Mahindra has been testing the electric XUV400 for some time and new spy photos have emerged online, giving us the best look yet at the upcoming SUV. The XUV400, which is expected to hit the market in early 2023, will be based on the ICE-powered XUV300.

At first glance, it appears that the eXUV300 concept car from Auto Expo 2020, which made its debut more than two years ago, will continue to be used as the basis for the production-spec XUV400. Due to the fact that electric vehicles are exempt from the sub-4-metre rule for subsidy benefits, it will be close to 4.2 metres. The SsangYong Tivoli-based XUV300 was lengthened in order to fit the compact SUV market and be eligible for tax breaks.

It appears that the electric XUV400 is sufficiently different from the XUV300. It lacks the drop-down LED DRL treatment found on the other XUVs but has more streamlined rectangular headlamps up front. Instead, the headlamp cluster houses the LED DRLs. True to the concept, the front end has a closed-off grille and a sharply contoured bumper with triangular fog lamp housings. Unlike the eXUV300 concept, the central air intake on the bumper is not a sealed panel.

The glass house and character lines of the XUV400 and XUV300 share a similar profile. But because of its greater length, it will appear more proportionate. It is also seen rolling on possibly 17-inch alloy wheels that are more recent. In keeping with the eXUV300 concept, the vehicle receives new wraparound taillamps and a reprofiled tailgate with a more pronounced licence plate housing.

One of the eight electric vehicles Mahindra plans to release by 2027 is the XUV400. The Tata Nexon EV Prime, which currently controls the market, will face direct competition from this product. It will be an ICE conversion and will be based on an existing platform. The electric XUV400 will therefore serve as the entry point for Mahindra’s upcoming line of electric vehicles (EVs), the majority of which will be global models marketed as more expensive options.