Mahindra XEV 9S 6-Seater Launched With Captain Seats

Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a new 6-seat option for the XEV 9S, its three-row electric SUV, priced from Rs 25.25 lakh (ex-showroom). The second row now gets two individual captain seats instead of the usual bench, which makes the layout into a 2+2+2 setup rather than 2+3+2. This new configuration is offered on the Pack Two Above, Pack Three and Pack Three Above trims, skipping the base Pack One Above variant. It costs about Rs 25,000 more than the equivalent 7-seat version and makes the XEV 9S only the second SUV in the segment to offer captain seats, after the Kia Carens Clavis EV.

Why Captain Seats for the XEV 9S

This move feels like a smart read of what buyers in this price bracket actually want. The XEV 9S has already become Mahindra's best-selling electric car since its November 2025 launch, clocked over 4,000 units just last month, so the brand clearly isn't short of buyers. What it was missing was an option for people who find some relaxation at the back not just extra space. Captain seats do exactly that. They're the kind of feature that appeals to chauffeur-driven buyers and families alike, giving rear passengers their own armrests, a bit more privacy, and a proper walk-through gap to the third row instead of squeezing past a bench.

The Rs 25,000 premium over the regular 7-seat variant is genuinely small change in a car that already crosses Rs 25 lakh, so it's hard to see this as anything but a smart, low-friction way for Mahindra to add more appeal without touching the price ladder much. It also puts pressure back on Kia, which has had this space largely to itself with the Carens Clavis EV. Whether most buyers will actually pick two captain seats over three seats of practicality is a different question, but as an option on the table, it's a good one to have, especially for anyone cross-shopping with a fuel-run MPV or a premium sedan for the same reason: comfort over sheer seat count.

Specs, Features and Prices Across Variants

The 6-seat option doesn't touch anything mechanical. The XEV 9S continues to be built on Mahindra's INGLO electric platform, with a choice of 59 kWh, 70 kWh and 79 kWh battery packs depending on variant. Power still goes to the rear wheels through a single motor, topping out at 282 bhp and 380 Nm on the higher trims, with Mahindra claiming a 0-100 kmph time of around 7 seconds. DC fast charging tops out at 180 kW. The suspension setup, a five-link independent unit with semi-active dampers on select variants, along with brake-by-wire tech, also carries over unchanged.

On the equipment side, the higher trims that get the captain seat option already come loaded. Expect three 12.3-inch screens spread across the dashboard, ventilated seats front and rear, a powered Boss Mode function, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system putting out 1,400W. There's also 5G connectivity, an active air purifier, a 540-degree camera system, a digital key, scheduled HVAC, and an augmented-reality head-up display. Safety kit includes Level 2+ ADAS and six airbags as standard on these trims.

Here's how the 6-seat variants are priced, ex-showroom, excluding the cost of the 11.2kW AC charger: