Mahindra might be familiar with electric cars but it has taken them quite a while to come up with products that, at first glance, look irresistible. Look at the newly launched XEV 9e and the smaller, sportier BE 6e, though, and there’s no way you’ll be able to take your eyes off them. The duo, introduced as part of the firm’s new Born Electric range, represents the modern-age Mahindra electric SUV. Things have certainly come a long way since the eVerito and the e2O, and it shows. Following our time with the XEV 9e, which we featured a first drive report of last week, we get behind the wheel of the BE 6e this time to find out if the more aggressive styling, a smaller footprint and a fair bit of power can sway the enthusiast away from the existing cars in the all-electric segment.
To recapitulate, both the XEV 9e and the BE 6e are based on the company’s new INGLO platform. It has been developed from the ground up and comes with a variety of technological advancements. The skateboard architecture enables it to be used for different body styles without compromising on space or practicality. Even the batteries used on the new platform have been tested thoroughly against submersion, fire, and even intense vibration endurance. Some of the standard inclusions for the platform are semi-active dampers, brake-by-wire tech and a five-link independent rear suspension. The platform currently has two battery sizes to offer. Similar to the XEV 9e, the BE 6e can be specced with either a 59 kWh or a 79 kWh battery pack. On paper, there’s a discernible difference in range and performance, making the all-electric Mahindra SUVs considerably improved over the previous offerings.
Striking exteriors
We’ll get to further details like powertrain and range in a bit but first, let’s talk about the BEV 6e’s exterior, which is definitely going to be a talking point for years to come. As seen on the concept version, the production-spec Mahindra BE 6e is pretty striking. Aerodynamically sculpted, its exterior features sharp LED DRLs, furthering the visual drama and complementing the massive 20-inch wheels. Even the standard-spec 19-inch ones we had on the test car didn’t look small by any means. There’s also an interesting aero channel which improves the airflow and adds to the car’s futuristic, aero-focused appearance. The stance of the all-electric SUV is equally noteworthy. The nearly 4.4-metre-long SUV looks stable but athletic, and its large 20-inch wheels make the design look proportionate but still very concept-car-like. Its ground clearance of 207 mm doesn’t come as a surprise but the 6e never appears too tall.
With a driver-centric cockpit, a unique illuminated partition and futuristic dashboard, the 6e lets you have the cake and eat it too
| Photo Credit: Mahindra
If you think the exterior appearance is unconventional, you must take a look at the car’s interior. Its cockpit is unashamedly driver-focused. The wraparound design lets Mahindra have the cake and eat it too. An illuminated partition separates the driver and the passenger, and it appears quite unique. In terms of equipment, the 6e is no slouch, either. There’s a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a Snapdragon-powered dual-display setup for the infotainment unit and driver display, wireless charging, etc. Its fabric door release handles might not be the conventional choice for an SUV but they look cool. The overall quality isn’t bad but we found some misaligned panels and plastics that looked a bit out-of-place in an otherwise nice cabin. Mahindra says these issues will be looked into. The glossy piano black finish on the dashboard might look great but it’s also a fingerprint magnet. Space isn’t an issue in the cabin, and the luggage carrying capacity is quite decent too. The 6e’s 455-litre boot is complemented by a 45-litre storage area in the frunk.
On the move, the BE 6e is exactly how you’d expect a top-class all-electric car to be. Its versatility just can’t be faulted. When specced with the higher capacity battery, the BE 6e’s spec sheet reads a maximum power and torque of 281 bhp and 38.74 kg-m. The figures result in a claimed 0-100 km/h time of just 6.7 seconds. That’s mighty quick for a car its size and position.
Having said that, it’s not just acceleration where the 6e shows its prowess. Highway driving is quite effortless too, with all that power in reserve. Even in traffic, a gentle push of the accelerator enables you to filter through traffic while at higher speeds, the noise and vibrations are controlled quite adeptly.
Since this was the first drive, we couldn’t test Mahindra’s claims of the 6e’s 682-km range but we won’t be surprised to see it return 500+ km comfortably on a full charge. When it comes to charging, the new platform is equally well-equipped. Mahindra says a 175 kW DC charger will top-up the battery from 20 to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes.
If we weren’t impressed already, a run around the high-speed oval at Mahindra’s testing facility near Chennai proved the 6e’s stability prowess. The car maxed out at 202 km/h but even at that speed, it was rock-solid, highlighting what Mahindra has achieved in vehicle dynamics. On the road, the car exhibited excellent abilities and while we would have liked to put the 6e through its paces around tight bends, we got to witness what the 6e could do in the hands of a professional rally driver, Gaurav Gill. It’s not common to see a new EV doing high-speed burnouts and long drifts, so naturally, that was a sight to behold.
The Mahindra BE 6e is priced ₹18.9 lakh onwards, ex-showroom, and even at that price, it packs in a lot of value.With the tech it offers, the way it drives, and its remarkably handsome styling, the BE 6e is my choice among the two new Mahindra all-electric SUVs. It still looks like a concept car, but Mahindra hasn’t forgotten about the basics: from features, handling, to safety, the BE 6e has it all. It proves Mahindra’s abilities as a modern carmaker, and shows that mass-market EVs don’t have to be boring and can be an example for rivals to follow.
© Motoring World
