I am confused about which EV would be the best choice: the BMW iX1, a Volvo EV, or Mahindra XEV 9S. Are there any other EVs that I should also consider before making a decision? My only concern with the BMW iX1 is its interior.

autocar.india

•8h

Given your usage pattern of 60-70% city driving with regular highway runs, the Hyundai Creta Electric is the more sensible choice. This Hyundai car is a more mature and well-rounded product, with Hyundai’s strong service network and a proven track record in EVs. The Creta Electric also benefits from a more mainstream brand image, which should help with long-term ownership confidence and potentially better resale value.The Mahindra XEV 9S is a very capable EV with a larger battery and longer claimed range, but it is a much bigger and heavier car, which makes it less suited to city driving.On resale value, electric cars are still a developing story in India. Battery health, warranty coverage and the pace of technological change will all play a role. Mainstream brands with strong service networks are likely to hold value better, and Hyundai’s wider reach gives it an advantage here. That said, EV resale values are still not as predictable as ICE cars, so it is best to view the purchase as a long-term ownership proposition rather than banking on strong resale.Overall, the Creta Electric strikes a better balance between city usability, highway capability and ownership confidence.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S

autocar.india

•1d

Sell the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI AT and keep the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 petrol AT. The Kushaq is already four years old and will be around 33,000 km by the time the XEV 9S arrives, so you are already past the steepest part of the depreciation curve. The XUV 3XO is a much newer car with only 12,000 km on the clock, so you are still in the early years of ownership where depreciation is highest. From a financial perspective, it makes more sense to sell the older car and retain the newer one.From a practicality perspective, the XUV 3XO is also the better car to keep. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater. It is also a very well-rounded car with good safety credentials and a strong ownership proposition. The Kushaq is slightly larger and more engaging to drive, but those aren't reasons enough to keep it over the 3XO.

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra XEV 9S

autocar.india

•2d

If you can arrange for home charging, despite your daily city commute of just 25km, the XEV 9S is the more economical option, as your running costs will only be a small fraction of a petrol-automatic XUV 7XO. Also, the electric car is smooth yet zippy performance, and comfy suspension, as well as its light steering and tight turning radius, makes it ideal for city drives. And with an impressive real-world range of over 400km, and quick DC fast charging times, this will be very usable on long highway drives too.The petrol-automatic is an excellent, punchy powertrain, however it isn't very efficient, and your fuel costs will be substantial compared to what you'll pay using home charging for the EV.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XEV 9S