Buying a luxury SUV, luxury sedan and an electric vehicle

I have a few queries. I am looking for a premium SUV and have shortlisted the Audi Q3, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Porsche Macan and I am also considering Mercedes models. It will be chauffeur-driven, so I need reclining seats with access to music and AC controls in the middle row.

I am also looking at the E-class to replace my BMW 525I.

Also, my mother has arthritis, so I am looking for a chauffeur-driven city car for her with easy and low entry. The budget for that is Rs 10-20 lakh. I am looking at an electric car as well, in a budget of up to Rs 20 lakh.

Amit V Ramsinghani, via email

None of the SUVs that you have listed have audio controls at the rear. For a pure chauffeur-driven vehicle, we’d suggest you choose between the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. An option that you could also consider is the Jaguar F-Pace.

The E-class is an excellent chauffeur-driven vehicle. If back seat comfort is your sole focus, this car is in a league of its own. You may want to opt for the E200/E220d Exclusive variant, which also gets a tablet for rear-seat passengers to control the audio, climate control as well as the sunblinds.

For your mother, you could consider the Maruti XL6, which is the more premium, 6-seater version of the Maruti Ertiga. Being a tall car, getting in and out should be very easy, and the large rear doors also help. Plus, the captain’s chairs of the XL6 are very comfortable to sit in, and the car’s suspension absorbs all the road shocks very nicely.

The only electric car within Rs 20 lakh is the Tata Nexon EV. It is zippy, spacious, and you can expect a decent 150-180km range from its battery. The MG ZS EV is a good option with a longer range, however you will have to stretch your budget for it