Mahindra Rolls Out 6-Seater Captain Seat Option for XEV 9S

Mahindra has introduced a 6-seater configuration for its electric SUV, the XEV 9S, adding individual "captain seats" in the second row. The captain-seat layout is being offered on three variants: Pack Three Above, Pack Three, and Pack Two Above.

The move brings the XEV 9S in line with a seating format increasingly popular in India's premium SUV segment, where captain seats — individually contoured second-row seats separated by a walk-through space or console, rather than a shared bench — are pitched as a more comfortable, chauffeur-style option for smaller families or buyers who prioritize rear-passenger comfort over outright seating capacity.

The XEV 9S is Mahindra's first three-row, seven-seater electric SUV, built on the carmaker's INGLO electric-skateboard platform. It was unveiled in November 2025 and launched with pricing starting at around Rs 19.95 lakh (ex-showroom), positioning it as a family-oriented electric alternative to SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta Electric and Tata Harrier EV.

Mechanically, the XEV 9S is offered with a choice of 59 kWh, 70 kWh, and 79 kWh battery packs paired with a rear-wheel-drive motor, with the largest pack supporting a claimed range of close to 680 km. The cabin, until now sold only in a standard 7-seat layout, features a sliding and reclining second row, a triple 12.3-inch screen dashboard, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system with Dolby Atmos, a panoramic sunroof, and Level 2+ driver-assistance features on higher trims.

The SUV shares its underpinnings and much of its cabin design with the 5-seater XEV 9e, though Mahindra has positioned the two models as complementary rather than one replacing the other - the 9e aimed at smaller households, and the 9S at larger families needing extra seats and flexibility.

Mahindra's XEV 9S also borrows some cues from the XUV700, Mahindra's combustion-engine SUV, which itself gained a 6-seater captain-seat variant in early 2024. That precedent suggests the new XEV 9S option is likely to offer similar features - reclining, ventilated second-row seats with an armrest - though Mahindra has not detailed whether the new captain seats will include reclining or cooling functions.

With the addition of the 6-seater option, buyers of the Pack Two Above, Pack Three, and Pack Three Above trims will now be able to choose between the standard three-row, 7-seat bench layout and the new 6-seat captain-seat configuration, giving Mahindra a broader spread of seating choices within its electric SUV line-up.