Mahindra BE 6E Test Drive Review

While the XEV 9e is more of a family car, the more striking and attractive BE 6e is more for the individual. Based on the same INGLO platform which underpins the XEV 9e, the BE 6e also has the exact same wheelbase and uses the same battery packs; what really differentiates it is the design and the way it drives. The BE 6e is out of the future, and Mahindra surely deserves a pat on the back for getting the
design spot on and so close to the concept.

The radical design is eye-catching and will definitely get the crowd interested. We had people stopping us on our drive in Chennai to find out more about the car. The front end gets the C-shaped DRLs with the squarish front end with a lot of piano black used. Faux skid plates are seen both at the front and at the rear. The most distinct part of the front end is the aero scoop on the bonnet which makes it look unlike any other car. The rear profile is also squarish with connected LED tail lights. The dual rear spoiler is distinct and looks sporty.

The side profile highlights the coupe styling, and the sloping roofline does look the part but does compromise on the ingress and egress. The doors try to compensate for that by opening quite wide. Mahindra has used a lot of piano black on the car, even as a side skirt and on the wheel arches. It is bound to get scratched easily and will be difficult to maintain. The rear door handle is concealed with the rear glass, which is quite small to be honest. Just like the 6e, you get a large panoramic glass roof.

The cabin design is driver-centric and cockpit-like. There are a lot of airplane-inspired elements, like the gear lever and switches. The square, flat-bottom steering wheel looks quite good and is even better to hold. This radical design will appeal to enthusiasts, but it may not be for everyone. There are two screens, one for the infotainment and the other is the MID which shows all driving-specific parameters. It even gets an ADAS display which shows cars and objects on the road, very Tesla-like.

The front seats are supportive and comfortable but feel a tad narrow. Due to the separating bar between the front seats, the front passenger space is quite restricted. Under-thigh support is lacking at both the front and back. Front seats get ventilation function along with memory function for the driver. You even get Porsche-inspired pull straps to open the door. Rest of the features are similar to the 6e, like a heads- up display, Groove Me party trick, 16-speaker Harman Kardon Audio System with Dolby Atmos, Level 2+ ADAS uses 5 Radar sensors, Dashcam with a selfie option, and so on.

The biggest issue with the 6e is the ingress and egress. The sloping roofline makes it very tight to get inside and outside. You have to literally crouch to ensure you don’t hit your head. The rear visibility is quite poor as the glass is quite small. You get 2 wireless chargers at the front, plenty of storage areas for odds and ends. The rear seat is a little tight when it comes to shoulder room and headroom. Being 6 ft. 3
inches, my head was grazing the roof while I was seated at the back. The 6e has a smaller cabin as compared to the 9e, and it reflects in the interior space.

Frunk space measures 45 litres and boot space 455 litres. Both these are much smaller than its elder sibling. However, the rear seats fold in a 60:40 ratio in case you need more room for your luggage. The loading lip is quite high, and you really have to lift up your luggage to get it into the boot. The 6e rides on 19-inch wheels with an option of 20-inch on the top variants. The spare wheel is an 18-inch space
saver.

The battery specs are the same as the XEV 9e. Mahindra is offering the same 2 battery packs on the car – a 59 kWh and a 79 kWh. The BYD-sourced batteries have high packing efficiency which translates to more cells in unit area. The motor sits in the rear axle and channels power to the rear wheels. It produces 282 HP and 380 NM. 0-100 times come in 6.7 seconds, which is slightly faster than the 9e. While most EVs limit their top speed to conserve battery, Mahindra has limited the top
speed to 202 km/h.

You have the same 3 drive modes – Range, which gives you the maximum battery range while Everyday gives you a good balance of performance and efficiency. The Race unleashes more power and gives the least range of the lot. There are 3 Regeneration modes which can be toggled from the steering wheel. NVH levels are excellent, and even though EVs are silent, Mahindra has reduced it further by using
acoustics to dampen the sound. The ARAI certified range on a full charge is about 656 km, but one can easily expect 450 km realistically, which is fantastic. The battery also supports fast charging and can be charged from 20-80% in just 20 minutes using a 175 kW DC fast charger. The only issue is that there aren’t as many such fast chargers available.

While the 6e shares a lot of specs and hardware with the XEV 9e, the BE 6e is clearly the more driver-centric car of the two. The design and as well as the interiors are clearly driver-oriented, and the suspension setup between the two cars is quite different. While the suspension hardware remains the same, the tuning makes all the difference here. The suspension is more stiffly sprung, stiffer than the 9e. This means that pushing the car around corners is a charm. The 6e has shorter overhangs and the low centre of gravity gives it a very dynamic character.

The steering is responsive and feedback-rich. Mahindra has equipped the steering system with a Variable Gear Ratio, which in simple terms means that the steering feel is different at the centre and at the end lock. This helps the car turn without having to rotate the steering too many times. It gets tighter in Race mode and gives you the confidence to push harder. If you want to have even more fun, the car is happy to get the rear wheels sliding out and get into a drift quite easily, all thanks to the tremendous amount of torque channeling through the rear wheels. Braking is predictable, and the Goodyear Electric Drive tires offer good grip levels.

The Mahindra BE 6e is a stellar attempt by Mahindra to make a driver-centric electric car. While the design and interiors are out of the box and unique, it may not appeal to a lot of people. Mahindra has literally overfilled it with features, which is the need of the hour. From the hardware front, it delivers on every front and it is a practical and aggressively priced electric car which not only gives you fantastic range but will also put a smile on your face when you get behind the wheel.