Mumbai

•13w

I am retired and plan to buy an EV primarily for limited daily use in the city. My budget is around ₹35 lakh (ex-showroom). I am considering the Mahindra XEV 9S and would like to know whether it would be a suitable choice for my requirements. If yes, could you please suggest which variant would make the most sense in terms of comfort, features, ease of ownership, and value for money?

•13w

For your usage and budget, an EV like the Mahindra XEV 9S works well. The top-spec Pack Three Above with the larger 79kWh battery fits well within your budget, and for that, you'll get all the bells and whistles.

This suits you because the XEV 9S is smooth and quiet, with no gear shifts, so stop-and-go traffic feels easy and less tiring. The taller seat makes getting in and out simple, and the view out is good.

Some things to be aware of - Mahindra EVs are known to suffer a few software glitches, though these should be fixable with OTA updates, and some find the ride quality a bit soft, so check if you're comfortable with that. The XEV 9e does a better job in this respect.

Additionally, considering you're using it mainly in the city, you might find it quite large for your needs. If you're looking at something more compact, the BYD Atto 3 is also worth considering at this price range.

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Mahindra

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from ₹22.00 Lakh

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from ₹26.62 Lakh

•13w

Which colour is good ( I don't have any preference)

•11w

For the XEV 9S, the Midnight Black colour is the best looking. It's also available on the ICE XUV 7X0 for you to have a look at.

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•12h

Hi, I have been using a VW Polo TDI for the last 10 years, and it has done 1,20,000 km. I am planning to exchange it for an EV and would like to know which would be a good car for my budget of Rs. 20-25 lakh. I am looking for something that offers good value for money, reliability, and hassle-free ownership. I like the VinFast VF7, BYD Atto 3, and Mahindra XEV 9S. I have shortlisted the XEV 9S because, within my budget, it seems to offer good value for money, with a 79kWh battery and 7-seat capacity. I have not considered the Tata Sierra or Tata Safari. I also feel the Creta Electric and MG Windsor have a lower range, so I have not considered them. Considering everything, including after-sales service and long-term ownership, which would be the best overall car for my budget? This is a significant investment for my family, and I plan to keep the car for at least 10 years.

•4h

The BYD Atto 3 is a well-built and reliable EV with a proven track record, but it is a 5-seater and does not offer the same level of practicality, feature set or even the performance as the XEV 9S. The VinFast VF7 is an interesting option, but you can only get the entry-level variant in your budget, and while it has strong performance, as a package, it still trails behind the XEV 9S. Since you want a 7-seater, the Tata Sierra EV is ruled out considering its 5-seater layout. The Mahindra XEV 9S is the best choice in your budget and given your requirements. It offers a large battery, good range and a practical 7-seat layout, making it a sensible family EV. However, it is worth noting that the third row is best suited for children or occasional use, and the boot space is limited with all seats up. Within Rs 25 lakh, you can get the Pack One Above variant with the bigger 79kWh battery pack and a decent feature set. Given your priorities of value for money, reliability and hassle-free ownership, the Mahindra XEV 9S is the best fit if you need a 7-seater.

I currently drive a 2018 Polo GT TSI. Now, I am looking for a new primary car; the Polo will continue as a secondary city car. The purpose of the primary car is a more comfortable back seat for my elderly parents, and I will have a weekly, once- or twice-a-week intercity expressway commute of about 300 km a day. So, comfort on the highway is also very important. Should I go with an EV? If so, which one? Or should I opt for the Virtus GT, as I enjoy my Polo a lot, or consider any other sedan? Budget: Up to Rs. 30 lakh OTR in Karnataka.

•1d

Given your requirements, the Volkswagen Virtus GT is the most sensible choice. You already enjoy your Polo GT TSI, and the Virtus GT builds on that formula with a more powerful 1.5 TSI engine, a larger and more comfortable cabin, and a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. It is one of the best driver's cars in the segment, and it is also well suited to long expressway runs.The back seat is a significant step up from the Polo, with good legroom and a comfortable seating position for your parents. The ride is on the firmer side, but it is well controlled at highway speeds, and the car feels stable and confidence-inspiring on long journeys.On the EV question, a 300km round trip once or twice a week is right on the edge of what most mainstream EVs can comfortably manage without charging stops in the real world. While cars like the Tata Harrier EV and XEV 9S can technically do it, you would be running the battery down to low levels, and charging infrastructure is still not consistent enough to make this a stress-free experience. The Virtus GT, on the other hand, is completely hassle-free on long highway runs.Overall, the Virtus GT strikes the best balance between driving enjoyment, rear seat comfort and long-distance usability. It is the car you are most likely to still enjoy owning after five years. If you can wait a few months, however, Volkswagen is launching a facelifted version that should get a few more features.

I want to upgrade from a Tata Nexon EV Max to a seven-seater SUV. Having used the EV for almost 4 years, I have experienced how economical it is and would like to go for another EV. One of the best options I am considering is the Mahindra XEV 9S. However, I am not sure whether it is really worth the price, as I don't feel comfortable spending over Rs. 30 lakh on a Mahindra. Are there any better options I should consider? Please advise.

•2d

The Mahindra XEV 9S is a genuinely impressive product, but yes, at over Rs 30 lakh, it is a significant outlay, and the question is less about whether the car is worth the money and more about whether it is the right fit for you. The XEV 9S offers strong performance, a well-appointed cabin, and a premium feel, but if you would still like to avoid a Mahindra, opt for the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It does not offer you that SUV stance, but its MPV configuration means a flexible interior and a genuinely usable third row too. It's also well appointed inside with a premium look and feel around the cabin, with all the essential and some nice-to-have features too.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis EV

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•4d

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•3d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

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•6d

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•4d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•3d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

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