Spec Comparison - Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e

The premium SUV segment is booming now, with the Mahindra XEV 9e being a major product that brings luxury to an EV SUV, adding to the segment's value. Now, the new contender on that list is the Tata Motors' Harrier EV. The launch was big and the claims were too. So, how do these two fare against each other?

The XEV 9e, launched late last year, gave the premium push to the EV SUV segment, setting new standards of luxury, comfort and features at a comparatively affordable price, however, it was amiss a few things. Say two more motors for starters. The Harrier EV fills that space with a lot of pomp and show, as it comes with a dual-motor setup, making it the first Tata Motors car to feature this technology. So with the QWD in question, it is irrevocably a huge advantage to have.

EXTERIOR

The XEV 9e has a completely new design language as it is a born electric vehicle that is more futuristic yet elegant with its coupe-style design. The XEV 9e also sports flush door handles and a full-width LED strip over those sharp LED headlamps. The Harrier EV gets us the same good-looking butch SUV face with a blanked-out grille and little design changes here and there. The Harrier closely resembles its ICE sibling in almost everything, hence no flush door handles or added snazzy DRLs, just the pre-existing ones.

DIMENSIONS

In terms of size, the Mahindra is longer at 4789 mm while the Harrier EV stands at 4607 mm. The wheelbase difference is also not much, with the XEV at 2775 mm and the Harrier EV at 2741 mm. The Harrier fares higher in terms of width as the XEV is 1907 mm wide, while the Harrier is 2132 mm wide. The Harrier EV is also taller at 1740 mm, and the XEV 9 e stands at 1694 mm. The XEV 9e has 207 mm of ground clearance; however, with the Harrier, we know that it can wade water up to 600 mm, which keeps the ground clearance on the higher side. The XEV 9e has more space everywhere, thanks to its length and wheelbase. The Boot of the XEV 9e is bigger at 663 liters, whereas the Harrier EV would only give you 503 liters.

BATTERY & PERFORMANCE

The XEV 9e gets two battery packs at 59 and 79 kWh, while the Harrier EV gets one 75 kWh and one 65 kWh option. The 65 kWh variant is supposed to have RWD; however, Tata hasn't given out any details regarding that yet. That is fine, but the real matter is the power output. The XEV 9e delivers 286 PS with 380 Nm of torque on the 79 kWh variant. The Harrier here resets the power dynamic with 158 plus 238 PS of power, totaling to 396 PS, now those are big figures considering the price range Tata Motors is aiming at.

RANGE & CHARGING

The XEV marginally outplays the Harrier EV on the claimed range figures, with the winning number being 656 kilometers, with those four extra kWh where the Harrier falls short with 622 kilometers of range.

After range comes charging. The XEV 9e supports up to 180 kW, which charges the vehicle from 20 to 80% in 20 minutes, while the Harrier EV supports 120 kW and can do the same under 25 minutes. Both cars also support AC charging, which takes the Harrier EV around 10 hours to fully charge, while it takes 8 hours for the XEV 9e.

FEATURES & USP

The biggest USP of the Harrier is that it has serious off-roading capabilities. The idea of having a five-seater electric SUV with AWD delivering great performance and power and a go anywhere capability sounds very interesting, and this, combined with the growing fan following of more powerful electric cars, could be a big winning point for the Harrier EV. The off-roading capabilities also endow the Harrier with six terrain modes: Normal, Grass/Snow, Mud/Gravel, Sand, Rock Crawl, Custom, and four drive modes along with an Off-Road Assist. The XEV 9e, on the other hand, has five driving modes with no specific off-road assist or capability.

The Harrier brings forth power for sure, but misses out on a few things the XEV 9e has exclusively, and that are more techy and flashy, and make it a car more ready for the future. Take the number of screens for example, the XEV 9e has a 12.3-inch triple screen setup on the dash, which completely covers the dash, giving it a more futuristic yet elegant outlook and a more tech-driven experience. It also has two screens for the rear passengers. The Harrier, however, ditches one screen to form a dual-screen setup with a bigger 14.3-inch QLED screen that is supposedly the first QLED screen in a car, promising a cinematic experience, with no screens for the rear.

The XEV 9e also gets you a heads-up display with augmented reality, while the Harrier EV doesn't have that feature.

Harrier EV gets a 10-speaker sound system while the XEV 9e gets a 16-speaker sound system. Overall, the XEV 9e outplays the Harrier in many steps as far as features are concerned, but the Harrier comes with a digital IRVM that records everything, which is a unique factor. Then you have the XEV answering back with the mood-detecting interior driver's camera, which also allows video calling and in-car selfies.

SAFETY

Both of these brands have been on the quest to attain higher levels of safety constantly, but here, the Harrier wins by a few points. It has 7 airbags with ADAS Level 2 offering 20+ features, and a very important transparent camera mode which lets you view what's happening under the car as well. The list also consists of an auto park and a 'summon' or 'valet' mode, where you can park your car and get it out of a tight spot remotely. The XEV also has a list of features, including 7-airbags and ADAS level 2+ and much more. However, these are only there on the higher trims, making the technology efficient for sure but a little bit expensive. The Harrier wins here big time with its introductory pricing, making it the most affordable AWD EV SUV out there.

PRICING

The Mahindra XEV 9e is priced from 22.65 lakhs for the Pack One with a 59 kWh battery to 31.25 lakhs for the Pack Three with a 79 kWh battery. The Harrier EV wins here big time with its introductory pricing at 21.49 lakhs. This could be a game changer in the premium EV SUV segment and further push the EV agenda to the SUV-loving nation that we are now.

CONCLUSION

Both the EV SUVs under consideration bring forth great propositions, making them extremely lucrative. The Harrier EV with its tough demeanor will definitely call out to a specific crowd who love AWD and off roading capabilities in their car, and the price point shall be a winner in that case. The Mahindra XEV 9e is pretty serious as well, the suave and executive outlook has already deemed it a hit in the market. More thanks to its futuristic design and trendy looks, and features the XEV continues to rule the premium EV SUV segment, and now with the Harrier EV locking horns, things are about to get more exciting than ever.