The Mahindra XEV 9e and the BE 6 electric SUVs have been awarded a full five stars at Bharat NCAP’s crash tests. The XEV 9e scored a full 32 out of 32 points for Adult Occupancy Protection (AOP) and 45/49 points for Child Occupancy Protection (COP). By this, the XEV 9e becomes the first model to get full marks in AOP in BNCAP. The BE 6 scored 31.97 out of 32 points in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), and in Child Occupant Protection (COP), the BE 6 secured 45 out of 49 points.
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Mahindra XEV 9e
In the frontal offset deformable barrier and side movable deformable barrier tests, the XEV 9e achieved a perfect score of 16 out of 16 points, making it the first model evaluated by BNCAP to achieve a full 32/32 points in the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) category as mentioned before. The protection provided to the driver and front passenger dummies was rated as ‘good’ across all areas, including the head, chest, pelvis, and legs. Additionally, the XEV 9e received a ‘good’ rating in the side pole impact test.
In Child Occupant Protection (COP), in the dynamic test, 12/12 in the child restraint system (CRS) installation evaluation, and 9/13 in the vehicle assessment. This resulted in an impressive total of 45 out of 49 points. The tests included rearward-facing child seats for dummies representing an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old child. The model tested was the top-spec Pack Three with a 79kWh battery, however, the ratings will apply to all models.
Mahindra BE 6
The protection for the driver’s and passenger’s head, neck, and chest was rated as good, although the vehicle lost points for providing only ‘adequate’ protection to the driver’s knee. In the side movable deformable barrier test, the BE 6 earned a perfect score of 16 out of 16, demonstrating strong overall protection. However, in the side pole impact test, it received an ‘OK’ rating. The vehicle also met the requirements for the ESC test, but no remarks were provided about the body shell’s integrity or its ability to handle additional stress at higher speeds.
In Child Occupant Protection (COP), the BE 6 scored full marks in the dynamic test (24/24) and CRS installation test (12/12), along with 9 out of 13 in the vehicle assessment test. Testing included 18-month-old and 3-year-old child dummies placed in rearward-facing child seats on the front passenger seat, secured using ISOFIX anchorages and a support leg.
Both SUVs are built on Mahindra’s in-house INGLO platform, a modular skateboard architecture designed exclusively for electric vehicles. The Mahindra XEV 9e will be available with two battery options: a 59kWh and a 79kWh unit, both using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry. It is built on Mahindra’s scalable INGLO platform, which features a ‘compact three-in-one powertrain’ consisting of a motor, inverter, and transmission. Mahindra claims the 79kWh battery can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in 20 minutes using a 175kW DC fast charger, while the 59kWh battery requires 20 minutes with a 140kW DC fast charger. The XEV 9e with the 79kWh battery is claimed to offer a range of 656km on the MIDC cycle, while Mahindra reports a range of 533km on the European WLTP cycle.
The XEV 9e features an 11kW onboard charger, with Mahindra offering an additional 7.2kW and 11kW charger options. The 7.2kW charger takes 8.7 hours to fully charge the 59kWh battery, while the 11kW charger completes the process in 6 hours. For the 79kWh battery, the 7.2kW charger takes 11.7 hours, and the 11kW charger requires 8 hours. The XEV 9e with the 79kWh battery is powered by a 286hp, 380Nm motor that drives the rear wheels, and has c; aimed a 0-100kph time of 6.8 seconds. The smaller 59kWh battery is paired with a 231hp motor. Similarly, the BE 6e offers 59kWh and 79kWh battery packs, with the latter delivering a WLTP range of 550km—higher than the XEV 9e. It boasts 288bhp, 380Nm, 0-100 kmph in 6.7 seconds performance figures.
