I am planning to buy an EV car. I have shortlisted the Creta Electric LR (Executive (O)), Nexon EV 45 (Empowered), and Mahindra BE 6. I live in Kolkata and my driving is mainly in the city with occasional highway trips, totaling around 400 km per week. Please suggest which car I should go for, as I plan to keep this car for around 10 years. Also, will it be a wise decision to buy an EV car in 2026 from a resale value perspective?

autocar.india

•1d

The new Kia Seltos will feel like a proper step-up over your outgoing car on account of its space, feature set, and tech. And if your monthly running is significantly higher than before, it does make sense to opt for the diesel. Sure, a diesel-automatic will be more expensive to buy than a corresponding petrol-automatic; however, it will be much more fuel-efficient, so you will make up for the price difference if your usage is significant. The diesel engine is quite smooth, and its strong low‑end pull makes overtaking and cruising at full load easier. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and suits long drives well.Ensure you regularly drive the diesel Seltos on the highway to maintain engine health, as the DPF tends to clog in frequent slow-moving traffic conditions. But if your usage is primarily in the city, with infrequent highway running, we'd recommend opting for the petrol version instead. Or you could consider a Hyundai Creta Electric instead.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•15h

Pick the Tata Punch EV 40kWh. It fits your 50 km daily grind and those occasional 200 km days without range stress, while keeping running costs far lower than petrol. It is easy to drive and park, rides well on bad roads, and you still get a modern cabin with a big touchscreen, and 360 camera on higher trims. Safety is solid too - the Punch platform has a strong crash-test record, and you get ESC and 6 airbags.Real-world range is about 240 km, so a 200 km day with AC is fine if you start full, DC fast-charging is also quicker with the facelifted version so a top-up on the highway should be relatively quick. You budget should get you the top Empowered Plus S trim.One catch: the rear seat is fine for two but fitting three can be a sqeeze. If that is an issue, you can stretch your budget and get a Nexon EV instead.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

autocar.india

•17h

You don’t have to sell the Figo yet. If it’s healthy, keep it 1-2 years more; parts and service are still fine, and depreciation from here is slow. The Rs. 2.75 lakh offer is fair for a 2019 petrol at 65k km. Try direct sale or multiple portals and aim closer to Rs. 3 lakh-plus if the car is clean.Pick the VW Taigun 1.5 if you upgrade now, because it’s the only one on your list that truly feels like a step up from your Figo for daily drives and relaxed highway runs. The 1.5 is punchy, and the steering and body control make city and highway drives enjoyable. One honest catch: the automatic can feel a bit hesitant in crawl; the manual is more fun if you don’t mind a clutch. The Honda Elevate is nice, but it isn't as enjoyable as the VW/Skoda SUVs.With 500-600 km a month in the city and about 2,000km a year out of town, an EV like the Nexon EV won’t pay back quickly unless you have cheap home charging and your running shoots up.Go petrol. Don’t stress about E20/E30 - the VW-Skoda 1.0/1.5 are E20-ready, and should not pose issues if and when E30 is rolled out.

Volkswagen Taigun

Honda Elevate

Tata Nexon EV