Mahindra has finally launched the much-awaited XEV 9S in India at a starting price of ₹19.95 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base-spec Pack One Above variant. The XEV 9S is India’s only seven-seater electric SUV in the mass-market segment, starting a brand new segment in India. Bookings for the XEV 9S on January 14, 2026, with deliveries slated to begin on January 23, 2026.
The XEV 9S’ Pack One Above with the 79 kWh battery pack is priced at ₹21.95 lakh (ex-showroom). The Pack Two Above comes in two battery packs – 70 kWh and 79 kWh – and they are priced at ₹24.45 lakh and ₹25.45 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively. The Pack Three variant, which just gets the 79 kWh battery pack, is priced at ₹27.35 lakh (ex-showroom). And the top-of-the-line Pack Three Above is priced at ₹29.45 lakh (ex-showroom).
The new XEV 9S is based on Mahindra’s INGLO platform and becomes the regular, three-row version of the XEV 9e SUV-coupe. Additionally, it also looks like an electrified version of Mahindra’s flagship ICE SUV, the XUV 700. Of course, there are some design changes compared to these two SUVs for some much-needed distinction.
The three-row electric SUV comes with fatter bezels for the full-width LED lightbar, a slightly different bumper and a different, smoked-out treatment for the taillamps. Of course, the XEV 9S also gets aero-designed alloy wheels, which also have a different design compared to the XEV 9e. While the 9e has 19-inch alloy wheels, the 9S has 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the story is different since the cabins of the XEV 9S and XEV 9e are nearly identical. The new three-row XEV 9S comes with the same triple-screen layout with three 12.3-inch units, where one is for the driver’s display, one for the infotainment system and one for the passenger. Like the XEV 9e, the 9S also comes with docks behind the front seats to mount tablets or smartphones for entertainment.
The XEV 9S also becomes one of the first seven-seat SUVs to come with a ventilation function for the second row. It also gets a reclining and sliding function, a boss mode that allows you to adjust the front passenger seat, a wireless charger, and more. Other creature comforts in the XEV 9S include ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Atmos, powered front seats with ventilation, Auto Park Assist, and connected car tech, among others.
Safety is also a priority for Mahindra as the XEV 9S also comes with seven airbags, Level 2+ ADAS, driver drowsiness detection, 360-degree camera and the like.
What sets the XEV 9S apart is the powertrain options on offer. While it is still a rear-drive setup, the XEV 9S debuts a new 70 kWh battery pack, and the electric motor produces 241 bhp and 38.7 kgm. The other two battery packs remain the same – a 59 kWh unit and a 79 kWh unit – as the XEV 9e and BE 6 e-SUVs.
Since the XEV 9S doesn’t have a direct rival, it enjoys the first-mover advantage in the Indian auto space. However, it can still be considered to rival the Mahindra XUV 700, Tata Safari, Toyota Innova Hycross, BYD eMAX 7 and Kia Carens Clavis EV (with the last two being the only 7-seater electric vehicles at the price point).
