Review: Mahindra XUV400 Electric Compact SUV

Mahindra & Mahindra is all charged up. Less than a month after revealing 5 SUVs that will be launched over the next 4 years as part of its born electric strategy, the automaker has unveiled the XUV400, a car that in its concept form was first seen at the Auto Expo 2020. The upcoming SUV is in a sense an electric version of the XUV300 subcompact SUV but is bigger in size. The actual launch is still some time away, but before that we got to spend some time with the upcoming electric compact SUV at the brands’ SUV Proving track on the outskirts of Chennai.

Design

Compared to the XUV300 the face of the 400 is quite different. There’s no engine here so the need for a grille is negated. And therefore, you have the aero-fascia with aerohead inserts where the satin copper colour has been extensively used. Even the twin peaks logo is finished in satin copper and it can be seen on the bumper, profile, rear and roof as well. So, Mahindra is using this colour to give this electric car a different identity. Also, not to forget that copper is a good conductor of electricity. The SUV gets slim LED projector headlamps with somewhat familiar pattern of the DRLs.

It gets slim LED projector headlamps with somewhat familiar pattern of the DRLs.

On the profile, big and circular wheel arches look good and gel well with nice looking 16-inch alloys. The charging socket is placed on the fender on the passenger side while you also get body cladding and roof rails on the profile, so there are many SUV cues here. On the rear, the highlight are the new LED tail lamps which also help in differentiating this car from the XUV300. In all there are 5 colour options and we got to sample the Galaxy Grey. All the colours can be chosen with the satin copper roof or in monotone. Overall, the car does look big, in fact, it is bigger than some of the compact electric SUVs that are on sale in the Indian market right now. Looking at the silhouette you just get an impression that the XUV 300 has grown considerably where a length of 4200 mms and a wheelbase of 2,600 mm are standout figures.

The XUV400 gets a closed-off grille with copper coloured elements, and a copper coloured twin-peaks logo.

Tech & Interior

The cabin somewhat reminds you of the XUV300, although the colours used are different as the entire cabin is finished in black making it look sportier. Blue stitching on the seats enhances the appeal of the cabin. The instrument cluster is part analogue part digital, and the different looking rpm meter gives you an indication of how the electric drivetrain is performing; is it giving a power boost or are the batteries getting charged while on the move. The car gets an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it is wired. The system also gets the Mahindra Bluesense+ connectivity suite that comes with more than 60 features. Ergonomically the cabin scores well with many storage spaces on both the rows.

The Mahindra XUV400's cabin is inspired from the XUV300, and it is showing its age.

However, it seems Mahindra did miss a trick by not making this cabin less dated and more feature rich. The modern-day consumer may not really approve of a relatively smaller screen as well as absence of a full digital cluster. On the upside, presence of a sunroof makes the cabin feel airier and the increased length has certainly resulted in a more spacious second row when compared to the XUV300. What’s missing here are the AC vents and a 3-point seat belt for the middle seat passenger though you do get a centre armrest. The second-row seat gets the option of a 60:40 split seats to offer more practicality. Another advantage of increased length of this car is the increased boot space. The XUV400 gets 378 litres of luggage space and if measured till the roof it stands at 418 litres.

The XUV400 misses out on a full digital instrument cluster.

Dynamics

After driving the XUV700 here a year ago, we were back at the Mahindra SUV proving track to sample another new SUV from the brand. This track offered a mix of highway and city driving as well as a high-speed track with banking on either ends. The XUV400 runs on a 39.4 kWh Li battery pack which may not sound too big in size but the numbers here are quite impressive. It gives you a max power of 148 bhp and a peak torque figure of 310 Nm. Then of course is the all-important number of range. Mahindra says the ARAI tested figure is 456 kms, which is a higher than the Nexon EV Max (437 kms) but a little lower than MG ZS EV (461 kms).

The XUV400 has an ARAI certified range of 456 kms on a single charge.

Now we know the best part about electric cars is the fact that you get all the torque from the start. So right from 25 rpm all the 310 Nm is available at your disposal and the high-speed test track of MSPT is the perfect place to experience that. So, you hit 60 kmph in just 4 seconds and 100 kmph in 8.3 secs which means this car is quick. The car can hit a top speed of 150 kmph.

The XUV400 gets 3 driving modes - Fun, Fast, & Fearless.

There are multiple drive modes with different levels of regeneration on this SUV; they’re called fun, fast and fearless. So, depending on how much range is left and how much more you want from this setup you can choose your driving mode. While fun in fact is a little more subtle, fearless is the mode where you can have the most amount of fun on this car. And then you have another mode which is called the lively where single pedal driving gets activated. So, when running short of range, you have a cover a slightly longer distance you can switch to this mode and get a slightly higher range on this car. Mahindra says apart from regen levels, change in driving modes tune the response of steering and throttle levels. In Fearless mode the car feels the lightest and most energetic. But the batteries run out faster when you’re driving in this mode

Ride & Handling

According to Mahindra, the rear suspension hasn’t changed when compared to the XUV300 though the floor has been modified due to the presence of batteries. On the 300 we didn’t have any complaints when it came to the ride quality and same is the case with the 400 as well, the car provides a comfortable drive be it at low speeds or high. Handling also hasn’t got affected due to this change. Yes this is a car that’s tall but it’s also quite wide, so when you are driving it on the banks of the high-speed test track of MSPT, you don’t really complain about the handling character of this car.

Despite the change in weight and length, the rear suspension of the car has been carried from the XUV300.

Frequency dependent damping has been used on the car, that ensures a superior ride quality. The idea is that the Inertia of the battery should not amplify the vibrations coming from the road. Thankfully, this is a cabin where exterior disturbances are largely controlled from coming in, be it unwanted sounds or vibrations. The SUV gets a ground clearance of 190 mm which will enable it to tackle with bad roads easily.

Safety

Just like the XUV300 even the XUV400 gets as many as 6 airbags. The car also gets disc brakes on all 4 wheels. Mahindra says extensive use of high strength steel has made the structure of the car crash compliant. Now we know that the XUV300 is one of the safest cars in India when it comes to crash test rating, and it will be interesting to see how this electric SUV fares in that department. The car also gets IP67 rated ingress protection for motor and battery pack. Mahindra still hasn’t revealed what kind of warranty will be offered on the battery pack.

Charging

A 7 kW AC charger will charge this car in 6.5 hours but using the 16-ampere socket at home the process will take a full 13 hours. Then there’s the fast-charging option where by using a 50 kW DC fast charger, you will be able to charge the car from 0-80 percent in approximately 50 minutes. Mahindra says going forward it will have tie-ups with different partners for all kinds of charging options, making it easier for the buyers to recharge their cars.

On a 50 kW DC fast charger, the XUV400 can be charged from 0-80% in just 50 minutes.

Prices & Verdict

The SUV will be launched in January next year and deliveries will begin later this month. Looking at the prices of its main rivals like the MG ZS EV and Tata Nexon EV Max, the XUV400 could be launched at a starting price of Rs. 18 lakh, ex-showroom. An aggressive price tag will certainly help in overcoming some negatives like a cabin that feels neither modern nor feature rich.

But there’s enough and more that works for the 4 oh oh including its dynamics as well as design. If the range stays true the latest XUV could be in for a long, successful haul in the Indian EV space.