MYTHBUSTER PRO

Even today EVs have a big number of stereotypes attached to them, but homegrown automaker Mahindra aims to change these notions with the XUV400 Pro. We put the SUV through a number of tasks to see how it stacks up against the 'EV myths'

While EVs have caught on in India, the proportion of electric buyers to those who prefer conventionally powered cars is monumetal. There are many variables that attribute to customers not making the switch to cleaner propulsion and a major one of them is that at equivalent prices, an electric car is dimensionally smaller than ICE vehicles in its segment. Also a factor is the overall cost, as one needs to incur a higher investment for an EV compared to a similarly sized ICE vehicle, hence the initial cost is an issue.

Then there comes the confusion regarding range and charging, which aren’t too different to the process of filling up fuel. Now Mahindra has come out with the XUV400 Pro, which brings along an update for the electric SUV, and we set out to explore the city and put it through various usage scenarios, to see if it breaks the electric vehicle stereotype.

The XUV400 Pro has quite the road presence thanks to the large dimensions blended with the aggressive and modern styling. As the XUV400 is based on a C-segment platform, it measures 4.2m in length, meaning that it is the same size as other SUVs in the segment, and lets not forget that we are talking about ICE vs an EV here. Add to that the tastefully done copper accents around the exterior and it is quite a head-turner.

However, that isn’t the coolest part of the XUV400 Pro, as the term Pro mainly refers to all the new things one gets inside the SUV. Firstly there is a new dual-tone interior, which blends in a lighter tone with a darker finish, this helps quite a bit when it comes to the feeling of space inside the cabin. Also new is the dashboard layout, which brings in an all-new floating 10.25inch display, while the central console is all new as well.