Expert’s Opinion on BE 6
Design
Tell Me About The BE 6e’s Looks!
- The BE 6e is easily India’s most unusual looking car! It’s unlike any other car you’ve seen and is almost exactly like the BE 05 concept car
- It measures just under 4.4 metres in length but while it’s roughly the same size as a Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, it has far more road presence
- Ground clearance (unladen) stands at 207mm while its battery pack sits higher with 218mm of clearance
- The BE 6e looks best with the optional 20-inch wheels but is also offered with 18-19-inch wheels
- The front end sports full LED headlights and LED DRLs that make the car look like a UFO!
- Towards the side, you will notice the short overhangs, flush-fitting front door handles and hidden rear door handles
- Much like the front, the rear end has a very distinctive light signature making it impossible to mistake the BE 6e as anything else
- The design is possibly the most polarising of any car sold in India. Can easily be too over the top for those who prefer simple styling
Interiors
What’s The BE 6e Like Inside?
- The interior design is as unusual and unique as the exterior!
- Highlights include a dual screen infotainment system and a split console between the front passengers that gives the driver the “cockpit” experience
- Unique styling elements include a gear selector that looks like a thrustor lever from an airplane, roof mounted buttons to make you feel like a pilot
- The cabin plastics feel smooth and leatherette padding has been used generously to deliver a premium experience
- Gear lever feels flimsy and should have been of a better quality
- Steering mounted controls often make you click the horn accidentally
- Flat-edged steering wheel feels unnatural to use especially while making u-turns, at least initially
Space & Practicality
Is It Spacious?
- While the BE 6e’s styling makes it look compact, it’s large enough to seat four tall adults comfortably
- Even with the sloping roof line, there is good headroom for users up to 6ft in height
- The door pockets are large enough to accommodate big bottles and there’s a large space between the front passengers to store more items
- The boot space is rated at 445 litres but with the sloping roofline, there’s only space for one full-sized suitcase, making it difficult to use for airport drops with multiple large bags
- You have to mind your head while getting in as the roofline swoops down sharply
Features
What Features Does The Mahindra BE 6e Offer?
- Powered front seat with driver memory
- Ventilated front seats
- Powered tailgate
- Wireless phone chargers (x2)
- Front and rear type-C USB chargers (65W)
- Fixed panoramic glass roof
- Auto AC with rear AC vents
- Multi-colour ambient lighting with animation programs
- NFC key card access
- Tilt & telescopic steering adjustment
- Drive modes
- Augmented-reality head-up display
- No full sized spare tyre, just a 135/80 R18 space saver spare tyre
Infotainment
What Infotainment Features Does The BE 6e Offer?
- 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster with multi-views and real-time ADAS display
- 12.3 inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
- 16-speaker Harman Kardon music system that delivers excellent sound quality
- On-board selfie camera with photo and video modes
- Groove Me light and music show that engages the exterior lights, ambient lights, pop-out door handles and wing mirrors
- Digital instrument cluster response times could’ve been quicker
Battery & Charging
Talk About Charging The BE 6e
- Using a 175kW charger, the 79kWh battery can go from 20-80 percent charge in 20 minutes
- Using a 140kW charger, the 59kWh battery can go from 20-80 percent charge in 20 minutes
- With the optional 11kW AC fast charger, the BE 6e can be charged from 0-100 percent in 6-8 hours (59-79kWh batteries respectively)
- With the optional 7kW AC fast charger, the BE 6e can be charged from 0-100 percent in 9-12 hours (59-79kWh batteries respectively)
- Claimed range for the 79kWh battery pack stands at 682km though it should manage 500-550km in real-world conditions
- Claimed range for the 59kWh battery pack stands at 535km though it should manage 380-450km in real-world conditions
- While charging options for the car are vast, the public charging infrastructure is still often inconsistent and not dependable in many locations
Safety
What About Safety Features?
- Features include ABS with EBD, ESP. 7 airbags, front and rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child seat mounts, all-wheel disc brakes
- Also gets 360-degree camera with indicator linked display in the instrument cluster
- 360-degree camera includes Secure360 which keeps monitoring on even when the car is switched off
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) include auto-braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-assist, auto lane-switch and overtaking, rear crossing traffic alert and high-beam assist
- Auto park assist which can be operated from the key, phone app or while seated in the car.
- Supports parallel, perpendicular or angular parking possible
- Auto-park assist doesn’t account for changes in road depth and may not work correctly where road level changes are involved
Performance & Mileage
Will I Like Driving The BE 6e?
- The BE 6e is offered with two battery packs – 59kWh or 79kWh
- Offered only with rear-wheel drive, the motor makes 230PS with the smaller battery and 285PS with the bigger battery. Both versions offer 380Nm of torque
- The BE 6e is both quick and smooth to drive, with gentle power delivery for city commutes and punch for high speed overtaking
- 0-100kmph takes a claimed 6.7 seconds only!
- One-pedal driving and regen calibration is smooth. First time electric car buyers can get used to the experience quickly
Handling
About The Handling And Comfort
- Steering is light to use and makes controlling this large car easy
- Handling is predictable too and it feels sharp at high speeds or while cornering
- While the suspension is set up on the stiffer side, bump absorption is good even with the 19-inch wheels
- Noise insulation is great and keeps you relaxed during long commutes
- Over uneven roads, there is light side-to-side tossing passengers will feel in the cabin
Verdict
Who Should Buy The Mahindra BE 6e?
- The BE 6e is not a car for everyone as its style and interior design is unique but polarising
- However, the features list is loaded and the BE 6e offers tech that’s missing from cars that cost upwards of Rs 65-70 lakh
- Additionally, the performance is as exciting as it is usable with battery pack options that’ll manage a real-world range of 400-550km quite easily
- While the boot space is compromised the cabin space and practicality is good enough for a small family
- Overall, the BE 6e is an attention-grabbing package with segment-above values though its value for money quotient can only be judged after the full price list is revealed
