Mahindra XEV 9S captain-seat option: Rs 25.25 lakh well spent
Mahindra has added a 6-seat captain-chair option to the XEV 9S electric SUV, priced from Rs 25.25 lakh ex-showroom. The layout is offered on the Pack Two Above, Pack Three and Pack Three Above trims, and costs Rs 25,000 more than the equivalent 7-seat version at each rung.
What was announced
Mahindra has launched a 6-seat captain-chair configuration for the XEV 9S electric SUV, with ex-showroom prices starting at Rs 25.25 lakh. The layout is not offered on the base Pack One Above trim; it is available on Pack Two Above, Pack Three and Pack Three Above, spanning both the 70kWh and 79kWh battery options. Each 6-seat variant costs Rs 25,000 more than the corresponding 7-seat version.
Rs 25,000 for captain chairs and a proper third-row walkthrough is the cheapest usability upgrade Mahindra has priced in years.
| Variant | Price (Rs lakh) |
|---|---|
| Pack Two Above 70kWh | 25.25 |
| Pack Two Above 79kWh | 26.15 |
| Pack Three 70kWh | 28.05 |
| Pack Three Above 79kWh | 30.15 |
Prices exclude the 11.2kW AC home charger. The Pack Three trim is not listed with the 79kWh battery in the 6-seat option, and Pack Three Above is only offered with the 79kWh pack.
The captain chairs come with individual flip-up armrests, and the walkthrough gap between them makes third-row access easier than in the 7-seat bench layout. The rest of the cabin is unchanged. Within the segment, the Kia Carens Clavis EV is the only rival that offers both 6- and 7-seat configurations at this price point.
The Car Jury verdict
The Rs 25,000 premium for captain chairs is the easiest upsell in this segment. Third-row access improves, the middle row gets individual armrests, and the Kia Carens Clavis EV is the only other electric 6/7-seater playing at this price. If you are cross-shopping the XEV 9S against the XEV 9E or a Scorpio N for family duty, this is the variant to tick.
Faisal Khan of FasBeam has flagged that the wider 9S update is closer to a facelift than a generation change, and he is right that the mechanical package is familiar. That does not weaken this specific move: Mahindra is fixing a real usability gap in the 7-seat layout for pocket change. Skip it only if you genuinely need the middle bench for a sixth passenger.
