In a quiet residential society of Gurugram, Wing Commander (Retd) Vijay Verma, a man no stranger to pioneering journeys, recently opened up to us about his Deep Forest-coloured Mahindra XUV.e9 – the very first unit of this paint option delivered in the city. Having served the nation in the skies, he is now a proud owner of this futuristic Made-in-India EV. We sat down with him to hear firsthand about his early experiences with the XEV9e. He spoke in detail about its performance and tech-packed features to the inevitable questions around range anxiety. Here’s what he had to say.
Q. What made you choose the XEV 9e over other EVs or SUVs in this price range?
A. Frankly, I didn’t really choose the XEV; it chose me. When I was looking at petrol and diesel cars. But when I drove the XEV 9e for the first time, its speed impressed me along with the features at just Rs 30 lakh. I didn’t even think about the infrastructure. The looks, speed and features did it was for me. I didn’t even try any other EV.
Q. How has the real-world range been compared to the official claim?
A. Generally, I drive it in the city. It easily gives me 400 km of range on a single charge. Also, I want to mention that no one wants to go down to 0%. Hence, I charge it once the battery touches 10%.
Q. What’s your daily charging routine like – do you use home charging, or rely on public fast chargers?
A. Currently, I charge the Mahindra XEV 9e at home with an 11 kW AC charger. It takes around 5-6 hours, and I charge it at night.
Q. How’s the experience with the triple-screen dashboard? Is it actually practical for everyday driving?
A. It is quite amazing. To be honest, I am still trying to come to terms with all the features it has. It will take some time. I feel it is a home entertainment. For me, the best feature is Groove Me, which turns the cabin into a discotheque. I am waiting to go to a place where I can use this feature and dance around.
Q. Have you used the ADAS features, and how confident do you feel while relying on them in city or highway traffic?
A. I feel very secure. There can be some issues where the other people are not too careful. The lane assist will steer you back into your lane, especially when it recognizes a car coming from the opposite lane. If you give the indicator, the system understands that you want to shift lanes. Otherwise, it will prevent you from drifting across the lanes. I totally rely on it and am very happy with the way it works. It is particularly great in city conditions.
Q. The XEV 9e has a bold, futuristic design. How do people react to it, and how do you feel driving it every day?
A. Initially, when I used to drive it, people would stop me and ask about the EV. I remember once I was at Golf Course Road crossing, and a person stuck in traffic walked towards me and asked for my telephone number. He discussed about the features of the car on the phone for a good 5 minutes. Having said that, once the XEV 9e deliveries increase, it will become relatively common on the roads.
Q. What’s the cabin experience like – in terms of space, comfort, and practicality for daily use?
A. Very very comfortable. I am happy with the boot space because I need to take 2-3 golf sets at a time, along with a few trolleys. It can easily accommodate 3 golf sets and 3 trolleys. That is good enough for me.
Q. Are there any tech features that genuinely improve your driving experience, or feel like gimmicks?
A. For the driving experience, I feel the ADAS is very good. For instance, if I wish to turn left and give the turn signal, the ADAS will ensure that there is no vehicle in the blind spot. I will give a vibration to the steering wheel, making the driver aware of the car. However, you need to be careful with how fast you go.
Q. How’s the boot space and overall practicality for family use or weekend trips?
A. Like I said, the SUV is extremely practical, especially in terms of the amount of luggage one could carry. You can accommodate enough luggage for a weekend trip with the family.
Q. Have you faced any issues, glitches, or visits to the service centre yet?
A. Not glitches. Initially, the Apple CarPlay was not supported. However, once the feature was available, I was able to get it. During the first week, the dealership staff was giving updates to the car’s system via WiFi. However, I turned off the car midway. It took around 2-3 minutes to reboot the whole system. So, no glitches as such.
Q. Looking back, would you still make the same purchase decision today?
A. Yes, 100%.
Q. How does it feel to own an Indian eSUV that not only competes with but beats global luxury brands?
A. I have never been fond of global luxury brands. I have always bought Indian brands. Tata cars have been good. But I think Mahindra cars have taken things to the next level, whether it is customer service, features and Anand Mahindra is doing a great job with the publicity activities. I am a huge fan of him. Hats off to Mahindra overall.
Q. Which tech features have genuinely impressed you – Auto park, MAIA voice assistant, Sonic Studio by Harman Kardon, AR-HUD, ambient modes by A.R. Rahman – what, as per you, is the biggest game-changer?
A. For me, Auto Park, I have not used it. But it is a useful feature, especially if two cars are parked adjacent to you and you want to take out your car. I like the HUD because I am an Air Force guy. I used to manage the head of display in avionics. Also, the sound system is very good.
Also Read: Will This SUV Change Mahindra Forever?
