. Like most manufacturers, Mahindra has also ventured into the EV space, and it currently has the BE 6, XEV 9E, and XEV 9S in its lineup. It looks like, apart from its ICE models, Mahindra is planning to expand its presence in other markets by launching these EVs. Recently, a set of images surfaced online showing a Mahindra XEV 9E electric SUV spotted on Australian roads.
The images have been shared by CarsGuide on its website. In these pictures, we see a white-coloured Mahindra XEV 9E SUV parked next to the kerb on a street in Melbourne. The report mentions that Mahindra’s Australian division has not confirmed anything yet, but a launch is likely to happen soon.
When launched, the Mahindra XEV 9E will become the brand’s first electric SUV in the Australian market. The XEV 9E is already on sale in India, and we know what the SUV looks like and what it offers in terms of features. It is definitely a value-for-money product, like most Mahindra vehicles.
This is one of the reasons Mahindra has become popular among buyers in Australia. The company offers reliable and affordable 4x4s and lifestyle pickup trucks. Coming back to the XEV 9E, this EV measures 4,790 mm in length, 1,905 mm in width, and 1,690 mm in height, and it comes with a wheelbase of 2,775 mm.
Mahindra had earlier hinted to our colleagues at CarsGuide last year that it was committed to selling EVs in Australia in the not-too-distant future. Mahindra already conducts ADAS and suspension testing for its ICE vehicles in Australia. The company is also carrying out calibration testing for EVs to evaluate the charging infrastructure. It is possible that the XEV 9E was brought to the country purely as part of these testing activities. However, we would like to believe otherwise.
The Australian market already has several EVs, including the BYD Sealion 7, Zeekr 7X, Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5, and MG 6, in the segment where the XEV 9E is expected to compete. Like other Mahindra models, the XEV 9E is also expected to be launched at an attractive price.
The Mahindra XEV 9E looks premium both on the outside and inside. The EV comes with a massive three-screen dashboard layout, Level 2 ADAS, and a spacious 663-litre boot. Other features include leatherette upholstery, an AR head-up display (HUD), NFC key functionality, an in-cabin selfie camera, a fixed panoramic glass roof, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, an electronic parking brake (EPB), six to seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, and more. The XEV 9E has also achieved the highest scores in the Bharat NCAP crash tests.
The Mahindra XEV 9E is currently available with 59 kWh and 79 kWh battery packs. The smaller battery pack generates 228 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. This variant offers a claimed range of 542 km. The larger 79 kWh battery pack generates 282 bhp and 380 Nm of torque and offers a claimed range of 656 km. There is also a 70 kWh battery pack that was announced last year but is yet to be launched in the XEV 9E.
Mahindra may also launch the BE 6 in the Australian market eventually. We feel the company wants to test the waters first by launching a family-oriented electric SUV with a design that appeals to a wider audience and is not overly polarising.
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