Mahindra XUV400 real-world range tested, explained

Mahindra’s first ‘long-range’ electric offering, the XUV400, is here to take on the Tata Nexon EV. It gets two battery options – 34.5kWh and 39.4kWh, with a claimed range of 375km and 456km, respectively. The XUV400 is priced between Rs 16.49 lakh-19.19 lakh, which is higher than the Tata Nexon EV (Rs 14.49 lakh-16.99 lakh), but at par with the Tata Nexon EV Max (Rs 16.49 lakh-18.99 lakh). We put the XUV’s larger battery (39.4kWh) variant to the test to find out how many kilometres you can drive in the real world on a full charge.

1. Has three driving modes (Fun, Fast and Fearless)
2. Top speed in Fun (Eco) is 90kph
3. Highway test conducted in Fast (Normal) mode

What is the real-world range of Mahindra XUV400?

While driving in the city, in stop-go traffic, the XUV400 in Fun (Eco) mode averaged 7.11 km/kWh, which, theoretically, translates to a range of about 280km. However, once the road opens up and you’re able to cruise at highway speeds, the efficiency drops to 5.89 km/kWh, which translates to a 231km range.

It must be noted that our highway test was conducted in Fast (Normal) mode, since top speed in Fun mode is limited to 90kph, which feels a bit restrictive on the open road. So in a mixed cycle, expect around 6.4 km/kWh efficiency that translates to a real world range of 251km.

Interesting to note is that once the range drops below 12 percent, the car's top speed reduces and is capped at 70kph, irrespective of the driving mode. Thereon, with every drop in percentage, the speed of the vehicle keeps reducing until it drops to 35kph below 7 percent.

Also, while the top speed is capped when the state of charge is in single digits, there isn’t a drop in air-conditioning performance, and even acceleration remains brisk in various drive modes till the limited top speed.

Autocar India’s range testing

Before our real-world range test, the battery of our test car was fully charged, and we maintain tyre pressures in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. The car was driven in fixed city and highway loops, and we maintained certain average speeds. At the end of each cycle, we calculated the range based on the percentage charge consumed. Throughout our test, the climate control was set to 22-deg C in full-auto setting, and other electronics like the audio system and indicators were used when required, just like how a regular user would. We take pride in our testing data, which isn’t merely consistent, but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.

Also read:

2022 Mahindra XUV400 EV review – A competitive electric SUV

Tata Nexon EV Max real-world range tested, explained