The Mahindra XEV 9e Penukonda run special feature: The Final Stretch

The sky over Bengaluru that morning had something to say. Thick grey clouds hung low, the kind that look like they’re planning to stick around. Rain had started tapping at the windows and the roads were soaked. But the Mahindra XEV 9e didn’t seem fazed. This futuristic spaceship was battle-ready with its rear wheel-drive setup, smooth suspension, good wipers and 100 per cent SOC on the battery. The plan was simple: drive to Penukonda fort in Andhra Pradesh, about 150km away. I’d heard about its history, its quiet charm and most importantly, the winding hill road that leads up to it. It seemed like the perfect place to test what the XEV 9e could really do – not just range or features, but whether it could turn a simple road trip into something more. There’s something deeply satisfying about setting off on a road trip when it’s raining. Maybe it’s the cinematic quality of it all – the city lights smeared across the wet glass, rainbows starting to pop and the hum of tires on wet tarmac. Thanks to the XEV 9e’s silent motor and airtight cabin insulation, I felt like I was in a high-end lounge that just happened to be hurtling towards Andhra Pradesh.

The rain eased about 30km out, just as the highway opened up into one of those beautiful stretches of tarmac that reminds you why driving is still one of life’s greatest joys. The XEV 9e soaked up every imperfection, glided over expansion joints because of the Frequency Dependent Dampers and didn’t miss a beat even in the wet. What truly impressed me though, was the range. Now, EV range figures can often be as trustworthy as political manifestos, but the XEV 9e played it straight. I started the day with a 464km range and didn’t try any tricks on the way – creeping in Eco mode with the aircon off and my passengers held hostage. I drove it like a real car, with the stereo playing, climate control set to ‘pleasantly frosty’ and a few spirited overtakes thrown in for good measure. In fact, it almost made me forget I was in an EV. And that’s probably the best compliment I could give it. The crew was having fun too – Rohit was busy swiping away through menus on the third passenger screen to find the perfect song to match the scenery, while Sachin loved how cool the fixed glass roof looks with the embedded Mahindra logos that change colors.

About 20km before the fort, the scenery began to change. The flat stretches gave way to low hills and rocky terrain, and the road started twisting. The last four kilometers before Penukonda fort are the stuff road trip dreams are made of. That stretch is a hidden gem – a twisty ribbon of perfectly surfaced tarmac climbs gently into the hills, flanked by rocks, trees and the occasional goat that looks like it’s seen a few empires rise and fall. Every straight on this final stretch is a photo op, every corner a chance to let the EV’s rear-wheel-drive setup work its magic, and give you the Thrill of Driving. We did a fair few runs of the final stretch to not only enjoy the twisties but also shoot. Even though we were done with all our shots, we didn’t stop or leave the place. We kept taking more photos and drone shots because that’s what the place makes you want to do – just keep taking photos. The XEV 9e has five driving modes – Default, Everyday, Range, Snow and Race. For this stretch, I put the car in Race mode. The range didn’t deteriorate significantly even if I was belting it and there was a steep uphill climb. There’s also a button that pipes in a synthetic engine note – not quite the drama of a V8, but much better than silence when you’re charging through corners.

And after reaching the top, the Penukonda fort appeared. Once the second capital of the Vijayanagara Empire after Hampi fell, the place carries a sense of quiet dignity. No ticket counters or crowds. Just ancient walls, old temples and a view that makes the climb feel worth it. I parked the XEV 9e just outside the fort and for a moment, the contrast felt surreal – this clean, futuristic EV sitting in front of weathered stone walls that have seen kings, battles and forgotten stories. But somehow, it worked. Both old and new, side by side. Neither trying to outshine the other. While the place does get crowded on the weekend, filled with bikers revving their engines unnecessarily, we were lucky to be there on a weekday. The silence was almost unreal. We couldn’t believe that India had such a great driving road and honestly, the 150km drive was completely worth it!

But this trip wasn’t just about the destination – it was also about discovering what Mahindra’s first ground-up EV is really made of. The XEV 9e isn’t just a rebadged electric conversion or a half-hearted first attempt. It feels like a car that was imagined in the future and sent back to us with a note that said, “Try this”. Underneath that spaceship-like skin sits serious hardware – rear-wheel drive, a big footprint (it’s actually longer than the XUV700 by 94mm), and a 2775mm wheelbase. Ours came with the larger 79kWh battery pack, which means 282bhp and 380Nm on tap. That’s proper sportscar territory. Even if you go for the smaller 59kWh pack, you still get 228bhp. And because the torque is instant, you get this sense of calm urgency when you floor it – no drama, no noise, just speed. The claimed 0-100kmph time is 6.8 seconds and while we didn’t time it, let’s just say overtakes came and went before you could finish your sentence. The bigger battery also offers 533km of WLTP range and the option of 175kW fast charging. Not once on this journey did we worry about range – and that’s saying something. It simply felt… trustworthy. Even with the 20-inch wheels and the sheer bulk of the car (this thing has serious presence), the ride was composed, turning radius shockingly tight and handling sharp enough to make us grin through the twisties. We had the XUV 3XO as a support car, and more than once I noticed the XEV 9e managing tighter U-turns with less effort. It’s the sort of attention to detail that surprises you the more time you spend with it.

As the clock hit 12 noon, we didn’t want to leave, but knew we had to get back on time for our flight out. And the drive back was just as seamless. Regen braking on the downhill stretch clawed back a surprising amount of energy, and we were all set to head back without charging the car again. Even the weather behaved on the return leg – as if it too had seen the fort and decided to ease up out of respect. On the way back, we made good use of the 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and Level 2 ADAS. I also noticed that the cabin layout, door handles and the electric seat adjustment switches with the memory functions – all of these were borrowed from the XUV700. As we were closing in on Bengaluru, we found a few diversions and pothole-ridden patches but nothing seemed to bother the XEV 9e. Ground clearance sits at 207mm and I didn’t slow down or avoid the potholes, instead I decided to drive over them to test the car’s abilities and it impressed me further. In about two hours we made it to Bengaluru and the XEV 9e still had plenty of juice left in the battery.

Penukonda, for its part, remains a fortress of forgotten glories. It doesn’t attract Instagrammers by the dozen or feature on the average traveler's bucket list. But maybe that’s the point. It stands there still, weathering the centuries, waiting for the occasional curious soul to arrive – not in a diesel-guzzling SUV, but in a silent EV that doesn’t disturb anyone out there. And as our short road trip came to an end, I realized something: some journeys are about the destination and it’s a gentle reminder that sometimes the future is the best way to revisit the past.