2026 Mahindra XEV 9S Variants Explained — Which One To Buy?

Also Read: Tata Harrier EV Variants Explained — Which One To Buy?

MG Windsor Pro, Windsor EV Variants Explained — Which One To Buy?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of The 2026 Mahindra XEV 9S?

The pros or advantages of Mahindra XEV 9s 2026 are: 

• The most affordable car with 3-row seating + electric powertrain + SUV body style — this side of a Mercedes EQB
• Option of largest, 79kWh battery pack across all variants
• Beautifully loaded base model with (almost) all must-have features for a Rs. 20.0 lakh electric SUV with 3-row seating
• Attention grabbers such as triple screen dashboard and panoramic sunroof are standard
• Lifetime (15y) battery warranty
• Loaded with tech such as brake by wire, variable ratio steering, fully software defined (SDV), augmented reality head-up display, top-shelf ADAS hardware and software with 12 parking sensors, 5 radars and 1 camera, cabin cam with AI features, dual-pan insulated glass, semi-active suspension and super fast DC charging
• Incredible performance with 380Nm of torque in all variants; even the the ones with smaller battery packs (59kWh & 70kWh)
• More palatable design (side & rear) than the outlandish XEV 9e and BE6 will suit most buyers who don’t want too much attention
• Ride quality is much more plush than that of the BE6 & 9e

The 2026 Mahindra XEV 9S has the following shortcomings or problems:

• Missing features list is tiny but the lack of power tailgate is notable
• No 4WD/dual-motor option from a brand known for making 4WD SUVs
• Lots of tech from a brand not known for making reliable first-gen products makes it a risky bet for buyers who want absolutely a no-fuss ownership experience; to minimise the risk of unexpected breakdowns or niggles, we suggest waiting out a year before buying the 9S
• 3rd row is not for adults; although it’s manageable for shorter rides
• No option of captain seats in the 2nd row; we expect them to come sometime in the future
• There aren’t enough DC chargers around to leverage the technological capabilities of the XEV 9S (and other Mahindra EVs)
• The front passenger screen with video playback may distract the driver (although, it gets independent Bluetooth to let the front passenger enjoy media personally)

What Is The Price Of New Mahindra XEV 9S Variants?

The Mahindra XEV 9S is available with the following 4 variants and 3 battery pack options. The following table presents the ex-showroom prices of each XEV 9S variant-battery combination:

Mahindra XEV 9S Pack One Above — Base Model Standard Features

The base model of the XEV 9S is available with 2 battery pack options – 59kWh and 79kWh. The price of the 59kWh model is Rs. 19.95 lakh while XEV 9S 79kWh base model is priced at Rs. 21.95 lakh. The cost of Rs. 2.0 lakh for the 20kWh larger battery pack is perfectly reasonable.

The base model of the XEV 9S gets the following notable features:

Bold = most notable features for a 3-row electric SUV costing ~Rs. 20.0 lakh (ex-showroom)

For a car costing close to Rs. 20 - 22 lakh ex-showroom, the XEV 9S base variant seems to miss out on a few must-have features such as:

• Rear window sunshades
• Power folding outside mirrors

The base variant is genuinely excellent and beautifully loaded. If you’re happy with its feature list, go right ahead and buy it! You can have it with either of the two battery packs depending on your driving needs. They both are great value options.

However, if you want a truly well-rounded ownership experience, then we’ll suggest you stretch your budget a little more.

Mahindra XEV 9S Pack One Above vs Pack Two Above Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

In addition to the 79kWh battery pack, the XEV 9S Pack Two Above variant also offers a new 70kWh battery pack option, which is exclusively available with the 9S as of now. The BE6 and 9e may get this option in the future. The Two Above variant with 79kWh battery pack is Rs. 3.50 lakh pricier than the base model. For Rs. 1.0 lakh less, you can buy the Two Above variant with a smaller 70kWh battery pack.

The 2026 XEV 9S Pack Two Above variant offers the following additional notable features:

This variant misses out on the following features:

• Advanced ADAS hardware & software features
• 2nd row sunshades

As far as recommendation goes, Two Above earns our top recommendation. You might find a couple of features in this variant that are less useful for you, or you might slightly miss one or two extras — but honestly, that’s it. Otherwise, the Pack Two Above is so well-loaded that it delivers an ownership experience that feels like a top-spec car.

It strikes a perfect balance of functionality, style, safety and entertainment. If you do want to overthink, just buy the Two Above and you won’t regret it. However, if you have specific preferences then upgrading or downgrading may be better. For instance, if you don’t want a car with ADAS, then Pack One Above is your only option. And if you frequently drive on highways or use the 2nd row seats quite often, then the Three may be a more suitable choice.

The Pack Two Above offers 2 fairly large battery options and they both score more than 90% in terms of value for money. So, you aren’t making a compromise on the value front either. Hence, the top recommendation.

Mahindra XEV 9S Pack Two Above vs Pack Three Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

The 2026 XEV 9S Pack Three variant is only available with the larger 79kWh battery pack and it costs Rs. 27.35 lakh, which is Rs. 1.90 lakh higher than the lower Two Above variant.

This variant adds the following features to the mix:

Boss mode = ability to move the front passenger seat from the rear

You may miss the following features in the XEV 9S Pack Three variant:

• Head up display: As in, as long as you never experience it, it’s not a problem. But Mahindra have figured out how to make the HUD useful and during my short drive, I loved using it and I barely had to look at the instrument cluster. Once you experience it while driving, you’ll want it.
• Powered tail gate

From a pure value-for-money standpoint, it isn’t as strong as the Two Above — which is exactly why Pack Two Above remains our top recommendation for most buyers.

However, if you do a lot of highway/expressway driving, the 5-radar ADAS package in the Three variant becomes genuinely useful. You’ll also appreciate the rear-seat-focused features if the second row is frequently occupied.

So, if highway runs or frequent rear-seat usage are part of your regular routine, the Pack Three is the more suitable choice even it comes with a slight compromise in terms of value for money

Mahindra XEV 9S Pack Three vs Pack Three Above — Price, Feature Comparison

The XEV 9S Pack Three Above variant, too, is only available with the larger 79kWh battery pack and it costs Rs. 29.45 lakh (ex-showroom). This price is Rs. 2.10 lakh higher than the lower Three variant.

The XEV 9S Pack Three Above variant adds the following notable features over the Pack Three trim:

Even the top variant doesn't get powered tail gate. Otherwise, the vehicle feels fairly loaded for the asking price.

On a side note, the head-up display is genuinely a standout feature here because of its brilliant implementation. It doesn’t feel like a gimmick at all in the 9S — trust me on this (wish I had footage to show you!). It displays exactly the right amount of information to make driving easier and safer without ever feeling overwhelming.

For example:

• When navigation is on, turn-by-turn arrows pop up right in the HUD.
• It even shows nearby charging stations along the route.
• Blind-spot warnings (left & right radar-based) appear subtly in the HUD itself and you never have to take your eyes off the road, yet it never feels intrusive.

Honestly, once you experience it on a decently long test drive, you’ll want it.

Coming back to the variants; Pack Three Above doesn’t bring any real must-have features, and the value just isn’t there either. So for 9S buyers, this is the only variant we do NOT recommend.

Which Variant Of The Mahindra XEV 9S Should You Buy?

The base variant of the XEV 9S comes with a surprisingly well-rounded feature list, and the best part is that you can still opt for the largest battery pack without feeling you’ve lost out on the value front. So you can pick either of the two battery options based on your driving requirements.

Plus, if you want to completely avoid ADAS features, the base trim is the only one for you.

That said, the sweet spot in terms of overall value, ownership experience and balanced features is definitely the Pack Two Above variant. That’s why it earns our top recommendation for 9S buyers. You can buy it with either of the two battery packs (70kWh or 79kWh).

However, if you do a lot of highway runs or regularly have passengers in the 2nd row, then Pack Three makes more sense even though you do end up compromising a bit on value.

The Three Above variant doesn’t add any must-have features and the price jump isn’t justified either. So this is the only one that’s ‘Not Recommended’ for most XEV 9S buyers.

What Are The Powertrain Specifications Of The Mahindra XEV 9S?

When you compare the XEV 9S with other 3-row electric cars in a similar price bracket, one thing immediately stands out — its 380 Nm of torque is significantly higher than what the Clavis EV and EMax 7 offer.

If we talk about battery capacity, even the smallest battery pack on the 9S is larger than the biggest pack on the Clavis EV. That said, the Clavis uses NMC chemistry, which is more expensive, lighter and generally more efficient than the LFP cells used in the 9S. So, in similar real-world conditions, the Clavis with 51.4kWh battery will actually deliver slightly more range than the 59kWh variant of the 9S. In fact, the eMax 7 with its 55kWh pack (smaller than 9S’ 59kWh pack) will also give comparable real-world range, given BYD’s expertise in battery technology and EV powertrains.

However, when equipped with its larger battery options, the XEV 9S offers better range than every other 3-row EV in this segment.

One really nice touch here is that Mahindra are offering 3 battery pack choices — something the industry has rarely gone beyond two options so far. This means:

• Buyers who plan to use the XEV 9S as their second or third car can comfortably pick the smaller, more affordable battery pack.
• Those who intend to make it their primary/family car get the peace of mind of choosing a bigger battery — and importantly, the 79kWh battery is available across all variants and just not locked to higher trims.
• But for middle-of-the-road buyers, there’s the 70kWh, which is also a perfectly satisfactory option.

*Estimated based on experience with various electric cars and expected load during typical use

**Realistic mileage factors in 15% transmission losses during charging

When you compare the XEV 9S and 9e with other 5-seater electric cars in the same price and size segment, the two Mahindra models look remarkably similar — which makes sense because they share the same platform and largely the same battery options. The only difference is that the 9S gets one extra battery pack choice (70kWh).

In terms of real-world range, given the boxy rear end and the higher likelihood of all 1st & 2nd row seats being occupied most of the time, you can realistically expect a real-world range of 350-455km from the 9S depending on the battery capacity.

It’s worth pointing out that even though the Tata Harrier EV 65 has a 6kWh larger battery and is likely to haul a lower load than the 9S, it ends up delivering almost the same real-world range as the base 9S. In our experience, every Tata EV we’ve tested — from the old Nexon EV right up to the Harrier EV — has consistently given around 33% less range than the official MIDC 1+2 figures. We were able to confirm this pattern again when we drove the Harrier EV recently.

That’s why you should expect less than 5kmpu of real-world efficiency from the Harrier EV.

Note: This figure already accounts for a typical 15%transmission losses while charging. This is what you experience during the ownership.

*Estimated based on experience with various electric cars and expected load during typical use

**Realistic mileage factors in 15% transmission losses during charging

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The Mahindra XEV 9S?

Dimension-wise, the 9S is slightly smaller than the 9e in every respect, except in height, where the 9S is taller than the 9e.

When compared to other cars in the same price bracket, the 9S is the longest and offers the highest ground clearance in its segment. It also gives you the largest front boot (frunk) space by a good margin, though the rear boot space is the smallest among rivals with all seats in upright position.

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

What Are The Colour Options Of The Mahindra XEV 9S?

The 2026 XEV 9S is available in the following 6 exterior colour options:

• White
• Beige
• Black
• Maroon
• Dark blue
• Purple (similar to XUV 700)

Also Read: 2026 Mahindra XEV 9S — All Exterior Colour Options (Variant-Wise)

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

You can read more about vehicle segmentation at the following link:

Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples