Exterior
In terms of outward appearance, everything about the XEV 9e feels massive. View it from the side and you will realise this 4.79-metre coupe-SUV is substantially long; longer, in fact, than the XUV700 and the XEV 9S. It has a heavy, planted stance defined by strong angular design elements, a swooping window line, large 19-inch wheels, and a distinctively high deck at the back.
Up front, the lighting pattern is undeniably reminiscent of the broader XUV family, but unique in its execution, with a long LED DRL spanning the full breadth of the bonnet before dropping sharply down the lower bumper. All in all, the XEV 9e is a sharp departure from traditional, boxy SUV designs, yet alongside its aggressively styled BE 6 sibling, it comes across as the more mature, approachable option.
Interior
Mahindra has developed a habit of nailing their car interiors lately, making them fully justify the asking price. The cabin is dominated by a sweeping, high-res triple-screen display that gives the dashboard a theater-like tech vibe.
However, the clean layout isn’t the most intuitive, as most vital controls such as the ventilated seats, are buried inside the screen menus, leaving very few physical buttons for quick, on-the-fly adjustments. Rearward visibility too, is restricted, hampered both by the sloping coupe roofline and the large rear headrests.
Build Quality & Fit and Finish
Quality-wise, the XEV 9e does well, with nice, soft-touch materials and piano black elements scattered across the centre console, but as is always the case, the surface is a magnet for fingerprints and micro-scratches.
On the outside, the sheet metal feels reassuringly solid, though when it comes to the absolute finer details of fit and finish, there is still slight room for improvement, including inconsistent panel gaps.
