Mahindra XEV 9S Pack Two above 70 kWh, battery pack can be a good option for you. It is a spacious and practical EV, and if you don’t plan to use the third row, you benefit from a larger boot as well. Mahindra has spread the features well across the range, so even the lower variants feel adequately equipped. The car supports fast charging, which helps reduce charging time on highway runs. While the claimed range is 600km, the real-world range will be lower, but it should still be good for your kind of highway usage.

Both the Tata Sierra and Kia Seltos are good picks. The powertrain to pick in the Sierra lineup is the turbo petrol variant, however this iteration is only available in top variants. But this will be a couple of lakhs above the price band suggested by you. The 1.5-litre NA engine in the Sierra lacks the punch and is noisy. Instead, we would suggest going for the Kia Seltos, which gets well-equipped lower variants, and even the 1.5-litre NA is smooth and responsive.

The Tata Sierra Turbo Petrol automatic goes well beyond your budget, as the Adventure Plus variant crosses Rs 21 lakh on road. With the Seltos, you can get the HTK(O) variant within your budget, and it is well-equipped with most essential features.Considering that most of your driving is in the city, we would suggest choosing the naturally aspirated variants. Between the two, the Kia Seltos is the better pick. Its 1.5-litre engine is more potent, the CVT gearbox is creamy smooth in stop-go traffic, and it is responsive enough when you need power for a quick overtake. In comparison, the Sierra’s 1.5 litre engine feels slower, and the DCT transmission is not as smooth.

Maruti Suzuki Swift is a good fit for you. You should go for the 1.2 petrol VXi AMT variant. It fits within your budget and has adequate features. Swift strikes a good balance between mileage, performance, and comfort. The 1.2-litre engine performs well in city driving and is adequate for highway use too. Maruti’s proven reliability and reasonable cost of ownership add to the overall ownership experience. The AMT will add to the convenience of driving in the city.It also comes with all the necessary features, including a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 airbags, powered front windows, projector headlamps, and steering-mounted controls. In our real-world fuel efficiency test, the Swift AMT delivered 12.7 kpl in the city and 19.1 kpl on the highway.