Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Clavis EV: Price, battery, range, specs compared

Mahindra and Mahindra recently launched the new Mahindra XEV 9S electric EV SUV in the Indian market. The new EV SUV serves as the electric alternative to the XUV700 ICE and is based on the brand’s INGLO born-electric skateboard architecture, which also underpins the XEV 9e and the BE 6. Test drives of the XEV 9S are already underway at Mahindra dealerships. Bookings are scheduled to open on January 14, with customer deliveries commencing from January 23. In this article, let’s compare the new Mahindra XEV 9S with the Kia Clavis EV. Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Clavis EV: Price, Variants The new Mahindra XEV 9S will be offered with three battery options across four trims - Pack One Above, Pack Two Above, Pack Three and Pack Three Above. The Pack One above 59 kWh is priced at Rs 19.95 lakh, Pack One above 79 kWh costs Rs 21.95 lakh, Pack Two above 70 kWh is Rs 24.45 lakh, Pack Two above 79 kWh is Rs 25.45 lakh, Pack Three 79 kWh is Rs 27.35 lakh, and Pack Three above 79 kWh is priced at Rs 29.45 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom. The Kia Clavis is offered in four variants - HTK+, HTX, HTX ER, and HTX + ER with two battery pack options. The HTK+ variant is priced at Rs 17.99 lakh, the HTX comes in at Rs 20.49 lakh, the HTX Long Range is Rs 22.49 lakh, and the HTX+ Long Range is priced at Rs 24.49 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom. Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Clavis EV: DimensionsComparing dimensions next, the Mahindra XEV 9S measures 4737 mm in length, 1900 mm in width, 1747 mm in height, a wheelbase of 2762 mm, ground clearance of 205 mm, boot space of 150 litres, frunk capacity of 150 litres and gets 18-inch wheels. The Kia Clavis EV measures 4550 mm in length, 1800 mm in width, 1730 mm in height, a wheelbase of 2780 mm, ground clearance of 200 mm, boot space of 216 litres, frunk capacity of 25 litres and gets alloy wheels ranging from 16-17 inches. In terms of dimensions, the Mahindra XEV 9S is longer, wider, taller, and offers more ground clearance and frunk space, while the Kia Clavis EV has a longer wheelbase, a larger boot, and smaller 16–17-inch alloy wheel options. Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Clavis EV: Battery, charging and range The new Mahindra XEV 9S is offered in three battery pack options - 59 kWh battery with 521 km range, 79 kWh battery pack with 679 km range and a 70 kWh battery pack with 600 km range, all claimed. Mahindra offers 7.2kW and 11.2kW home chargers which cost Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000, respectively. All battery pack supports DC fast charging at speeds between 140kW and 180kW. The Kia Clavis EV is offered with two battery pack options - a 42 kWh unit with a claimed range of 404 km and a larger 51.4 kWh pack offering up to 490 km. The EV supports 100 kW DC fast charging and Kia also provides two AC charger options – 7.4kW and 11kW. Mahindra XEV 9S vs Kia Clavis EV: Features The cabin of the Kia Carens Clavis EV features a modern black and white dual-tone theme, a floating centre console, and twin 12.3-inch screens. It features a two-spoke steering wheel, a touch panel for media and HVAC controls, and an 8-speaker Bose sound system. Highlights include a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a powered driver seat, one-touch tumble for the second row, and wireless charging for both rows. In terms of utility, there’s a 25-litre frunk and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech to power external devices. The EV also offers dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the safety front, it comes standard with six airbags, ESC, ABS, hill-start assist, TPMS, and all-wheel disc brakes. Top trims add Level 2 ADAS, a 360-degree camera, and a virtual engine sound system for pedestrian safety. Talking about the features in the Mahindra XEV 9S, Features-wise, the 9S gets triple 12.3-inch displays - a central touchscreen, a fully digital instrument cluster and a dedicated screen for the front passenger, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, multi colour ambient lighting, 6-way powered for both front seats, dual wireless charging pads, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, augmented reality head-up display, a large panoramic sunroof, in-car camera, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system with Dolby Atmos, front and rear seat ventilation, a 540-degree camera and more. Rear occupants are well catered to too, it gets a BYOD mount for tablets, along with two high-output 65W Type-C ports, even a separate wireless charging pad and outer seats get ventilation too. The only real omission in this otherwise feature-rich package is the absence of a powered tailgate. On the safety front, the XEV 9S comes equipped with seven airbags, tyre-pressure monitoring, ISOFIX anchor points, and parking sensors at both ends, along with essentials like hill-hold assist and a rear defogger. The SUV now also features a comprehensive Level 2 ADAS plus suite with five radars, twelve ultrasonic sensors and a forward-facing camera. Together, they enable functions such as autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping and centring, traffic sign detection, adaptive cruise control and even automatic evasive steering.