TRIPLE ROW CRED

Mahindra's XEV 9S focuses on refinement and practicality, as it opens up a new three-row electric SUV segment

- By Kurt Morris Photographs Amit Naik and Mahindra

Mahindra has been on a roll with its new generation of all-electric SUVs, and in many ways, the XEV 9S feels like the firm stepping confidently onto the front foot.

Its dedicated INGLO platform has already delivered two strong products, the BE.6 and the XEV 9E, both of which have surprised many with their on-road presence. What you notice about these new Mahindra EVs is how frequently you spot them. For a brand just a few steps into its modern electric chapter, that's impressive. And it's not hard to understand why: striking design sells, and Mahindra's EVs look like concept cars that somehow made it to production.

Which brings me to the newest electric SUV from the brand, the one I flew to Bengaluru to drive on a crisp November morning: the Mahindra XEV 9S. At first glance, especially from the side, you might mistake the XEV 9S for an electric XUV700. The proportions and some character lines definitely echo Mahindra's popular three-row flagship. But walk around to the front, and the similarities fade quickly.

The face is pure, clean-sheet EV design. Gone is the traditional Mahindra multi-slat grille. In its place sits a smooth, almost architectural surface that instantly telegraphs its electric intentions. The flush panels, the sharp cuts, and the distinctive LED lighting signature give it a futuristic stance that ties neatly into Pratap Bose's new EV design language. Mahindra first redefined this identity with the Twin Peaks EV logo, and here, the rest of the design philosophy comes together: minimalism, flat planes, and a dramatic light signature.