2025 MG M9 EV first drive review: This or a luxury SUV?

Vans sales are booming! I’m not talking about everyday people movers like the Ertiga or the Carens — those sell by the boat load anyway. I’m talking about full-fat luxury vans. Case in point? The Toyota Vellfire. Over a thousand units sold last year. At ₹1.2 crore a pop. You do the math as to how much moolah Toyota raked in with that one model. Now, MG wants a slice of that pie. Meet the MG M9 EV. The formula is the same — a decked out luxury van with a clear focus on the second row. The big difference from any of the other vans that have come before is important: this one is fully electric. Let’s strap in and find out what it is like!

2025 MG M9 EV backseat comfort

There’s no point starting this story from behind the wheel. No one’s going to buying an M9 to drive it themselves. They’re buying it to be driven in. So let’s start there. Swing open the massive electric sliding door, step inside, and you’re greeted by two captain’s chairs that wouldn’t look out of place in Gulfstream G650. Sink in to one and you quickly realise that they are as well kitted out as they are comfortable. Seat controls are full electric, all tucked into a touchscreen in the armrest. Swipe to unlock, just like your phone, and you can adjust seat position, AC, ambient lighting and window functions. Oh, and the second row chairs (or should I call them sofas?) also get heating, ventilation and massage. Dive in to the menus and you can recline the seat in to a near lying down position, with the ottoman flipping out and backrest going all the way back. There are physical AC controls on the roof too if touchscreens aren’t your thing. Rear occupants get their own climate zone, while the front gets dual-zone control. There; are some interesting touches — the little phone holder, a box of tissues under the armrest, cupholders integrated in to the seats, USB ports to charge your phone. I do have a bone to pick with the cupholder though — you need two hands to place your cup in it and that takes away from its practicality. And once you’re done chilling, press a single hard button and the seat returns to its original position.

There’s plenty more in the backseat — dual sunroofs and the massive windows let plenty of light inside. You get a power socket for your laptop, a neatly hidden storage bin below it and powered doors. The MG M9’s second row is properly luxurious, more spacious and feature-rich than most luxury SUVs.

2025 MG M9 EV third row

Of course there’s a third row. Access is through the gap between the captain's chairs, and once you squeeze through, you’ll find plenty of space here too. Despite the bench sitting between the wheel wells, you’ve got enough room to sit three abreast comfortably. Kneeroom is generous, especially if the middle row can slide forward and the third row can slide back. Under-thigh support isn’t great — a consequence of the EV’s floor height — but the backrest reclines, headrests adjust, and you even get USB ports and cubbyholes. You can seat adults in the third row without it feeling like punishment, that’s for sure.

2025 MG M9 EV front seat and interior

Now, to the front seat. Your chauffeur will be spending more time here than anyone else, but MG hasn’t cut corners here. The digital instrument cluster is a small 7-inch unit, but does the job. I wish certain information like battery percentage was mentioned clearly, but you can make do with the range readout. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Headlamp controls are buried in that screen too — not ideal — but thankfully this van gets physical mirror adjusters, something the MG Windsor conveniently skipped.

Storage is fantastic. You get trays, bins, door pockets, and a cleverly divided cubby between the front seats. Wireless phone charging is included, though I think it would have been better served in the second row. The dash gets soft-touch trim and there is suede all over. The speaker grilles scream Mercedes and Burmester, and are clearly inspired from there but they look cool. The IRVM is actually a camera feed — a sensible move in a car this long, however unlike Range Rovers that also get this feature, you can’t toggle back to a traditional mirror. One miss — no USB-C ports up front, only the older Type-A sockets. Odd, given how much tech this car comes backing.

2025 MG M9 EV styling

Up front, you’ve got sharp face, which is rather minimal by MG standards. Split headlamps are in vogue and that’s what it gets. In profile, you really see the size of the car. Its 5.27m long and a whole 2m wide, you really feel its size and it gets you plenty of attention too. There’s some chrome used but it isn’t excessive and works well. The gets a full-width light bar that looks sharp. Interestingly, there’s no silly badges on this M9 — I half expected a ‘Massaging seats inside’ badge on the flanks but thankfully there’s just a subtly M9 EV badge on the tailgate.

2025 MG M9 EV powertrain

Let’s get rolling. The M9 EV is obviously full electric. Powering it is a 90kWh battery in the floor, hooked up to a single motor on the front axle putting out 241bhp and 350Nm. Those are generous numbers. Acceleration is brisk, and of course silky smooth. There’s instant torque, no lag, and a hushed turn of speed that suits the luxury intentions of the car.

Regenerative braking is set to ‘High’ by default, which can feel a bit too much. I preferred the less aggressive regen settings, especially if you want to keep things smooth for the passengers in the back. You can change it via the touchscreen, but annoyingly, it resets every time you restart the car. Drive modes are buried in the settings. There’s Eco, Normal and Sport. Honestly, Normal does the job just fine. Eco might come in handy if you’re running low on juice. Sport makes the steering and throttle more aggressive, but it is really unnecessary in a car of this kind. No chauffeur is ever going to really use it and why would you want to dial in more sudden responses on an already quick car? As for range, the WLTP number is over 400km but you should be able to get 350km on a full charge.

2025 MG M9 EV ride and handling

This is where things get tricky. Over good roads, ride quality is stable, composed and confidence-inspiring. Low speeds and high speeds are both managed competently. However our roads are far from perfect. At higher speeds, the M9 doesn’t completely flatten the imperfections. There’s a layer of vertical movement that creeps into the cabin — more so at the rear. At city speeds, it’s less of an issue. But the moment the road gets lumpy, so does the ride.

It’s not crashy or harsh, but there is vertical movement that doesn’t allow you to feel fully settled in the backseat. The tall stance and heavy electric platform probably contribute to this. You won’t be uncomfortable, but you will be aware of what’s happening under the wheels. A little more damping finesse and would be spot on.

2025 MG M9 EV price and verdict

The MG M9 EV proves to be a well packaged MPV that can take on the establishment. I suspect it will sit between the Kia Carnival and the Toyota Vellfire — likely around the ₹80 lakh mark. That price means it won’t have any direct competition. For Carnival owners looking to upgrade, or for Vellfire aspirants looking to save some dough, the M9 is a compelling proposition. Its strengths remain the backseat and the fact that the EV drivetrain really suits the luxury intent of this van. In a world obsessed with SUVs, the MG M9 EV makes a strong case itself. The seats cocoon you. The ambient lighting sets the mood. You’ve got a view out of massive windows, sunroofs above, and generous space. After a hard day of work, dial in your massage, recline the seat, and unwind as your chauffeur deals with rich hour’s maddening traffic.