Mahindra XEV 9e vs Tesla Model Y – What’s Better?

Mahindra has declared its arrival onto the EV scene with two new EVs based on a new INGLO platform – XEV 9e and BE 6e

In this post, I am comparing the Mahindra XEV 9e to the Tesla Model Y. Note that the latter is the highest-selling EV on the planet. In fact, it has held that position for a while now. The aim is to compare the best that India has to offer to the best in the world. After all, the next-gen breed of EVs from Mahindra are meant for the global markets. Hence, we need to put these to the test and set high benchmarks. The XEV 9e has all the credentials of being the ideal representation of how the futuristic Mahindra EVs will look like. Note that the Indian auto giant has bifurcated its operations into two new electric sub-brands – XEV and BE. Let us delve into this comparison.

Mahindra XEV 9e vs Tesla Model Y – Price

Mahindra has only announced the price of the base model at the moment. The full range of prices will surface at the Bharat Auto Expo in January 2025 and the deliveries will start by the end of February or the beginning of March. In any case, the starting price of the Mahindra XEV 9e is Rs 21.90 lakh, ex-showroom. On the other hand, the base RWD version of the Model Y has a price tag of $44,990 before taxes. This roughly translates to Rs 38 lakh INR as per the exchange rates at the time of writing this blog post.

Mahindra XEV 9e vs Tesla Model Y – Specs and Range

The Mahindra XEV 9e uses Mahindra’s scalable and modular born-electric INGLO platform and BYD’s Blade Cell technology with LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistry. Buyers can opt for either of the two variants – 59 kWh and 79 kWh. On the MIDC, the larger battery offers 656 km, while the smaller battery is good for 542 km of range on a single charge. With the larger battery, the WLTP figure is 533 km, which is quite impressive. In fact, the India auto giant claims a real-world range of over 500 km, which is excellent. With the compact ‘three-in-one powertrain’ (motor, inverter, transmission), the total power and torque outputs stand at 286 hp and 380 Nm with the larger battery and 231 hp and 380 Nm with the smaller unit.

While these are intriguing specs, even the charging capabilities are ultra-modern and class-leading. For instance, it supports 175 kW DC fast charging which is able to juice up the 79 kWh battery from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes. Interestingly, even with a 140 kW DC fast charger, the smaller 59 kWh battery takes 20 minutes to go from 20% to 80%. For home charging, there are two options – a 7.2 kW or an 11 kW AC charger. With the latter, it takes 6 hours to charge the smaller battery and 8 hours to charge the larger one. Mahindra is also offering a warranty of 10 years / 2,00,000 km (whichever is earlier) for the initial batch of buyers. In the most powerful settings, the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h comes up in just 6.8 seconds. Using disc brakes on all wheels and a brake-by-wire system, the EV can come to a standstill from 100 km/h in just 40 m.

On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y carries a 78.1 kWh battery pack which feeds the electric motor. This results in a decent power output of 347 hp of maximum power. Performing the charging duties is a 250 kW CCS fast charger. This allows the addition of 273 km of range in just 15 minutes. The electric SUV achieves a 0 to 96 km/h acceleration in just 6.5 seconds. The top speed is a decent 217 km/h. The biggest talking point is its range of 542 km on the stringent US test cycle. Unfortunately, Tesla doesn’t offer too much details about the specifications of its products on its website.

Mahindra XEV 9e vs Tesla Model Y – Interior and Features

In this regard, both these are incredibly close. The XEV 9e is, essentially, a high-end laptop on wheels. There is an insane amount of electronics and tech in this case. The main highlights are:

• Three 12.3-inch Screens on the Dashboard – Driver’s Instrument Cluster, Infotainment Display and a Passenger’s Screen
• MAIA (Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture) with Advanced Neural Engine
• 51 TOPS with over 80 billion transistors and 130+ million lines of code.
• WiFi 6.0, 24 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295
• 2 Entertainment Screens for Rear Passengers
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 16-speaker Harmon Kardon Sound System with Dolby Atmos
• 5G Internet Connectivity
• Massive Panoramic Sunroof with Integrated Multi-Colour Lighting Patterns
• Auto Park Assist with 12 Ultrasonic Sensors
• In-car Camera
• Electronic Parking Brake
• Ambient Lighting
• Powered Driver’s Seat with Memory Function
• OTA Updates
• Level 2 ADAS Suite with 5 Radars and 1 Vision Camera
• 360-degree Cameras
• 7 Airbags
• Electric Power Steering with Variable Gear Ratios
• Augmented-Reality (AR) Heads Up Display (HUD)
• Driver and Occupant Monitoring System (DOMS)
• Signature Sonic Tunes Curated by AR Rahman

Similarly, the Tesla Model Y also comes with tons of modern amenities like:

• 15.4-inch Free-standing Infotainment Display
• Navigation system
• Speed sensitive power steering
• Reversing camera
• Bluetooth hands free phone with voice control system
• Acoustic seat-belt warning
• Blind spot monitoring
• Mobile App interface
• Speed limit recognition
• Custom driver profiles
• Emergency call service
• Electric assisted front and rear doors
• Software updates over WiFi
• Power lift tailgate
• Heated front and rear seats
• Map and reading lights
• Heated steering wheel
• Front head restraints
• Automatic dual-zone climate control system
• 2 fixed rear headrests
• 3 seat bench in 2nd row
• Power adjustable steering wheel
• Rear centre armrest with 2 cup holders
• Driver and front passenger sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors
• Interior ambient lighting
• Interior floor mats
• Glovebox, lockable with illumination
• Type 2 cable
• Center console with storage, 2 cup holders and armrest
• HEPA filtration system – “Bioweapon defence mode”
• Expansive glass roof with ultraviolet and infrared protection
• Electronic fold flat seat release 40/20/40
• Single front passenger seat
• 12-way power-adjustable front seats with driver lumbar support

Design and Dimensions

The Mahindra XEV 9e takes a lot from the concept model showcased earlier. At the front, we see a clean appearance with a thin LED light bar running the width of the SUV and neatly merging into LED DRLs on either side. Using the DRLs as frames, the SUV gets a compact LED headlamp cluster along with a sporty bumper. On the sides, there are chunky 20-inch alloy wheels with an aero design and massive wheel arches with claddings around them and on the side door panels. I love the sloping roofline which gives it that iconic coupe silhouette. At the rear, it gets a scooped-out bootlid-mounted spoiler which carries the slim LED taillamps and a sporty lower section of the bumper.

On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y has a minimalist exterior. At the front, we see a sharp and sleek LED headlamp and the entire area around it totally sealed off. In fact, Tesla is widely regarded as the first carmaker which led to the creation of this minimalist design theme. On the sides, it gets large and stylish alloy wheels, black side pillars and a sloping roofline. Finally, the tail section contains a boot lid-mounted spoiler, shark LED taillamps and a sporty bumper. All in all, it has an elegant road presence.

Also Read: Mahindra BE 6e vs Tesla Model 3 RWD – Which is Better?