Mahindra BE 6e Test Drive Review – ‘6e’ and You Know It!

Mahindra has launched two new electric coupe SUVs based on the born-electric INGLO platform – XEV 9e and BE 6e

As a part of the media drive, we conducted a thorough review of the new Mahindra BE 6e along with a dedicated ride test to see how it would perform on irregular road surfaces. Note that Mahindra has taken a huge leap in the electric mobility space. It has created an all-new scalable and modular electric INGLO platform. This architecture will spawn more coupe electric SUVs within the next couple of years. Note that Mahindra is calling these global EVs which confirms its intentions of selling these abroad. That is a huge milestone for the Indian auto giant who is already quite popular in many international markets including Australia and South Africa. In India, the price of the base model without the charger is Rs 18.90 lakh, ex-showroom. For now, let us take a look at the details of our review of the new electric coupe SUV.

Mahindra BE 6e – Driving Impressions

Let us commence with the overall driving impressive of the coupe EV. The Mahindra BE 6e that we were driving had a large 79 kWh battery pack. It uses BYD’s Blade Cell technology with LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistry. The power and torque outputs are 281 hp and 380 Nm, respectively. As we were driving the electric coupe SUV, we realized that the performance was in abundance. In fact, there are three drive modes to choose from – Range, Everyday and Race. In the most aggressive settings (Race mode), we were able to achieve a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 7.03 seconds which is close to the claimed 6.7 seconds. Hence, the performance is definitely on the sporty side.

That is confirmed by the stiff suspension setup. The Indian auto giant has tuned the BE 6e in such a manner that it offers great handling characteristics and high-speed stability. This is further aided by a well-weighted steering. An inherent disadvantage of the stiff suspension is the relatively less comfortable ride as occupants will be able to feel some bumps from the road surfaces. In any case, this electric coupe is meant to be driven enthusiastically. If you are looking for comfort and plush ride quality, the XEV 9e might be the right option for you.

Apart from this battery size, the BE 6e is also available with a smaller 59 kWh battery pack. It is good for 228 hp and 380 Nm of maximum power and torque. The driving range with the bigger battery on MIDC is 682 km, while with the smaller battery, it is still an impressive 535 km. Mahindra claims that you will be able to squeeze out over 500 km with the larger battery in real-world driving. Taking care of the charging capabilities, it gets a 175 kW DC fast charger which juices up the 79 kWh battery from 20% to 80% in just 20 minutes. The 140 kW DC fast charger can do the same with the 59 kWh battery pack. For everyday usage, buyers can opt for either a 7.3 kW or 11.2 kW AC charger. To ensure that you glide over uneven surfaces with ease, it has a ground clearance of 207 mm and a boot capacity of 455 litres at the rear and 45 litres at the front (frunk).

Mahindra BE 6e Ride Test

Thereafter, we performed an effective ride test to analyse the comfort inside the cabin. Mahindra has created dedicated spaces to simulate real road conditions across the nation. This is a part of its testing facility where the engineers drive every Mahindra car. In the first instance, the patch of road mimics most road surfaces in our country with some undulations. You must have seen broken tarmac stretches on some roads. As we drove on it, we realized that the comfort was decent. The tyres and the suspension setup were able to absorb the bumps pretty well. In the next phase of the test, we drove the BE 6e on a brick road.

Again, these kinds of roads are quite common across the semi-rural and rural environments in India. Even some narrow streets within the cities are constructed using this material. Driving on this section also indicates that the bumps are being absorbed well but there is a hint of stiffness in the suspension. In any way, it is not unsettling for the occupants. Finally, in the third part, we encountered a surface which perfectly imitates bad and broken roads including non-tarmac roads with stones coming out from underneath. Mahindra designed this using cobbled stones. This time around, we were driving at around 15 km/h. The ride quality is not bad here as well but we were able to clearly feel the stiff suspension. Note that it is needed for a sporty highway ride.

Mahindra BE 6e – Interior, Tech and Features

In all honesty, Mahindra has outdone itself in terms of cabin opulence. This further indicates that it is serious about taking it onto the global stage. As soon as you enter the cabin, you recognize the jet plane-inspired cockpit layout which is unique in the market. Even the key is distinct and designed with a spaceship element. The gear level resembles something like a thruster of an aeroplane. Then we see the dual-connected touchscreen displays – one for the infotainment and one for the driver’s instrumentation. I particularly like the almost rectangular two-spoke steering wheel with digital illumination which reads BE in the centre. Apart from that, the moonroof has illuminating elements.

Other top amenities include Level 2+ ADAS, Harmon Kardon Audio System, detailed Head-up Display (HUD) and great ergonomics. At the rear, you might feel a bit cramped if you are above 6 feet. This is due to the sloping roofline. Still, the Indian auto giant has done a commendable job of scooping out maximum space. However, the seat is very comfortable and the AC vents are stylish. Three people can sit abreast quite comfortably because of the flat floor. It further gets distinct door handles and type-C charging ports on the side of the front seats. Overall, the cabin is modern and futuristic. The list of amenities incorporates:

• Dual 12.3-inch Floating Screens for Instrument Cluster and Infotainment
• MAIA (Mahindra Artificial Intelligence Architecture) with Advanced Neural Engine
• WiFi 6.0, 24 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295
• 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

Design and Dimensions

On the outside, the exterior is funky which reminds us of the Tesla Cybertruck. Even though all the elements are attractive, we are starting with the side profile. That sloping roof defines the side section of this coupe SUV. Apart from that, it gets enormous wheel arches with angular cladding finished in gloss black materials. This same cladding is located on the door panels too. I love the aero-optimized alloy wheels. At the front, the striking C-shaped LED DRLs encapsulate the headlamps with a sport bumper section underneath which possesses black elements for that added sportiness. At the rear, it gets a distinct roof-mounted spoiler, connected LED taillamps with a sturdy bumper section. The SUV is certain to make heads turn.

This is our review of the new Mahindra BE 6e and note that the prices of the entire range will be announced at the Bharat Auto Expo in January 2025. The deliveries are slated to commence from the end of February or beginning of March.

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