Mahindra XEV 9e Pack 3 launched at Rs 30.50 lakh: range, features, rivals, delivery timeline

An EV that claims 656 km on a charge and starts at Rs 30.50 lakh? That’s the bet Mahindra is making with the new Mahindra XEV 9e Pack 3, the flagship trim of its electric SUV. It’s loaded with tech, pitched aggressively on price, and clearly aimed at buyers who want long range without paying luxury-brand money.

What you get for Rs 30.50 lakh

The Pack 3 is the top-spec variant, and Mahindra has thrown in just about everything it has. The centrepiece is a 79 kWh lithium-ion battery. On paper, it’s good for a certified 656 km. Mahindra is also quoting a real-world figure of 500+ km in metro driving with the AC on, which, if it holds up in independent tests, would put it among the longest-legged EVs in its price band.

Power comes from an electric motor rated at 282 bhp and 380 Nm. That should make for brisk performance in city traffic and easy highway cruising. The SUV’s footprint is properly mid-to-large: 4,789 mm long and 1,907 mm wide, riding on a 2,775 mm wheelbase. Ground clearance is a generous 207 mm, which matters on Indian roads with speed humps, broken patches, and monsoon surprises.

Charging options cover daily home use and occasional fast top-ups on the go. With AC charging, you can plug into a 7.2 kW wall box (a full charge in about 11.7 hours) or an 11.2 kW setup (down to about 8 hours). On compatible fast chargers, Mahindra quotes a 56-minute charging time. The company hasn’t specified the charge window for that figure, so we’ll need to see the 10–80% numbers when test data is available, but it’s reassuring to see support for faster DC rates in this segment.

Inside, the Pack 3 leans into comfort and tech. Upholstery, steering, door pads, and dashboard trims are finished in leatherette. The driver’s seat gets 6-way power adjustment with manual lumbar; the front seats are ventilated, which is a must-have in hot climates. Dual-zone climate control, second-row sunshades, and a tonneau cover for the boot round out the basics for family duty.

Where it really stands out is the cockpit hardware. The SUV runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 platform with 24 GB RAM and 128 GB storage—PC-like numbers that should translate to slick UI, smooth maps, and faster voice processing. Audio is handled by a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system with Dolby Atmos, which, paired with a quiet EV cabin, should make long drives feel shorter. There are wireless phone chargers for both front and rear passengers, plus an augmented reality head-up display for key drive data. Ambient lighting and carpet lamps add a premium touch without going overboard.

Safety and driver assistance features are comprehensive and unusually ambitious for the price. The Level 2 ADAS suite uses five radar modules and a camera to enable functions like auto lane change, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto park assist, and front and rear cross-traffic alert. You also get seven airbags, a 360-degree camera with live recording, blind-spot monitoring, individual tire pressure readouts, an auto windshield defogger, and adaptive suspension to help the ride stay composed across surfaces.

The exterior has tasteful upgrades compared to lower trims—nothing shouty, but enough to signal the flagship status. The overall size also frees up a roomy second row and a practical boot, an area where many stylish EVs compromise. Those dimensions matter if you’re cross-shopping with family needs in mind.

• Battery and range: 79 kWh, certified 656 km; claimed 500+ km real-world with AC in city use
• Performance: 282 bhp, 380 Nm
• Size: 4,789 mm (L), 1,907 mm (W), 2,775 mm (wheelbase); 207 mm ground clearance
• Charging: 7.2 kW AC ≈ 11.7 hours; 11.2 kW AC ≈ 8 hours; fast charging ≈ 56 minutes on compatible DC
• Cabin: leatherette trims, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate, second-row sunshades
• Tech: Snapdragon 8295, 24 GB RAM/128 GB storage, 16-speaker Harman Kardon with Dolby Atmos, AR HUD, dual wireless charging
• Safety/ADAS: Level 2 with five radars + one camera, 7 airbags, 360° camera with recording, blind-spot monitor, adaptive suspension

The pricing is the headline: Rs 30.50 lakh ex-showroom for this feature set undercuts several imported rivals by a big margin. That’s the advantage of local manufacturing and a focused spec sheet designed for Indian buyers.

Where it stands against rivals—and what to watch

Mahindra isn’t shy about the competition. The XEV 9e Pack 3 is aimed squarely at premium electric SUVs that have so far dominated on tech and design but often carried sticker shock.

Here’s how the landscape looks right now:

• Hyundai IONIQ 5: Well-liked for design, comfort, and efficiency. It typically sits significantly higher on price, which is why Mahindra’s number will grab attention.
• Kia EV6: Sportier and more dynamic, but priced in luxury territory. Tech-packed, but you pay for it.
• Volvo C40 Recharge: A safety-first, premium pick with strong performance. Again, positioned well above the Rs 30 lakh band.
• BYD Sealion 7: BYD’s SUVs have made range anxiety a non-issue. Value is strong, though availability and brand familiarity vary by city.

Against this set, the XEV 9e Pack 3’s pitch is simple: similar or better range numbers, a modern tech stack, and ADAS—at a price closer to mass-premium than luxury. If the real-world range stays north of 500 km for mixed city use, that’s a tangible advantage for buyers who do longer commutes or occasional intercity runs and don’t want to plan every charge stop.

There are a few factors to keep an eye on in the coming months:

• Real-world testing: Certified figures are useful, but how the SUV behaves with AC, passengers, and traffic will decide its reputation. The weight of a 79 kWh pack also affects efficiency and braking—tuning matters.
• Fast-charging curve: The 56-minute claim is promising, but the usable charge window (say, 10–80%) and sustained charging speeds in Indian heat will tell the full story.
• ADAS on Indian roads: Lane markings, unpredictable traffic, and weather can challenge driver-assist systems. Features like auto lane change and lane keep assist are valuable, but driver vigilance remains essential.
• Software polish: Snapdragon 8295 is top-tier silicon. The win depends on fluid UI, stable connectivity, map accuracy, and frequent software updates. Big hardware needs equally big software support.
• Ride and durability: Adaptive suspension is a plus on paper. How it handles broken tarmac and speed breakers over time will matter to family buyers.

On the daily-ownership side, the feature pack hits the right notes. Ventilated seats, dual-zone climate, and sunshades are small comforts that add up in summer traffic. A proper 360-degree camera with live recording is handy in tight parking lots and for incident documentation. And the second wireless charger for rear passengers is the kind of quality-of-life tweak you notice right away in a chauffeur-driven setup.

Design-wise, Mahindra hasn’t gone radical for the sake of it. The Pack 3 trim differentiators are premium but restrained. That’s smart for a car that will likely live most of its life in city duty—owners want a sophisticated look that ages well, not something that screams concept car.

The value case also rests on size. The XEV 9e’s dimensions put it in a practical zone: roomy for five adults, comfortable on highways, and not unwieldy in parking. A 2,775 mm wheelbase should help rear-seat comfort. Paired with the flat floor of an EV, this should be a proper family car first, gadget second.

Where Mahindra may have an edge is localization and service reach. A locally built EV priced around Rs 30 lakh has far wider appeal than import-heavy alternatives. It also means quicker parts availability and more accessible running costs. For many buyers, the trade-off between badge value and everyday usability is tilting toward practicality—especially when the tech spec sheet reads like this.

Who is it for? Early EV adopters who held back due to price, families moving up from midsize SUVs, and city users who want range headroom without range anxiety. The Pack 3 reads like a one-and-done variant if you want all the bells and whistles, though Mahindra will likely rely on lower trims (already announced) to drive volume once deliveries ramp up.

Speaking of timelines, deliveries for some XEV 9e variants are planned to start in July 2025, with the full range available by August 2025. That gives Mahindra time to iron out any software bugs, expand charging tie-ups, and train dealer networks on EV service protocols. It also keeps the competitive pressure on rivals heading into the festive season next year.

The bigger takeaway is this: a mainstream Indian brand is now offering long-range, high-spec EVs at a price that used to be unthinkable. If Mahindra nails the basics—ride quality, software reliability, after-sales support—the XEV 9e Pack 3 could be the model that pushes a lot of fence-sitters into the EV lane.