autoX Awards 2023: Mahindra XUV400 Performance, Quality and Value for Money Ranked

autoX Awards 2023: Better late than never – that’s the first thing that comes to mind when one talks about the XUV400. I mean, Tata has had the Nexon in the same segment for years now, and Mahindra has just woken up and brought in the XUV400 to go toe-to-toe with it? Now, it may seem a little harsh, but when you consider that the XUV400 isn’t really anything to write home about in terms of design – after all, Mahindra has copied the same XUV300 design and given it some colour accents to signify that it’s an EV – you can’t help but agree that it is somewhat uninspiring. 

In terms of comfort too, things haven’t changed much, except for the fact that the XUV400 is longer than four metres – given that it’s an EV, it doesn’t have to comply with the sub-4 metre rules in effect. This means that you now get a decent boot size, yet the XUV400’s overall comfort is just about adequate but nothing remarkable. The XUV400 scored decent points in most of our rating categories, with neither any glaring shortcomings nor any exceptional characteristics to evoke genuine excitement.

Also Read: Tata Nexon.ev vs Mahindra XUV400 Spec Comparison: Which e-SUV You Should Buy?

That is until we decided to set a lap time. It was then that the XUV400’s electric powertrain showed us its true power. To give you some perspective, the XUV400 was faster than all regular everyday cars, with the exception of the Hyundai Verna. Now, to be fair, the Verna has the advantage of being a sedan. The only other vehicles that outperformed the XUV400 had either BMW, Audi, or Mercedes in their names. So, credit where credit is due, for the XUV400 most certainly deserves it in this aspect. We only wish that after taking all this time to launch the XUV400, Mahindra had given it a distinctive identity – an aspect that its current avatar is conspicuously lacking.

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