Mahindra BE 6e first drive review

If you thought the Thar Roxx turned heads, the Mahindra BE 6e will do that and also make your jaw drop. With the launch of the BE 6e and Mahindra XEV 9e, a new era begins for the Indian carmaker as it boldly embraces an electric future. You have read all about the Mahindra XEV 9e by now, and if you haven’t, click here! The BE 6e is built on the same INGLO platform and shares its hardware with the larger XEV 9e, but there’s so much more to this EV. While the XEV 9e has some links to the XUV700, the BE 6e has none. It’s all-new, looks futuristic, and, in the very near future, will become a common sight on our roads. We got a first hands-on experience with the BE 6e in Chennai, where we drove it on the road, watched Gaurav Gill send it sideways at Mahindra’s SUV Proving Track, and then put it through its paces on various tracks, including the High-Speed Track, where we maxed it out at 202kmph. Should you buy one? Read the full review to find out!

The BE 6e looks like a concept car inside and out

Mahindra BE 6e design and styling

As far as production cars go in India, nothing has ever been designed as radically as the BE 6e. It looks like a concept car inside and out, and you’ve got to tip your hat to Mahindra for being so bold. While the company has dabbled with EVs in the past, even acquiring one (Reva, remember?), its Indian counterpart, Tata Motors, is seen as the pre-eminent player in the EV space with a dominating sales lead. Mahindra needed to recapture lost ground, and part of the strategy was a ‘look-at-me’ SUV. Performance and price play a part too, but more on that later.

The shared platform with the XEV 9e means you get the same 2775mm wheelbase—a good 277mm more than the Nexon EV. The BE 6e is a big car, but its proportions are perfect. It doesn’t feel stretched; on the contrary, the size is just right, with superb surfacing all around. The bonnet dips, and there’s a Ferrari F80-like S-duct to channel air from the bumper to the top of the car and out of the rear split spoiler. The headlights are hidden under the DRLs and are only visible when turned on, adding an extra design element to the front end when driving at night. There are side channels under the headlights, almost as if good aerodynamics played a key role in the design. We don’t have a drag coefficient yet, but that attention to detail indicates it will be a low number. The aero wheels, flush door handles, and dipping roofline further enhance its slippery silhouette.

The top-spec ‘Pack 3’ sits on 19-inch wheels shod with low-rolling-resistance EV tyres, giving the BE 6e a strong stance. Towards the rear, you get a connecting light strip and large C-shaped taillights. Under the light strip, when parked and playing music, the LEDs even dance to the beat. As radical as the exterior is, the interior is equally over-the-top—but in a good way.

Inspired by fighter jets, the BE 6e’s interior feels more like a cockpit than a car cabin

Mahindra BE 6e interior and features

Inspired by fighter jets, the BE 6e’s interior feels more like a cockpit than a car cabin. The dashboard wraps around the driver’s seat, the steering wheel is flat-bottomed and flat-topped with a dead-centre ring reminiscent of race and rally cars. Airline-style switches on the roof control various functions, such as hazard lights, and the door handles will remind you of the GT3 RS. It’s hard to believe that prices start from ₹18.9 lakh, especially after holding the ‘thruster’ gear selector.

However, criticism is due here—the thruster doesn’t work seamlessly in these pre-production cars, and we hope Mahindra sorts it out before deliveries. The drive selection isn’t smooth, which can be frustrating when shifting from reverse to drive. Fiddly selector aside, it’s a very cool touch. Like the XEV 9e, there’s no feature left to the imagination—it’s all packed into the car.

The car we drove was the top-spec ‘Pack 3’ variant, featuring a banging Harman Kardon music system, ventilated seats, a beautiful fabric and leatherette mix seat upholstery, augmented reality, a head-up display that delivers more information than cars twice its price, and a panoramic sunroof with patterns that change between 256 colours.

Panoramic sunroof on the BE 6e gets patterns that change between 256 colours

Two phones can charge wirelessly at the same time, you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a large storage space under the phone charging slots thanks to the electric architecture. There’s a neat key slot next to the start/stop button, but the key itself feels edgy and uncomfortable to carry in your pocket when not driving. The rotary knob on the centre console controls music volume and drive modes but isn’t as intuitive as we’d like. That said, the engineering team at Mahindra deserves credit for being bold. While some elements need refinement, the tech and features are phenomenal for the price.

In the back, the seats are comfortable, but the tapering roofline and small rear windows make it feel a bit claustrophobic. Opening the roof blinds helps alleviate this. Unlike many EVs where you sit with your knees up, the BE 6e offers a high seating position with a commanding view of the road. Mahindra has done an excellent job with packaging, including a 45-litre frunk and a 455-litre boot, cumulatively matching the Tata Curvv EV.

We drove the BE 6e with the 79kWh battery pack

Mahindra BE 6e performance, battery, and range

For economies of scale, the BE 6e shares its underpinnings with the XEV 9e, so both get 59kWh and 79kWh battery options. The motor powered by the smaller battery produces 228bhp, while the larger battery powers a 282bhp motor. Torque is rated at 380Nm. We drove the latter, which boasts a claimed 0 to 100kmph time of 6.7 seconds, making it the fastest Mahindra and, more importantly, the fastest production Indian car ever.

The default driving mode is called ‘Everyday’, in which the BE 6e feels unhurried, but step on the accelerator and it handles everyday traffic with ease. Overtaking requires no second thought, with torque delivered in a smooth, seamless wave. The calibration is spot on for ease of driving.

The BE 6e, like the XEV 9e, is a global product for Mahindra (which sells cars in over 40 countries). That’s why WLTP range figures are also provided. Full details are expected in January, but for now, the 79kWh battery delivers 550km on the WLTP cycle. The ARAI figure is 682km, a full 180km more than the Tata Curvv EV. We’ll have to wait for the 59kWh battery range figures, as that variant is more comparable.

The blade batteries, sourced from BYD, perform consistently and safely. We’ve tested these batteries in several BYD products and the XEV 9e, and that consistency is reflected in the BE 6e as well. Aggressive driving won’t deplete the battery at an alarming rate, as is the case with most other EVs, and maximum performance is maintained until the charge drops below 15 per cent. Real-world range between charges is likely to be close to 450km, and when you do run out, fast charging up to 175kW is supported every time. There’s no recommendation from Mahindra to alternate between fast and slow charging for battery health, and the company offers a lifetime warranty on the batteries for added peace of mind.

Mahindra BE 6e ride and handling

The suspension of the BE 6e is tuned for a sportier drive compared to the XEV 9e. While both share the same wheelbase, the BE 6e’s shorter overhangs trim over 400mm from the XEV 9e’s length, making it lighter and more agile. Although full dimensions aren’t available yet, we believe it’s also narrower than the XEV 9e, reducing its footprint.

That said, the BE 6e irons out road imperfections beautifully, and from the driver’s seat, with its wraparound cockpit and sporty steering wheel, it encourages enthusiastic driving. The steering is direct and responds promptly to inputs. Unlike older Mahindras, where some play in the steering wheel was part of the lazy road-driving experience, the BE 6e exhibits none of that. It’s in a completely different league when it comes to dynamics for a vehicle bearing the Mahindra badge.

Wait — this car bears the BE badge only! Mahindra might want to proudly display the Mahindra badge because this is, without doubt, the finest-handling Mahindra to date. A rear-wheel-drive setup, low centre of gravity, and quick, responsive steering, complemented by a planted ride, make the BE 6e as enjoyable to drive as any electric car under the ₹50 lakh mark.

Prices for the BE 6e start from ₹18.9 lakh is for the base ‘Pack One’ variant

Mahindra BE 6e price and verdict

If you thought the XEV 9e offered good value, the BE 6e is even better. At ₹3 lakh cheaper than its sibling, there’s no doubt that the Nexon EV and Curvv EV will feel threatened. This is a special product from Mahindra. The starting price of ₹18.9 lakh is for the base ‘Pack One’ variant, which is well-equipped. Even with the smaller battery, it promises to deliver impressive performance and range.

Over the coming months, you can expect competitors to offer better deals, enhanced performance, and more features to counter the BE 6e’s appeal. That competition is great news for consumers. Mahindra’s new electric vehicles are here not just to compete but to make EVs mainstream—and with the BE 6e, they might have just cracked the formula.