Mahindra XEV 9e Safety Features Explained: What the NCAP Rating Means
The Mahindra XEV 9e is one of the highest-scoring vehicles tested by Bharat NCAP. It received five stars for both adult and child occupant protection, including a perfect score for adult protection. However, the stars alone do not explain how the SUV performed or how its safety equipment changes between variants.
This post breaks down the XEV 9e’s crash-test results, battery protection, ADAS technology and variant-wise safety features. It also covers the approximate on-road price of each main variant in Gurugram.
What Is Bharat NCAP and Why Does the Score Matter?
Bharat NCAP is India’s vehicle safety assessment programme. It evaluates adult occupant protection and child occupant protection through standardised crash tests and other safety assessments.
The programme awards separate star ratings for adult and child occupant protection. Five stars represent the highest rating in each category. Testing vehicles under the same controlled conditions helps buyers make more meaningful safety comparisons.
However, an NCAP rating does not reproduce every type of accident that may occur on the road. Vehicle speed, the direction of impact, seat-belt use, occupant position and the other vehicle involved can all affect the outcome of a real collision.
Mahindra XEV 9e’s Bharat NCAP Score Explained
The XEV 9e scored:
| Assessment category | Score | Rating |
| Adult Occupant Protection | 32 out of 32 | 5 stars |
| Child Occupant Protection | 45 out of 49 | 5 stars |
The XEV 9e was the highest-scoring Bharat NCAP vehicle when its result was announced in January 2025. Other vehicles have since matched its scores, making it one of the highest-scoring cars evaluated under the programme.
According to Bharat NCAP, the vehicle tested was the XEV 9e Pack THREE with the 79 kWh battery. The result is listed as a base rating from January 2025 onwards. Official Bharat NCAP result
A perfect adult score means the XEV 9e provided a high level of protection under Bharat NCAP’s prescribed test conditions. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that occupants cannot be injured in a real accident.
Built on Mahindra’s INGLO Electric Architecture
The XEV 9e is based on Mahindra’s INGLO electric architecture. This platform brings together its battery, motor, suspension, steering, braking and electronic systems in a structure developed specifically for electric vehicles.
TheXEV 9e gets a reinforced body-in-white structure, frontal and side-impact protection and up to seven airbags. Mahindra also says the vehicle underwent more than 14,577 hours and over 55 lakh kilometres of testing during its development.
Battery Safety and Testing
Battery safety remains an important concern for many people buying their first electric vehicle. According to Mahindra, the XEV 9e’s battery was tested under several demanding conditions:
- Fire exposure: The battery was exposed to fire for three minutes at 900°C. Mahindra reports that no fire was observed inside it.
- Vibration and shock: It was subjected to shock loads of 30 to 50g to test its ability to withstand difficult operating conditions.
- High-voltage safety: The battery pack was tested for protection against electric shock.
- Water immersion: It was immersed underwater for 30 minutes, after which Mahindra reported no water damage.
These are manufacturer-reported tests listed in the official brochure. They are separate from the Bharat NCAP crash-test result.
The immersion test should also not be treated as permission to drive through deep floodwater. EV owners should follow Mahindra’s guidance on water crossing, charging and emergency procedures.
Passive Safety Features
Passive safety features are designed to reduce the risk of injury when a collision occurs. The equipment available on the XEV 9e includes:
- Six airbags on Pack ONE and Pack TWO
- Seven airbags on Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE
- Driver knee airbag on the seven-airbag variants
- ISOFIX child-seat anchorages on the rear seats
- Reinforced body-in-white structure
- Front and side-impact protection
- Front, side and curtain airbags across the range
Six airbags are standard from the base variant. Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE add a driver knee airbag, taking the total to seven.
ISOFIX anchorages make it easier to secure a compatible child seat correctly. However, parents should still choose a seat suited to the child’s age and size, install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and use the correct seating position.
Active Safety Features
Active-safety systems are intended to help the driver retain control or avoid certain collisions. Several important systems are standard across the XEV 9e range:
- Electronic Stability Programme
- Driver Drowsiness Detection
- Rear parking sensors
- Reverse camera
- Electronic Parking Brake
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Auto headlamps
- Rear defogger
The tyre-pressure display differs between variants. Pack ONE provides a tyre-pressure alert, while Pack TWO and higher variants show the pressure of individual tyres.
Driver Drowsiness Detection is standard across all four trims. Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE additionally receive Mahindra’s EyeDentity driver and occupant monitoring system.
XEV 9e ADAS Explained
ADAS is available from Pack TWO onwards, but its capabilities vary by trim.
Pack TWO and Pack THREE SELECT use one radar and one vision camera. Pack THREE adds four corner radars, taking the total to five radars, along with one vision camera. Mahindra describes the complete system as Level 2+ ADAS.
Level 2+ is a manufacturer description rather than a separate internationally recognised automation level. The driver must remain attentive and responsible for controlling the vehicle at all times.
ADAS Features From Pack TWO
Pack TWO, Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE receive:
- Forward Collision Warning
- Automatic Emergency Braking
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Lane Centreing Function
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Front Vehicle Start Alert
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control
- Smart Pilot Assist
- High Beam Assist
Pack TWO and Pack THREE SELECT also receive Lane Sway Alert. This particular feature is not applicable to Pack THREE, which instead gets the more advanced Emergency Lane Keep Assist.
Additional ADAS Features on Pack THREE
The top Pack THREE variant adds:
- Forward Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Door Open Alert
- Autonomous Emergency Steering
- Evasive Steering Assist
- Emergency Lane Keep Assist
- Blind Spot Detection
- Highway Assist with driver-initiated automatic lane change
- Rear Collision Warning
These functions rely on the additional corner radars fitted to Pack THREE.
ADAS can provide another layer of assistance, but it has limitations. Weather, unclear road markings, dirt on sensors, unusual traffic movement and poor visibility may affect performance. The driver must continue watching the road and be prepared to intervene.
Parking and Surround-View Features
The XEV 9e gets rear parking sensors and a reverse camera as standard. Front parking sensors are introduced from Pack TWO.
Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE add:
- 360-degree camera
- Blind View Monitor
- Secure360 live view and recording
- Full auto parking
- Electrically operated front door handles
The Blind View Monitor can show a camera feed when the indicator is activated, helping the driver check the area beside the vehicle. Secure360 provides surveillance and recording functions, subject to the system’s operating conditions and connected-service availability.
Variant-Wise Safety Features and Gurugram Prices
The four main variants differ considerably in their airbags, parking assistance and ADAS capabilities.
| Safety feature | Pack ONE | Pack TWO | Pack THREE SELECT | Pack THREE |
| Airbags | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| ISOFIX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Driver Drowsiness Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rear parking sensors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front parking sensors | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse camera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ADAS hardware | No | 1 radar + 1 camera | 1 radar + 1 camera | 5 radars + 1 camera |
| 360-degree camera | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Blind View Monitor | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Blind Spot Detection | No | No | No | Yes |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | No | No | No | Yes |
| Highway Assist | No | No | No | Yes |
Pack ONE
Ex-showroom price: ₹21.90 lakh
Approximate Gurugram on-road price: ₹25.79 lakh
Pack ONE is the base variant, but it still covers the main safety essentials. It gets six airbags, ISOFIX child-seat anchorages, ESP, Driver Drowsiness Detection, an Electronic Parking Brake, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera.
It does not receive ADAS or front parking sensors. The tyre-pressure system provides an alert but does not show the pressure of each tyre individually.
Pack TWO
Ex-showroom price: ₹24.90 lakh
Approximate Gurugram on-road price: ₹29.24 lakh
Pack TWO retains six airbags and introduces the one-radar and one-camera ADAS system.
It adds Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Centreing, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Assist and several other assistance functions.
Front parking sensors, front fog lamps, individual tyre-pressure monitoring, windshield auto-defogging and cornering lamps are also included.
Pack THREE SELECT
Ex-showroom price: ₹27.90 lakh
Approximate Gurugram on-road price: ₹32.66 lakh
Pack THREE SELECT increases the airbag count to seven by adding a driver knee airbag. It carries over the one-radar and one-camera ADAS setup from Pack TWO.
It also gets a 360-degree camera, Blind View Monitor, Secure360 live view and recording, full automatic parking, EyeDentity driver and occupant monitoring and a power tailgate.
This variant is a good middle ground for buyers who want seven airbags and better parking visibility but do not require the complete five-radar ADAS system.
Pack THREE
Ex-showroom price: ₹30.50 lakh
Approximate Gurugram on-road price: ₹35.84 lakh
Pack THREE is the only variant with the complete five-radar ADAS setup. It combines one front radar, four corner radars and one vision camera.
The additional hardware enables Blind Spot Detection, Forward and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Door Open Alert, Autonomous Emergency Steering, Evasive Steering Assist, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, Rear Collision Warning and Highway Assist with driver-initiated automatic lane change.
Pack THREE also retains the seven-airbag package, 360-degree camera, Blind View Monitor and Secure360 system.
Which XEV 9e Variant Is Best for Safety?
Pack ONE offers a strong basic safety package with six airbags, ESP, ISOFIX, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera. It may be sufficient for buyers who want the XEV 9e’s core crash protection without paying for ADAS.
Pack TWO is the entry point to ADAS. It adds several useful driver-assistance functions and front parking sensors while retaining six airbags.
Pack THREE SELECT is the more balanced option for buyers who want seven airbags, a 360-degree camera, Blind View Monitor and automatic parking. However, its ADAS hardware is the same as Pack TWO.
Pack THREE is the version to choose if you want the complete safety package. It is the only trim with five radars and advanced functions such as Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Highway Assist.
Why These Features Matter on Indian Roads
Indian roads can involve mixed traffic, pedestrians, two-wheelers, changing road markings and vehicles moving at very different speeds. Systems such as Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist and Blind Spot Detection may provide useful additional warnings or assistance in some situations.
The 360-degree camera and front parking sensors can also be valuable in narrow streets and crowded parking areas, particularly because the XEV 9e is 4,789 mm long and 1,907 mm wide.
However, these systems cannot anticipate every road user or replace good judgement. Drivers should maintain a safe distance, follow speed limits and avoid depending entirely on ADAS.
Conclusion
The Mahindra XEV 9e’s five-star Bharat NCAP performance is supported by a perfect 32/32 adult occupant protection score and a strong 45/49 child occupant protection score. Six airbags, ESP, ISOFIX, Driver Drowsiness Detection, rear parking sensors and a reverse camera are available from the base Pack ONE.
The differences become more significant higher up the range. Pack TWO introduces ADAS, while Pack THREE SELECT adds seven airbags, a 360-degree camera and additional monitoring features. Pack THREE is the only variant with the complete five-radar ADAS package.
Buyers who want the main passive-safety features at the lowest price can consider Pack ONE. Those looking for the most comprehensive combination of airbags, cameras and advanced driver assistance will need Pack THREE.
FAQs
1. What is the Bharat NCAP rating of the Mahindra XEV 9e?
The Mahindra XEV 9e received five stars for both adult and child occupant protection. It scored a perfect 32 out of 32 for adult protection and 45 out of 49 for child protection.
2. Is the XEV 9e the highest-scoring Bharat NCAP car?
The XEV 9e achieved the highest Bharat NCAP score when its result was announced in January 2025. Other vehicles have since matched its 32/32 adult and 45/49 child occupant protection scores. It therefore remains one of the programme’s highest-scoring vehicles.
3. Does every XEV 9e variant get ADAS?
No. ADAS starts with Pack TWO. Pack TWO and Pack THREE SELECT use one radar and one vision camera, while Pack THREE uses five radars and one vision camera.
4. Which XEV 9e variants get seven airbags?
Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE get seven airbags, including a driver knee airbag. Pack ONE and Pack TWO get six airbags.
5. Which variant gets Blind Spot Detection?
Blind Spot Detection is available only on Pack THREE. It requires the additional corner radars fitted to the top variant.
6. Is the XEV 9e’s battery protected against water?
Mahindra says the battery underwent 30 minutes of underwater immersion testing with no water damage reported. This does not mean the vehicle should be deliberately driven through deep water. Owners should follow the instructions and water-crossing limits given in the vehicle manual.
7. Does the XEV 9e get a 360-degree camera?
Yes, but it is available only on Pack THREE SELECT and Pack THREE. Pack ONE and Pack TWO get a reverse camera instead.
