Mahindra has taken the wraps off the XUV400 EV, making its foray into the Indian personal electric passenger vehicle space. Unveiling the new electric SUV on the eve of World EV Day, Mahindra and Mahindra announced that the new XUV400's performance makes it the first made-in-India passenger vehicle in the non-luxury segment with the fastest acceleration time of 0-100 kmph in just 8.3 seconds. The XUV400 comes with a claimed top speed of 150 kmph, and maximum claimed range of 456 km on a single charge.
According to M&M, a full charge delivers 456 km as per Indian driving cycle standards. The XUV400 gets a 39.4 kW battery pack with lithium ion cells, and it takes only 50 minutes to complete 80 per cent charging with the 50 kW DC fast charger. When charged via a 7.2 kW/32A outlet, the XUV400 takes 6 hours 30 minutes for 0-100 per cent charge, and the same is achieved in 13 hours when using a standard 3.3 kW/16A domestic socket. The new Mahindra XUV400 features a single synchronous electric motor powering its front wheels and belting out 145 bhp and 310 Nm of peak torque.
Revealing Mahindra's first electric SUV, Veejay Nakra, President, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd. said, “The Mahindra Group is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 and our EV game plan is at the core of the mission. We are doing our part against climate change with the unveil of the all-electric Mahindra XUV400, a fun-to-drive, generously sized SUV boasting excellent interior room for our discerning customers. The market too is extremely receptive for a clean, enjoyable and capable vehicle, and we foresee stupendous growth in this category. The XUV400's class-leading acceleration delivers an adrenaline rush, while its exceptional range offers anxiety-free drives. On the eve of World EV Day 2022, we are proud to present to India's young trendsetters the fun and fast XUV400.”
Also Read: Mahindra XUV400 EV India Launch: Highlights
Speaking on the development of the XUV400, electric SUV, R. Velusamy, President, Automotive Technology and Product Development, M&M Ltd said, “We started the development of the XUV400 by leveraging Mahindra's R&D capability with teams spread across Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai. We have tested the vehicle globally under extreme weather conditions along with testing of its fast-charging compatibility in multiple geographies to ensure seamless experience for our customers. The XUV400 is based on our hugely successful XUV300 platform, which has been engineered to ensure every drive is safe, while delivering authentic SUV attributes. Combined with BlueSense Plus app for control of vehicle functions and status on mobile application, the XUV400 is a fun, peppy and styliesh e-SUV for all those who are future-ready.”
Test drives of the XUV400 for customers will begin from December 2022, with prices to be announced in January 2023, with bookings in the first week of the new year. Deliveries to customers will begin from the end of January 2023. In the first phase of deliveries, the XUV400 will cover 16 cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, Jaipur, Surat, Nagpur, Trivandrum, Nashik, Chandigarh and Kochi.
The new Mahindra XUV400 will take on the likes of the MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV and Tata Nexon EV Max. It is essentially an electric derivative of the XUV300 subcompact SUV but with a longer footprint. Yes! The new Mahindra XUV400 EV exceeds four metres in length at 4,200 mm and is 1821 mm wide. It is 1634 mm tall and has a 2600 mm long wheelbase. The added length makes more room on the inside, offering better legroom and boot space compared to its petrol- or diesel-powered version. The front row offers 1051 mm legroom while the second row offers 861 mm of legroom, and the boot space is rated at 378 litres.
Mahindra didn't have to limit the length of the XUV400 to under four metres since electric cars don't attract any tax benefits for being under four metre in length. The XUV400 does look a tad bigger and more butch compared to the ICE-engine XUV300, although the electric SUV shares quite a lot of its design elements with the XUV300.
That said, the front-end looks quite fresh featuring the new plastic insert embossed with 'X' motifs finished in satin copper, instead of the radiator grille which is not required in EVs. Mahindra's new twin-peaks logo takes centre stage and is finished in satin copper as well, while the grille is flanked by LED headlights with daytime running lights (DRLs).
The cabin too looks quite familiar, the layout being shared with the XUV300. Even in terms of creature comforts it is near identical to the XUV300 with features like an 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, auto climate control, auto headlights, rain sensing wipers, power foldable wing mirrors and drive modes among others. That said, it also offers few more features like more than 60 connected car features and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
