Mahindra XUV 9S The Full Monty Walkthrough and Feature Review

Table of Contents

credits:cardekho

Introduction to Mahindra's Third Electric SUV

G day everyone let s take a proper squiz at the Mahindra XUV9S. 

She s the third rig to roll out on Mahindra s pure electric in glow architecture following in the footsteps of its mates the B6 and the XUV 9E. 

And fair dinkum this one s got a closer family resemblance to the 9E than the B cause it s pretty much a 9E but without the flash coupe body and that third row of seats.

Pricing Structure and Variant Options

Right I m gonna chuck a few key details your way but while I m doing that Samir mate why don t you give the ladies and gents a quick sticky beak around the car itself? 

So first up she s been launched with a price tag from about 19.95 lakh heading all the way up to roughly 29.45 lakh. 

You ve got a couple of variants  there s pack one pack two pack three and even a pack three above model. 

Now here s a bit of a curveball  while we were expecting the same battery packs as the 9E and B6 this beauty s got another one tucked in there  a bit of a surprise that.

Battery Pack Configurations and Real World Range

So the bog standard model rocks up with either 59 or 79 kWh battery packs. Pack two gives you the choice of 70 or 79 kWh while the rest of the gang just get the 79. 

So you can figure out your range estimates based on which battery pack you re keen on. 

We ve actually taken the 79 kWh pack for a good run so you can get a fair dinkum idea of what it ll do. Spoiler alert? Nah too easy. 

You ll realistically be looking at somewhere around 480 to 500 klicks even with this rig sporting the biggest battery.

Platform Comparison with XUV 700

Right we ll crack on from there.

 Now let s get stuck into the nitty gritty of the car itself. A fair question a lot of people will be asking is Can we call this the electric 700? Not really mate but I get where you re coming from. 

See it s not built on the same platform. There s a fair bit of difference in the tech you ve got on board  think motors and batteries  stuff you just can t chuck into the 700 s setup. Still it s a monocoque so she s solid.

Distinctive Front End Design Elements

But the main reason people might see it that way is cause of the design similarities. 

She s not a far cry from the others is she? 

What s interesting though is while we thought she d wear pretty much the same face as the 9E the 9S actually rocks bigger chunkier LED DRLs and a totally different headlight setup.

 Gives it a bit more distinctive look too. Works a treat with the squarer boxy shape of the car. 

And you ve got some neat details like in the lower half of the air dam  those slightly sporty premium touches like the dark chrome lining. 

This bit s similar to the 9E one of those spots that tends to cop a fair few stone chips. Heaps of customers have mentioned it so you might wanna chuck a bit of PPF on it.

Side Profile and Wheel Design Considerations

Next let s swing around to the side profile. I ll head back a bit so you can get the full side on view.

 Crikey it s a dead ringer for the 700 from this angle isn t it? Apart from the wheel design that is.

 Now here s the thing  the 9S gets 18 inch alloy wheels. You ve got the option for 19s or even 20s on the 9E or B6.

 To be honest with ya I m not a massive fan of these rims. 

And worth a mention those aero flaps you see on the wheels?

 They can actually be unclipped. 

Based on what some people who ve seen the car with us reckon I m gonna have a crack at taking em off later just to see what it looks like without em. Generally is it really worth losing the aesthetics for a few extra klicks over the car s lifetime? Nah reckon not.

Door Handles and Balanced Cladding Integration

Then we get to these  the pop out door handles. 

They first showed up on the 700 and thankfully they re motorised.

 So when you hit unlock they just slide out no mucking around with a two step process.

 Proper form meeting function that. But what I really like about the side profile is if you look at the 9E it had a heap of bulbous almost mountain like black cladding down the side. 

Here because the black bits are integrated a bit more subtly I reckon it looks a lot more balanced. What do you reckon agree?

Charging Port and Sophisticated Tail Light Design

Quick gander over here at the charging flap. No dramas about E20 E35 or E5 million fuel types with an electric car eh? 

What I really do rate and I reckon this ll be on the 700 facelift too is this tail light finish. Seriously nice proper classy. I m keen on the black bit in between  it makes it look a touch sportier a bit more understated and it blends in a treat with the car s overall design. 

Down below you won t find any specific badging cobber. On the fenders you ll spot those barcodes for pack three pack two and so on. 

But apart from the XUV 9S badge that s your lot. So they ve kept it pretty clean and tidy. And if you re wondering her ground clearance is about 219 mm when she s not loaded up.

Overall Design Summary and EV Distinction

So all up yeah she s gonna look fairly similar to the XUV 700. 

But there are enough distinctive bits and bobs  besides that green rego plate of course  to tell this one s a pure electric SUV.

Boot Space Assessment and Manual Tailgate

Righto let s get a first look at the boot space and... Strewth! 

No powered tailgate? That s a bit of a head scratcher. So as you can see the third row s been set to a fairly relaxed position. 

The backrest isn t too far back and it s pretty clear there s not a whole lot of space back here  not much different to the 700 actually. 

So maybe a tiny trolley bag or more likely soft bags or backpacks are what you ll be squeezing in.

Luggage Capacity and Five Seater Configuration

So if you ve got a full house on board and you re planning a road trip with all your gear it does get a bit tricky. But to be fair that s a common problem with most cars in this category. 

Honestly unless you re dead set on that SUV look MPVs will always do a better job there giving you a better balance of passenger and luggage space. 

But if you re mostly gonna be using this rig as a five seater you can just chuck down that third row and then it s absolutely massive. Mahindra reckons you re looking at about 527 litres which is fair dinkum.

Third Row Amenities and Practical Usage

This particular car doesn t have the parcel shelf in but you ve got these little slots for it along with a couple of hooks for your bits and bobs.

 If you re stuck in the third row you do get a few creature comforts like AC vents with blower speed control cup holders and stuff like that. 

Not a massive amount but certainly reasonable for a seat that s mostly gonna be used by the nippers or maybe those rellies you re not overly fond of.

Third Row Access Demonstration

Alright let s get into it. Speaking of people I m not overly keen on...

What s up cobber? Right I need your services to show everyone hang on why don t you come over this side? 

Let s give the ladies and gents a squiz at how you actually get into the third row. 

Now you ve got this tumble forward feature. 

So one pull there she drops down and it slides forward. But fair warning you won t find this on the driver s side or rather the seat right behind the driver.

Third Row Space Analysis and Adult Accommodation

Now let s take a squiz at how much room  has in that back seat. 

First let s talk about the headroom. So you re about a five eight five nine eh?

 That s with the backrest not super upright. So it s usable for adults but it s pretty much your typical third row. 

If you come over here I ll grab the phone from ya have a look at this  the under thigh support is a bit crook  your thighs are practically doing their own social distancing from the seat cushion below.

 And it s not like we ve left a cavernous amount of space in the second row either.

Third Row Practicality for Occasional Use

So yeah it s usable for adults but it s still probably best for the occasional run here and there.

 Like when the rellies come over and you need that extra spot rather than making em catch a cab or a rickshaw.

 Doesn t feel right does it? Alright you can hop on outside now.

Second Row Comfort and Safety Features

Now let s take a squiz at the space you ve got along with some ripper features for the second row of seats. This one s also set to a nice relaxed position. 

 you can chuck yourself in mate. So first up now that Kamesh is buckled in the back look at him. 

What a safe bloke! The car s not even moving but he s got his seatbelt on. We can always learn a thing or two from  can t we? You know what I actually rate you as a person 

Rear Sunshade and BYOD Device Mounting

Here we ve got a sunshade which is a neat touch for the back seat passengers keeps the harsh sun off em. We ve also got these handy slots here something we spotted in the XUV 9E. 

Now Mahindra being the marketing whizzes they are have called this Bring Your Own Device. 

You can basically chuck a mount in here for an iPad your phone or whatever. And luckily you ve got these 65 watt Type C USB chargers so you can keep those gadgets juiced up too.

Second Row Climate Control and Storage Solutions

And as you can see you ve got those rear AC vents a storage slot down below and proper seat back pockets.

 So plenty there to keep the back seat passengers comfy and entertained. But interestingly they haven t just stopped there.

 So  mate why don t you go ahead and give those powered boss buttons on this side a go.

Chauffeur Driven Boss Mode Functionality

So if you re the type to have a chauffeur you can slide the front passenger seat back and forth and adjust the backrest giving you an extra bit of flexibility. 

It s not really focused on seven seater comfort but definitely for those who are chauffeur driven. And as you can see the seat comfort back here is actually pretty strong. 

The upholstery material is bang on. You also get a good amount of under thigh support even for blokes who are maybe 6 foot 6 foot 1 6 foot 2.

 Maybe not so much for a shorty like me but in that regard it s actually a cracking all round package.

Second Row Armrest and Ventilation System

Let s pop open that armrest and see what storage options we ve got. Just your basic dual cup holders.

 And what you can t see Samir mate duck down there and show the ladies and gents the blow type rear seat ventilation.

 Three settings for that too. And even though we ve got it running on full blast  fan speed three  it s actually not that noisy. So no need to crank up the tunes or shout over it inside the cabin.

Overall Seating Experience Summary

So all in all it s a great experience working a treat as a five seater much like we ve seen in the XUV 9E and its petrol guzzling mate the XUV 700.

 But you do have that third row of seats to give you a bit of extra practicality and flexibility when you ve got more people to ferry around. Still it s not the ideal spot when it comes to the third row itself.

Spare Tire Location and Wireless Charging

Now let s get to something pretty familiar but no less remarkable.

 Just a couple of quick bits before we jump into the front seat. You do get a spare tyre but she s tucked away in the undercarriage so you ll have to get to it through this section here. 

Definitely handy to keep some WD 40 around for those times cause this setup always works a treat when the car s new but then over time she just seizes up. 

Speaking from experience mate with a car that s got that same spare tyre placement.

 And then back in the second row check this out  it s not just a storage slot as I mentioned earlier but it s a wireless phone charger for the back seat passengers! Flash tech for them too.

Front Cabin Overview and AR Navigation

Right up front now and it s pretty familiar territory cause it s essentially the same setup we ve seen in the XUV 9E. 

But like I said that doesn t make it any less of a ripper. 

So let s dive in. First off let s try and give you a gander at the AR navigation feed you can see right there. 

That flashing is just the camera s frame rate playing up but there s a heap of info you can see including your speed compass directions and all that which you can fiddle with through the touchscreen itself.

Vision X HUD and Driver Information

It s called the Vision X menu fancy that. I can see driver info including your ADAS settings and all that jazz. 

You ll also get these fishbone navigation inputs all your ADAS display speed warnings even the track name you re belting out. 

All this stuff is right there in your HUD. And it s a proper beauty this head up display just like the one you can see here.

Standard Equipment on Base Variant

Now have a squiz at this. Interestingly one thing I ve gotta mention is that this screen and this screen and that screen plus this panoramic sunroof..

 all of it comes as standard even on the bog standard variant that ll set you back 19.95 lakh rupees ex showroom. So that s bloody impressive that is.

Digital Instrument Cluster Interface and Features

And otherwise this is all pretty familiar stuff. So you ve got this purple and... 

whatever other colour blend. I m not exactly a colour expert you d need someone with a bit more insight to tell you exactly what shade this is but the interface is much the same. 

I can see the menu controls right here and you get that haptic feedback as you flick through the different options. There s a focus mode too which keeps things pretty minimalist in terms of what it s showing you.

Driver Assist and Navigation Systems

If I nip back into the menu and drop down to driver assist you ll find all your ADAS functions there. And right now as I ease off the brake you can see it s all corresponding to what s happening with the pedals. Back into the menu then down to navigation. So you can see the onboard navigation display right here. You can also dive into analytics for basic drive info. Don t go by what you re seeing right now as an indication of efficiency or anything like that though. Keep in mind this is a media drive so we re being pretty brutal on the poor car in these scenarios.

Regenerative Braking and Steering Controls

Then once we get to the steering wheel itself you ll spot the control for the brake energy regeneration mode. So this is more regen this is less. Press and hold this and you get L auto which works in sync with the ADAS functions to manage your regen braking. The steering stalks are pretty familiar. And once you click that you can also get a feed from the side cameras.

Comprehensive Steering Wheel Functions

So here you ve got the other controls. Check out this gloss black finish  you can even get a glimpse of me while I m recording this! You ve got adaptive cruise control the menu function right here all with haptic feedback and the distance control. There s also lane assist and the horn  give it a listen! Sounds pretty flash eh? Voice commands are here different modes for the touchscreen call pick up and drop  all that jazz. And yeah the steering s adjustable for both rake and reach of course.

Driver Seat Memory and Profile Settings

Down here you ll spot the controls for the powered seats. The driver gets three memory settings and you can also set up profiles on the touchscreen itself. So once you pick a profile your HVAC settings mirror position seat even your music preferences  all of it will be sorted for you. Pretty thoughtful that especially for families where a few different people might be driving the same rig.

Window Controls and Boot Release

Here you ve got the power window controls which look a bit different from your usual switches. And you ll see a whole host of other buttons down below including the control for the boot release. Unfortunately still no powered tailgate which is a bit of a bummer. Not a massive miss mind you but it would ve been a nice touch especially since the XUV 9E gets one.

Display Controls and 360 Camera System

Here you ve got a button to switch off your displays just in case all that visual stimulation is doing your head in. Press it again and you get that haptic feedback. Sometimes it was a bit temperamental in the 9E from my experience so hopefully they ve sorted that out for this one. Here you get a view from the surround view camera. So if I tap 3D view right here you can get a real good look at the car. Pretty smooth and fluid too. Although the colour on screen doesn t match the actual exterior colour. What s the go with that eh?

Parking Assistance and AVAS Controls

Here we ve got the park controls. You can see auto park and all those fancy gimmicks like summon mode  all the cool things you can show off on social media. You get that right here. And you ve also got the controls for the AVAS system.

Center Console Charging and Gear Selector

Down here you ll spot the wireless phone charging slot. You ll also get two Type C chargers. And here s that similar gear selector we ve seen before. No separate button just pull it back to go between drive and neutral and of course this button here for park. You ve got an EPB and auto hold too.

Climate Control and Drive Mode Selection

Then you ve got this manual toggle for volume control and your HVAC itself. The main controls though are all coming through the touchscreen. So even if I hit the HVAC button here your core settings are still managed via the touchscreen including your seat ventilation  you get it for both the front and yeah the controls for the front are here but you do have rear seat ventilation as well. Temperature control all that jazz managed from here. You ll also spot this button for flicking through the different drive modes  there s Default Range mode Everyday mode and Race mode  which is basically your Sport mode.

Storage and Smart Key Design

A little bit of storage over here plus two cup holders. And here s a squiz at the key itself  pretty familiar that. You ve got these buttons here to manage your summon mode and other functions you can control from outside the car including the parking support. In between you ve got some extra storage along with a thoughtful little slot to pop the key.

Main Touchscreen Interface and Connectivity

Right let s dive into the touchscreen. This 12.3 inch beauty is absolutely chockers with features and smooth as silk to use. I m dead keen on what they ve done with the software integration and the overall user experience. So wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay of course  pretty much a given these days. You ve also got your ambient lighting controls right here.

Auto Park and Groove Me Light Show

If I nip back into the menu you ll also spot your auto park and even the Groove Me function. That s the bit that makes the car do a little song and dance matching whatever tune you re playing on your phone. So if you ve got CarPlay cranking a song the external light show will sync up with it. Flash as a rat with a gold tooth that.

Selfie Camera and Video Recording

Then once we come over here you ve also got the option for a selfie camera. Fair dinkum! So as you can see you can take both photos and videos. If I were to start a video right now there we go. Tap it again. Video saved. Come back down here head into the gallery and you can see the options popping up. So this one right here.

Touchscreen Usability and Emergency Features

Now heading back you can see that the touchscreen is absolutely fantastic to use  really easy to navigate and quite fluid. You ve also got drop down menus for a heap of things right here like RSA SOS  all those important buttons are integrated right in.

Third Screen Entertainment Options

And here you ve got the third screen where you can chuck on YouTube Music YouTube different streaming apps do a bit of shopping  all sorts of things. I ve seen heaps of 9E owners use that as their kids entertainment screen. But with the selfie camera you could even use it for taking your meetings and all that. But you need to let me know in the comments below  would you prefer using this screen for your meetings or would you rather just stick to your laptop or phone?

Overhead Amenities and Premium Audio

To wrap things up up top you ve got these. No vanity mirror for the driver but the front passenger gets one. Sunglass holders are here sunroof controls and of course the 16 speaker Dolby enabled sound system that puts on a fantastic show. I d love to give you a listen to what the tunes sound like but fair dinkum if I play any music I m gonna cop a copyright strike. So can t do that mate.

Frunk Space and Additional Storage

So yeah the XUV 9S is pretty well kitted out. And finally we get to the 150 litres of frunk space available. Now interestingly while you do have to pull the bonnet release twice to pop this open there s no separate latch to fiddle around with which makes it a bit easier to use. Underneath you ve also got this additional storage space. So you can chuck in any small soft bags you ve got or if you re heading to the beach it s ace for keeping all those sand grains out of the main cabin. Handy as that.

Final Verdict and Sign Off

So there you have it then. This is the Mahindra XUV 9S. She s a good if not great seven seater SUV. Of course my driving impressions are a bit limited for now but you can let me know what you reckon about this rig in the comments section down below. Cheers I m signing off.