Looking to buy a car or SUV with a budget of ₹14–15 lakh for a family of 3. Which petrol automatic options should I consider?

Autocar India

•16h

We can completely understand why your family loved the Mahindra XEV 9S. It is feature‑packed, very refined and smooth, and has enough space for your 4-5 family members, so as a family car it fits your brief well. For your daily 50km commute, the XEV 9S is actually ideal, provided you can install a home charger - you’ll hardly scratch the range of the 59kWh pack in regular city use.It’s your 600km highway trip every three months, when life with an EV requires more planning. With the 59kWh battery, you will have to stop for a fast charge at least once mid‑way, and often again at your final destination if you don’t have a charger there. The public charging network has definitely improved, but charging an EV is still not as quick or as effortless as filling a tank with petrol or diesel. So if you are willing to sacrifice some time and take a bit of extra effort on your three‑monthly highway drives, you can confidently go ahead with the XEV 9S.If you don’t want the hassle of hunting for highway chargers and waiting typically 30-40 minutes each time, then you should look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic instead. It has broadly similar features to the 9S, is very comfortable, and for frequent long‑distance touring, it is actually better suited. The XUV 7XO’s suspension is more composed at speed than the softer‑sprung 9S, which can feel a bit floaty on highways.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•22h

Go for the Tata Punch EV Smart + 40. For a 50 km daily office run and as a second car alongside your Innova Crysta, it fits your use best right now. It is small on the outside, easy to park, and the smooth electric drive makes stop-and-go traffic stress-free.As a daily beater, it is quiet, quick, and has enough ground clearance for bad patches. If you can install a home charger in your parking, you can charge overnight and forget about fuel pumps. Tata also has the widest EV service reach today, which helps for long-term peace of mind.One thing to be aware of is that you must have a reliable place to charge at home or office; otherwise living with any EV becomes awkward.If home charging is not possible, pick the Honda Amaze ZX CVT instead. The CVT is very smooth, the car is light to drive, and Honda service gives you peace of mind as well. I would skip the Mahindra Thar 1.5 RWD for a daily 50 km city run. It is a heavy, 3-door manual, rides firm, and your diesel ban worry is valid in many cities over time.Overall, the Punch EV Smart+ will make your commute calmer and simpler. Just confirm charger installation before you book.

Tata Punch EV

Toyota Innova Crysta

Honda Amaze

Mahindra Thar

Autocar India

•1d

Buy the Mahindra Thar Roxx after you move to Bengaluru. Registering it there will keep things simple and avoid extra costs later. While the on-road price looks cheaper in Mumbai today, if you shift the car to Karnataka for long-term use, you are expected to re-register it in Bengaluru and pay Karnataka road tax.Getting a refund of the tax you paid in Maharashtra is possible on paper, but slow and painful. You will also need an NOC from the Mumbai RTO, new number plates, and you may face checks in Bengaluru if you drive long-term on a Mumbai number. All this adds time and stress you can skip by buying and registering once in your new city.There is one clear exception: if you are eligible for the BH series number (government/PSU staff, or private company with offices in 4 or more states), go for BH. With BH, you pay road tax in 2-year blocks and do not need to re-register when you move.

Mahindra Thar Roxx