[mgoel]

It will be online. Dealers are taking cheques and they will file the booking on 14th online on behalf of customers.

[UD17]

Originally Posted by amarcool55

1. Is this process typical for new car launches, or would it be better to wait until the official booking date?

Although booking process seems quite normal for a new car launch. Most dealerships had started collecting cheque to gauge the demand and get their allocation faster. The profit margin must be fat in these EVs for dealership as well.

Unless you need the car now, please let these gadgets settle down. I saw approx 1000 cars (both BE6 and XEV9) are stored in yard at Chakan plant since last 1 months. So i suspect the initial lot of few thousand is already built.

[mgoel]

So far the test drives cars were from Mahindra directly from the pre-production lot. From this week dealers are expected to get 4-5 cars as their own test drive cars. So expect that test drives will become easy affair from next week

[kgt.v8]

I got opportunity to meet and experience BE6 at Landmark Mahindra Tellapur showroom in Hyderabad.

Test drive scheduling experience:
- The dealership has allocated couple of SAs exclusively to deal with BEV test drives and they are coordinating with customers for test drive schedule. My first attempt was on 16th of January when the cars first came at the showroom and by 5:00 PM there were already 8-10 people who were surrounding the car like a celebrity trying to get in queue for their first test drives.
- I felt having dedicated SA would make test drive manageable as typically with too many SAs who have their own prospective customers it becomes a race who gets to the seat first and claim position in test drive queue.
- There were still more customers coming for test drives, so I had to wait about 30 minutes patiently before I could get an opportunity to test drive.

I have nothing to do for 30 minutes and then I look back at the showroom and see Scorpio-N with steelies and 3XO with grey alloys. I decide to spend my time with those 2 while waiting for BE6 meeting. I spent those 30 minutes with a Scorpio-N Z2 and 3XO MX3 Pro display cars. Scorpio-N interiors felt airy (compared to BE6) and bigger while 3XO felt VFM in MX3 Pro avatar.

The test drive duration and track:
- The test drives length is still very limited due to number of people waiting in queue.
- I could drive BE6 for only 6-7 kms only.
- The entire test drive track comprised of good paved road except 4 patches of about 50 meters with dug roads. I could take the car up to 100 kmph for about 30 seconds max.

The approach:
- I noticed previously that both BE6 and 9E had MH registrations. This is different as dealerships typically use temp registration only for test drive cars in Hyderabad. I also see from test drive experiences shared by others that the cars in other cities are MH registered.
- I approach the BE6 from front and front is one of the best looks for BE6 (different, quirky, somewhat robot like).




The aero alloys look nice. Replacing 19" alloys will cost a bomb unless there is flood of 19" tyres in market in next 4 years and the cost of 19" tyres goes down substantially. I don't see this happening so changing tyres will burn a big hole in my pocket.


The seats were getting dirty with all the people taking test drives. The green colored fabric started to show some black muck marks in about 1.5 weeks since the BE6 came for test drive.
The previous test drive customer started groove mode (disco lights), so the SA made me look at light show from front and back. Honestly I was not interested in this light show, but I obliged as the show was already running.


The front seat experience:
- I felt that floor height is more which results in lesser height inside the cabin. Spent about 30 seconds to adjust the seats to my comfort.
- The view from IRVM was very limited as highlighted in the official review. I would rely on rear cam feed to look at rear traffic and window area is very small.
- The fixed arm rest as with all other cars did not offer lot of place to rest by left elbow.
- The first thing I notice is that the front seat sitting posture was not like an SUV where my legs are bent slightly. I felt like sitting in a sedan or sports car as I had to stretch my legs forward to reach accelerator and brake pedal.



The drive:
- The previous SA shutdown the engine before handing over key to my SA. I tap on start/stop button (which felt like a touch button and not physical button) and car started. Just like all EVs I could not make it out if the car is started as there was no sound inside the car.
- I encounter the general Mahindra bug on first startup. The driver MID screen does not come up and only infotainment screen was turned on. The infotainment screen was the only indicator to me that the car had started. I start/stop twice, but the MID refused to come up. I thought the test drive would be cancelled, as I would not risk driving on blank MID. The SA tries twice and finally the BE6 MID started. I took a sight of relief as my test drive plan would not go haywire.
- I see the car in "Race" mode and second thing I do is switch to "Range" mode. I start driving and find pickup good in Range mode (coming from driving my 2.2 tonne SUV). The acceleration was smooth and I could reach 60kmph in no time. The car felt planted on curves.
- I encounter first bad patch of road filled with some potholes and uneven road. At 40kmph - 50kmph the car glided over the uneven section and I did not feel too bad inside.
- I leave the pedal to experience regen and braking felt too strong (like pushing brake moderately in an ICE car) and car speed reduced too fast for my comfort. This is when I see that Regen mode is set to Level-3. I work with SA to change regen mode to Level-2 (using paddle shifters). Level-2 regen mode felt comfortable and just like other EVs I have tested recently (like Atto3, Windsor EV)
- Level-1 regen felt more comfortable and natural for person like me who currently drives ICE behemoth everyday where engine braking is not too hard at speeds above 30kmph.
- I did not feel comfortable to test single pedal drive after harder braking experiences with Level-3 regen mode.
- I change to "Everyday" mode and engine felt more responsive. The acceleration is better than Range mode and I could still keep the car under control with moderate throttle inputs. Overall, Range and Everyday modes are the comfortable modes for driving BE6.
- The suspension handled some more bad patches well and the car felt planted. When going slow on small dug up road section my head started wobbling and I had to control throttle speeds to remain below 10kmph.

The Race mode:
The SA kept pushing me to test "Race" mode. I obliged when I reach a section with no traffic and good road. The acceleration in Race mode is scary as I got push back on the seat. This reminded me of my short stint driving Ford Mustang 2014 with 227 Duratec V6 engine for 3 days about 10 years back. 240hp power and so much acceleration feels kind of scary on normal Indian roads where someone could cut or come out suddenly and join the main road at weird slow speed. I took the car upto 100kmph in Race mode and felt the rush, but I had to be too much attentive on the road which resulted in some stress for me. I change drive mode and come back to "Everyday" mode in less than 1.5 minutes.

Overall experience summary:
- To summarize, the entire drive experience of BE6 felt more like a sports car rather than a fast SUV.
- The car has so much torque and power available from get go and this makes me scared as most of people don't understand how to handle so much refined engines with high power. I don't want BE6 to end up with KTM Duke where KTM drivers are unnecessarily accelerating as soon as signal turns green or dart in between the gaps, just because KTM says "Ready to Race".
- All black interiors are okay with sunroof panel open, but when I closed the panel the interior did not feel that spacious due to small sized window and black roof liners. Pack3 is out of my reach and Pack1 without a sunroof to get more light in will be rejected by my short heighted (5' 3" inch height) partner in life as it will feel claustrophobic for them. Will wait for Pack2 feature reveal and if Pack2 is beyond ₹23 lakh then I will stick to ICE car for next 2 decades as this is my last car purchase for next 15 years.


Range:
Range before starting, 68% charge left and 208 km range


Range after end of test drive was 66% charge left and


I test drive in all 3 modes with couple of regen in between for 7 kms of my test drive. I started with 208 km range shown on MID and when I stopped I lost 2% charge but gained 8 kms range.

[shade.azure]

Quick observations from a test drive of BE 6 Pack 3

So, I got a call out of the blue from a sales advisor who helped me buy a car a while back. He had a test drive of the BE 6 near my house and wanted to know if I'd like to give it a try. Of course, I didn’t say no!

It was a fully loaded Pack 3 version in red and was a pre-production version with MH TC registration. I test drove it for about 30 mins.



Having driven the Tesla Model 3, Tata Curvv EV and XUV400, I had some benchmarks in mind. Here’s my take on this exciting new ride from Mahindra:

Pros:

• Head Turner Indeed: Looks like nothing else on the roads, and grabs eyeballs everywhere it goes. Definitely going to be a feel good factor for new owners.
• Size Matters: Feels even wider and bigger in person than in pictures, yet it's got a surprisingly short turning radius.
• Top-Notch Materials: Inside and out, the materials are of high quality—lots of soft touch material everywhere.
• Audio Bliss: The sound system is absolutely superb. 16 speakers including a woofer under rear seat!
• Lightning Fast: The acceleration in Race mode is breathtaking. Even Everyday mode had more than enough acceleration for our roads. Best part—no tyre slippage.
• Suspension Sweet Spot: Slightly stiff, but as a result, the body roll is well-controlled.
• Built Like a Tank: Rock-solid build quality with 7 airbags—safety first, folks!
• Roomy Enough: Given the positioning as a fun driver's car, I felt it still offered decent space inside for the family—2 adults and a kid can sit comfortably side by side in the rear seat, and maybe even 3 adults for short trips.
• Ground Clearance Hero: Good clearance with a short front overhang—ready to tackle those broken roads and bumpers.

Cons:

• Gimmick Alert: Some features are a bit too much, like the music-synced lights—cool or cringe? You decide.
• Storage is Tight: Just enough luggage space in the back for two check-in bags - so more hatchback level space. There is a frunk though for a small duffle or handbag.
• Slim Spare Tyre Slim: The spare tyre is on the thin side like so many cars nowadays.
• Pricey Wall Charger: 11W Wall charger installation sets you back 50k, and only a 220v charging adapter is free.
• Peek-a-Boo Visibility: Rearward visibility is limited, though the side mirrors are nice and big.

Overall, I felt the Mahindra BE 6 strikes a fantastic balance between road presence and sporty aesthetics. It’s a fun ride with decent comfort for family outings. The sales advisor mentioned that the deliveries would start as early as March for those booking now.

[Devdivin]

I've pre-booked the BE6 with the 79kWh battery, 19" wheels, and 11kW charger in Stealth Black.

However, I'm facing a major hurdle. My local electricity provider won't increase my sanctioned 3-phase power load from 6kW to the required 15kW. They claim their infrastructure is already overloaded. Instead, they're demanding I pay over ₹2.5 lakh for a private transformer, plus additional contractor and departmental fees, just to charge my car at home. I feel stuck and am exploring every possible option to get them to upgrade the grid instead.

[anb]

Originally Posted by Devdivin

I've pre-booked the BE6 with the 79kWh battery, 19" wheels, and 11kW charger in Stealth Black.

However, I'm facing a major hurdle. My local electricity provider won't increase my sanctioned 3-phase power load from 6kW to the required 15kW. They claim their infrastructure is already overloaded. Instead, they're demanding I pay over ₹2.5 lakh for a private transformer, plus additional contractor and departmental fees, just to charge my car at home. I feel stuck and am exploring every possible option to get them to upgrade the grid instead.

7 kw chargers are available for Rs.20-25k and it will charge the 79 kWh battery in less than 12 hours. You won’t need to increase the load to 15 kWh and 10 kWh may be enough.

[Devdivin]

Originally Posted by anb

7 kw chargers are available for Rs.20-25k and it will charge the 79 kWh battery in less than 12 hours. You won’t need to increase the load to 15 kWh and 10 kWh may be enough.

Ideally speaking , how much time would the 79Kw battery take to charge from 20% to 100% on a 7kw charger?

I have now spoken to a electric contractor who has told me that it should be possibel to increase the load to 15kw without issues and that the Junior enhineer was either misinformed or looking for a payout. Ideally upto 25kw can be sanctioned without the requirment for a private TC. Fingers crossed!! Hoping for the best.

[anb]

Originally Posted by Devdivin

Ideally speaking , how much time would the 79Kw battery take to charge from 20% to 100% on a 7kw charger?

I have now spoken to a electric contractor who has told me that it should be possibel to increase the load to 15kw without issues and that the Junior enhineer was either misinformed or looking for a payout. Ideally upto 25kw can be sanctioned without the requirment for a private TC. Fingers crossed!! Hoping for the best.

It will take just over 9 hours to charge from 20 to 100 % at 7 kW speed.

[Devdivin]

Originally Posted by anb

It will take just over 9 hours to charge from 20 to 100 % at 7 kW speed.

That actually doesnt sound too bad. I have anyways hired an electric contractor who managed to get the necessary approvals for the load increase. The whole denial for my application was for some "gifts". The entire system is so bogged down by beuracracy & corruption.

[shyampsunder]

Originally Posted by Devdivin

That actually doesnt sound too bad. I have anyways hired an electric contractor who managed to get the necessary approvals for the load increase. The whole denial for my application was for some "gifts". The entire system is so bogged down by beuracracy & corruption.

It's good you are getting the limit increase but remember that there are fixed charges as well per kW of load sanctioned which will be added to your monthly bill.

I feel 11 kW is overkill for most people unless you are doing a long road trip every week where you need the car fully charged to 100% every morning no matter what.

The 7 kW charger will add 52.8 kWh of energy in just 8 hours. At a conservative efficiency figure of 6 KMs/kWh, that is 300 KMs of real world range added while you are asleep.

I am saying this as someone who has been living with a 15A socket for charging my ZS EV over the last 2 years. Only once have I felt the need for faster charging. I went to a nearby DC charger and spent 15 mins and came back to charge overnight. So do explore that option as well for emergencies.

[chohan]

Originally Posted by Devdivin

I've pre-booked the BE6 with the 79kWh battery, 19" wheels, and 11kW charger in Stealth Black.

However, I'm facing a major hurdle. My local electricity provider won't increase my sanctioned 3-phase power load from 6kW to the required 15kW. They claim their infrastructure is already overloaded. Instead, they're demanding I pay over ₹2.5 lakh for a private transformer, plus additional contractor and departmental fees, just to charge my car at home. I feel stuck and am exploring every possible option to get them to upgrade the grid instead.

Don’t make it complicated. Just use 3.5 kw portable charger. If you can arrange charging at home or office while your car is parked, a portable charger is enough. I must have used 11 kw charger for my Ioniq 5 may be thrice in the past year and a half. Over the course of 22,000 kms, I have only used portable charger and I’m never short on juice.

[Sensible_Speed]

I found some posts online where the BE Mahindra completely shut off after minor collisions even though the car looks drivable. Is such an extreme safety measure really necessary, or is it a beta-phase feature that will not make it to the customers during delivery?

[PMSreenivas]

Originally Posted by Sensible_Speed

I found some posts online where the BE Mahindra completely shut off after minor collisions even though the car looks drivable. Is such an extreme safety measure really necessary, or is it a beta-phase feature that will not make it to the customers during delivery?

Mahindra released a statement saying the car did not stop on the road and was drove beside the road and then it was stopped manually. I queried regarding the same at the showroom and the SA at mahindra told that they have instructions to stop the vehicle as soon as any incident happens and not continue driving for further analysis from mahindras side.

[Devdivin]

Originally Posted by shyampsunder

It's good you are getting the limit increase but remember that there are fixed charges as well per kW of load sanctioned which will be added to your monthly bill.

I feel 11 kW is overkill for most people unless you are doing a long road trip every week where you need the car fully charged to 100% every morning no matter what.

The 7 kW charger will add 52.8 kWh of energy in just 8 hours. At a conservative efficiency figure of 6 KMs/kWh, that is 300 KMs of real world range added while you are asleep.

I am saying this as someone who has been living with a 15A socket for charging my ZS EV over the last 2 years. Only once have I felt the need for faster charging. I went to a nearby DC charger and spent 15 mins and came back to charge overnight. So do explore that option as well for emergencies.

I do often travel from Coorg to Bangalore on very little notice but that shouldn't be an issue as I do own an Innova Hycross ZX(o). I have spoken to the SA at M&M to let me choose the charger later or opt out. The reason i was going for the 11Kw is that the place I live is not a city. It's a small town in Coorg and even though I do have three chargers it's a dicey prospect.

Anyways, thank you so much for your suggestions. I will hold off the decisions until I can make a informed decision after getting the vehicle.

Cheers Buddy! Always grateful to Team BHP Members for stepping up at the right time with solid help.