Mahindra Electric XUV400

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Following a big bang presentation of its electric future in the UK last month, Mahindra unveiled its long-awaited XUV400 in Chennai. It's an important model for the company for several reasons. It is their first electric SUV, which has become laser-focused on the SUV segment over the last three years. After years of talking about going electric and taking an early lead in the EV space (with the REVA), the XUV400 is finally here. Catching up with Tata Motors, which has sped far ahead in the EV race, is no longer a walk but a sprint. The XUV400 competes directly with the Nexon EV, the market's bestselling EV today.

Mahindra XUV 400 Design and Style

2023 XUV400 is not a 'born electric' EV and is based on the XUV300. In the same way that the Nexon EV is based on the Nexon with an IC engine. Unlike the Nexon, which was conceived as a sub-4m compact SUV, the XUV300 is based on the SsangYong Tivoli and was downsized to under 4m in length to take advantage of the category's lower tax. With no advantage to be gained from a shorter length, Mahindra cleverly reverted to the Tivoli's original 4.2m length with the XUV400.

This has two significant advantages, it addresses the insufficient 257 litres of luggage space. There should be no complaints about luggage carrying capacity in the XUV400, which now has a 378-litre boot. The additional length has also given Mahindra an advantage in positioning the XUV400. This 4.2m-long SUV is no longer a compact SUV, but sized up, into the Creta-dominated midsize SUV segment, and closer to the more expensive MG ZS EV and Hyundai Kona Electric.

Unlike the XUV300's truncated rear, the XUV400 has better proportions and appears more balanced. The XUV400's length has resulted in an all-new tailgate, though the design and tail-light cluster are like the XUV300's, which isn't a bad thing. Mahindra XUV400, like the XUV300, has a muscular stance except for the rear section, and is very similar to its petrol counterpart, as both share the same doors, glasses, and bonnet. The XUV400 stands out as an EV thanks to a new bumper, a blanked-out grille, and an abundance of copper-coloured accents. The logos, badging, and accents on the grille and bumpers are all finished in copper, which the company claims will be the signature colour for future EVs.

Mahindra XUV 400 Engine and Gearbox

With the XUV400's heart and the electric powertrain, Mahindra has specced it competitively. A single electric motor with a competitive 150 HP and 310 Nm of torque powers the front wheels. A 39.4kWh battery supplies the power to the vehicle. Which the company claims, has a range of 456km in the official test cycle. The NMC battery pack is older-generation chemistry sourced from LG Chem in Korea, and Mahindra engineers had to balance power and range.

The Valeo electric motor, controllers, and battery management system provide an astonishing level of refinement. There is little motor hum or whine, and the XUV400's overall insulation also contributes to a whisper-quiet cabin. We know Mahindra engines for their class-leading refinement, and its first EV has impressively low noise, vibration, and harshness levels.

Mahindra XUV 400 Drive Modes

2023 XUV400 has three drive modes, cheesily named Fun, Fast, and Fearless, and the instrument cluster changes colour for each mode. Let's begin with Fearless, the most aggressive, which is difficult to use because of the lack of traction control.

All that instant torque is difficult to control, and there's an alarming amount of wheel spin, which is alarming on a mild bend with understeer that results. But don't worry about Fearless mode because Mahindra engineers have assured us that traction control will be standard on the XUV400 when it goes on sale. That's important because the XUV400 would be difficult to drive without it, especially in the rain.

Straight-line performance in Fearless mode is excellent, and despite massive wheel spin, we managed a 0-100kph time of 8.7sec, which is 0.7sec faster than the Nexon EV Max (9.4sec). Despite its relatively heavy 1,578kg kerb weight, the XUV400 reached 160kph on the high-speed track and Mahindra's proving ground, making it the fastest SUV in its class. It will probably feel the weight penalty in range, and Mahindra's biggest challenge has been finely balancing performance and range, especially with the NMC532 battery pack, which lacks the energy efficiency of more modern chemistries.

In Fast mode, performance suffers noticeably, and the corresponding 0-100kph time is 9.24sec. It's even slower in Fun mode, and we couldn't hit 100kph because they limited the top speed to 92 kph. What we like about all three modes is that you can tell the difference, which makes them extremely useful depending on your driving style. Fearless mode may be too extreme and responsive for everyday driving. However, if you're in a hurry, this is the mode to be in because the XUV400 accelerates quickly and reacts to even the slightest pedal movement.

Fast mode is the default mode if you're not in a hurry and want to conserve some range, while the Fun mode is for having fun eking out the most range; it's not for fun driving. There are no manually selectable regeneration levels; they are determined by the mode you are in. Regen is greatest in Fun mode, where the focus is on preserving the charge, and lowest in Fearless mode, where the brake feel is more normal. Brakes can be a little grabby, and the transition from Regen power to hydraulic power could be smoother.

Mahindra XUV 400 Ride and Handling

2023 Mahindra XUV400 has a 'one-pedal' mode that you can activate by pressing 'L' on the stubby gear lever. The gear selector feels quite upmarket, works well, and is far nicer than the Nexon's rotary driver controller. Returning to one-pedal driving, though there is an increase in Regen level, deceleration is a little too gradual, rather than aggressively slowing you down. To be more effective, we would have preferred stronger Regen for one-pedal driving.

While there is no creep function in L mode, it works extremely well in D mode. When you let go of the brake, the new XUV400 moves forward with grace. Getting on and off the brake pedal and letting the creep function move the car forward would be a more effective method of one-pedal driving when simulating stop-and-go traffic conditions.

The different modes affect the steering as well, and you can feel it as you switch from Fun to Fearless mode. However, aside from a slight increase in steering effort, there is no difference in steering feel, which should be improved before the XUV400 goes on sale. There's some slack around the straight-ahead position, and when you turn on the lock, it doesn't weigh up gradually, but you feel a sudden resistance at one point.

The ride quality appears to be excellent and promises to be a highlight of the vehicle, but we'll reserve the last judgement until we test it on Mumbai's roads. The XUV400's long wheelbase and weight provide reassuring sure-footedness at high speeds, making it a good high-speed cruiser, but constant corrections at the wheel are required. Before it reaches customers, the Mahindra team should prioritise calibrating and fine-tuning the EPS.

Charging the new XUV400 is simple and quick if you plug it into a 50kW DC fast charger, which will charge the battery from 0 to 80% in 50 minutes. The type of charger you will install, a 7.2kW wall box AC charger will charge a completely flat battery to 100% in 6.5 hours, and 13 hours if you use a 3.3kW domestic socket.

Interior of Mahindra XUV 400

The copper theme continues inside, with rotary knobs for volume and air conditioning, air vents and gear lever surrounds, and, of course, the 'twin-peaks' logo on the steering finished in copper. It's a little overdone and bling, but it emphasises that this is a Mahindra EV.

The rest of the cabin is the same as XUV300 through and through. This results in a rather dated-looking dashboard with a small 7.0-inch infotainment screen, analogue dials (with a new skin for the EV variant), and traditional buttons and knobs. The XUV400's infotainment system is a step down from that of the XUV700 and Scorpio, with poor graphics and a screen that picks up a lot of reflections, as does the instrument cluster.

The new XUV400 receives Mahindra's BlueSense Plus technology, which comes with a suite of 60 features, including multiple remotely operated functions such as checking range and activating climate control. Although there are generous door bins and a reasonably sized glove box, there is no proper place to store your phone, and there is no wireless charging pad.

2023 XUV400 excels in terms of cabin space, and it feels a class larger than the Nexon. There's plenty of leg and headroom all around, and the cabin is wide enough for three people.

Mahindra cleverly raised the floor only under the centre console and the middle passenger section to accommodate the battery, leaving the outside ends of the cabin almost untouched. As a result, unlike in other EVs, your feet are not pushed up due to a top floor, and your seating posture is not compromised. Overall, the new XUV400's cabin is extremely comfortable, though we missed having rear air-conditioning vents on this scorching hot day outside Chennai.

Key Features of Mahindra XUV 400

2023 Mahindra XUV400 comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a 4-speaker sound system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Mahindra's BlueSense app compatibility, which offers 60+ connected features and will also receive OTA updates. On the left side of the dash, a bright and colourful metre shows how the electric motor and Regen are behaving while driving, and the digital monotone centre display also shows battery information. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, all-wheel disc brakes, and Isofix child seat mounts are standard on the Mahindra XUV400.

Other features include automatic headlamps and wipers, but no climate control and only manual air conditioning, cooled seats, wireless charging, improved touchscreens, and digital coloured driver displays. They also have branded and tuned speakers and sound systems that outperform the 4-speaker system here. As a result, the cabin experience they provide is much cosier, more modern, and more premium. As a result, the XUV400 must rely on its electric credentials to entice buyers.

Mahindra XUV 400 Colour Options

Mahindra will offer XUV 400 in 5 colour options: Everest White, Arctic Blue, Infinity Blue, Galaxy Grey, and Napoli Black.

Mahindra XUV 400 Price and Launch

There's no word on pricing just yet, but the company now ruins the Nexon EV's party. We expect they will price the XUV400 between Rs 18 lakh and Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom), making it appealing enough to sway buyers away from the Nexon EV Max. Mahindra's first electric SUV will compete with the likes of Hyundai Kona Electric, MG ZS EV, Nexon EV Max, and Tata Nexon EV Prime.