Yes, I know you all already know it! The future of mobility is electric. I am sure you are also aware of the fact that the infrastructure in India isn’t ready for EV mobility just yet. But what if I told you there is a new electric car that can offer the same range you expect from a small petrol vehicle and realistically needs to be charged only twice a week (if you are using it just to commute). Well, let me introduce you to the 2022 Mahindra XUV 400! This electric SUV from Mahindra claims to offer 456 kilometres of range, and we had to find out! Oh, and if you didn’t notice, this is the first-ever even-numbered Mahindra!
Verdict
My time with the XUV 400 was relatively short, so I am going to keep my verdict brief for now. I was pretty impressed with the overall package, which is the Mahindra XUV 400. It does have the performance, range and features that most people require from an electric vehicle these days. The major drawback that people had with the XUV 300 is now resolved in the XUV 400 by adding more boot space.
I am presuming that Mahindra will price the XUV 400 around the 15-18 lakh rupees mark, making it a solid contender to the current reigning champion, the Tata Nexon EV. Not only that, Mahindra is also going to pit the XUV 400 against the MG ZS EV and the upcoming updated Hyundai Kona EV, and that is a comparison test we cannot wait to bring to you folks in the near future.
8.3 seconds is the time Mahindra claims that the XUV 400 takes to get to 100km/h. But when we tried to test it, we couldn’t match that figure since our cars weren’t activated with traction control as it was a pre-production version. Nonetheless, the XUV 400 has quite a decent amount of power to put down, making you smirk when you floor the throttle. Also, the steering is quite light, which can be a letdown while cornering hard, but I can imagine that it might be quite a boon in the city. Also, the suspension set-up is on the softer side, so body roll is quite evident, and on the smooth tarmac of Mahindra’s test facility, I didn’t get a proper feel of the damping effects of the suspension.
Mahindra is always known to make safe cars, and the XUV 400 hasn’t strayed away from that ideology. The engineers have done everything possible to make this structurally safe for the occupants and protect the battery. With disc brakes all around, the XUV 400 certainly has the stopping power required and moreover, it comes standard with all the safety assists such as ABS, ESC, traction control, 6 airbags and more, making this quite a safe vehicle.
Powering the Mahindra XUV 400 is a 39.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack that produces 150PS and 310Nm of torque. It has four driving modes to choose from, Fun/Fast/Fearless and an L mode for regenerative braking. Range anxiety is something that worries every single EV owner, but with the Mahindra XUV 400, they certainly will be able to tackle this problem. 456 kilometres is the range Mahindra claims the XUV 400 offers, and while in the real world, it might offer 380-400 kilometres, that still is pretty good for people for their daily commute. Theoretically, you will only need to charge your vehicle once or twice a week. Speaking of charging, using a 3.3kW wall charger, it takes 13 hours to charge fully. A 7.2kW AC charger it takes 6.5 to charge to full, and with a 50kW DC fast charger, you can charge the XUV 400 from 0 to 80% in just 50 minutes.
Now when you move to the interiors of the XUV 400, things are pretty similar to the ICE sibling here as well. But just like the exteriors, there are some enhancements to follow the electric theme of the vehicle. This now comes with an all-black interior, blue contrast stitching, and perforated leather seats. The copper accents continue on the inside, with the AC surrounds, gear knob, AC knob and twin-peaks logo on the steering finished in satin copper. Sadly, the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is retained from the XUV 300, making it look very dated and, quite honestly, really basic for the interiors. Moreover, I also noticed that the dual-zone climate controls are no longer available, and instead, the XUV 400 comes with a single-zone AC.
If the one thing the XUV 300 had to boast about was its interior space, I am happy to report that it remains the same even with the XUV 400. There is an abundance of space inside, and even the seats themselves are very comfortable, with ample cushioning and decent lumbar support. Furthermore, the large windows all around make the cabin feel quite airy and not very claustrophobic. As I mentioned, the XUV 400 is now 4200mm, and all that extra space is gone to the boot. Unlike its ICE sibling, the XUV 400 isn’t plagued with a minuscule boot, but rather it can actually fit a weekend’s worth of luggage comfortably.
If you are wondering how to differentiate between the XUV 300 and the XUV 400, you might want to stay glued to the page and read every word. The first thing that will catch your eye is the copper accents on the exteriors of the XUV 400. It is Mahindra’s new colour specially introduced for their electric vehicle line-up. In addition, the twin-peaks logo, trim pieces on the grille and bumpers, and the plastic trim piece on the side are all finished in a copper finish making the XUV 400 look very characteristic. Furthermore, the roof is painted in gloss copper, making this car look attractive.
While the exterior might look similar, keen-eyed folks will notice that the overall length of the XUV 400 is increased, which is now 4200mm. Thus it no longer qualifies as a sub-4 meter SUV. Nonetheless, there are some more changes in the rear, such as the clear LED taillights with copper elements and a functional roof spoiler which further accentuate the design of the XUV 400. So all in all, while the XUV 400 might bare a resemblance to the XUV 300, it certainly isn’t just a blatant copy but also has its unique elements.
Motor – High-efficiency PSM motor
Battery Capacity – 39.5kWh
Power – 148bhp
Torque – 310Nm
Range – 456 kilometres (Claimed)
