Mahindra unveils 2 cheap SUV EVs for India

The leading Indian carmaker’s BE 6e and XEV 9e both start from the equivalent of U.S. $22,500, making them very attractive for electric SUV shoppers in the country.

Both vehicles are based on the company’s own state-of-the-art platform known as the Mahinda Inglo, which emerged out of a collaboration with Volkswagen. It has a fixed wheelbase length of 2,775 mm (108.4 inches), but while the BE 6e is compact-sized at 4,371 mm (170.8 inches) long, the XEV 9e is much larger at 4,790 mm (187.1 inches). Trunk sizes are quoted as 455 and 665 liters with the seats up, respectively.

A peek inside reveals that the interior design is every bit as minimalist as the exterior. Despite this “basic” feel, the BE 6e manages to pack a pair of 12.3-inch displays, an AR-enabled HUD and an infotainment system running on the Snapdragon 8295 chipset. It also features flashy gamer-style seats and immersive ambient lighting.

The XEV 9e raises the dash display count to three and introduces a panoramic glass roof to the main spec, as well as a 16-channel Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos support.

Both vehicles are strictly RWD with no other options, but at least you can choose between 231 and 286 metric horsepower (228 and 282 hp; 170 and 210 kW, respectively). The faster of the two sprints 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 6.7 seconds.

Batteries also come in two main sizes – 59 and 79 kWh. The smaller SUV comes rated at a solid 550 kilometers (341 miles) per the strict WLTP standard, and the larger one is good for 533 km (331 miles).

Mahindra promises the first deliveries in February–March 2025.