The XUV400 is very quick and that 310 Nm of torque comes in right from the word go.

Mahindra XUV400 Performance & Drive

The XUV400 gets a single electric motor powered by a 39.4kWh battery. The motor puts of 148 horsepower and 310 Nm of torque sending power to the front wheels. Press the brake pedal and push the Start button. A green car symbol appears on the MID which tells you that you are good to go. There is no other way to tell that your car is on because there is complete silence. You have the conventional P, R, N, D modes and there is also an L mode which stands ‘Lively’. This is more so a setting focusing on one pedal driving and will be useful in city bumper to bumper traffic. In L mode, when you take your foot off the accelerator, the car will come to a complete halt. This helps you avoid use of the brake pedal and also helps regen energy.

Press the accelerator hard and the response is instant. The XUV400 is very quick and that 310 Nm of torque comes in right from the word go. This torque figure beats the Nexon EV’s 250 Nm and the MG ZS EV’s 280 Nm. Mahindra claims the quickest 0 to 100 kph timing of 8.3 seconds. The power on demand is actually what can get you addicted to EVs. While the XUV400 doesn’t come with regen modes, there are 3 drive modes: Fun, Fast and Fearless (kinda expected this after Zip, Zap Zoom in the XUV700 and the Scorpio-N). But they more than just names and actually define what the car can do.

Fun mode is the default mode the car starts in. This is the mode for daily commute. Power build up is gradual and is will work best for range efficiency. The steering is also light and perfect for city driving. Shift into the Fast mode and it’s a balance between the Fun and the Fearless mode. Things get slightly enthusiastic here with the steering getting a wee bit heavier. And finally the Fearless mode. Steering gets heavy, responses become aggressive and it’s the mode to be in if you want to do some spirited driving. However, the Fearless mode will eat up the battery faster. But rest assured, it will put a wide grin on your face.

Mahindra XUV400 Suspension & Handling

The XUV400 comes with MacPherson Strut suspension up front with an anti-roll bar and a twist beam set up at the rear. Unlike the XUV300, the 400 is equipped with FDD and MTV-CL. These adjust the damping according to the frequency of bumps on the road. I really didn’t get to test the ride quality as I drove on smooth tarmac inside the MSPT facility. As far as the handling goes, the XUV400 is impressive just like its IC engine sibling. The car feels planted around corners with minimum body roll. Grip levels are also good when turning in fast. The battery pack in the floor does keep it firmly planted on the road.

The XUV400 has an ARAI claimed range of 456 kms on a single charge but I expect real world range to hover between 300 – 320 km. Will be able to report on this when I get the car to drive in Mumbai.