I already own a Creta Electric and am now a fan of electric vehicles. I need a new 7-seater for around ₹22-24 lakh. My running will be very low - about 500 km per month, plus 3-4 long trips a year of around 350 km one way. I’m confused between the Mahindra 7XO and the 9S (2P pack, 70 kWh), as they seem very similar, and the decision will mostly depend on final pricing. Which one should I buy? Are there any other options you can suggest?

Autocar India

•9m

None of the 6 or 7-seater cars under Rs. 18 lakh ex-showroom, have both, panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats. If you're willing to sacrifice ventilated seats, you can get both, Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ O and Hyundai Alcazar Prestige DCT, both in their turbo-petrol DCT avatars, in your budget. However, since both these features are a must-have, you will have to settle for 5-seater instead. You could consider a Kia Seltos HTX Turbo-Petrol DCT (ex-showroom price is Rs 17.7 lakh), which gets the two features that you're looking for, along with a lot more modern niceties. The car is spacious, comfortable, and its cabin feels upmarket too. Also, opt for the turbo-petrol, as it will deliver effortless performance, especially during your occasional highway trips.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•3d

Pick a single-car solution and buy the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. Your dogs get a low loading lip and a long, near-flat space with the third row folded, so they can actually lie side by side on highway runs. The hybrid makes touring simple with no charging hassles, calm cruising and a comfy ride, and Toyota’s durability fits an 8-10 year plan with sensible running costs.EV MPVs like the Kia Carens Clavis EV and BYD eMax 7 are great for city runs and dog space, but long trips with two dogs mean 30-40 minute fast-charge halts and patchy chargers once you leave big corridors. That’s a hassle you do not need. Mahindra XEV 9S and 9e are good choices, but their higher boot floors make them poorer dog haulers.You will wrestle with the Innova's size in tight parking, and it costs more upfront than adding a small EV, but day to day, it is still easy enough with light steering and cameras.If you must go smaller, the Kia Carens Clavis turbo petrol DCT is a solid choice, but fuel efficiency in the city won't be as good as the Hycross hybrid.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis EV

BYD eMax 7

Mahindra XEV 9S

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•12h

The important thing to understand is that while the government has notified standards for fuels up to E30, it has not mandated an immediate switch to E30 fuel. In fact, the government has asked ARAI to conduct long-term testing on how E25 affects existing E10 and E20 vehicles before taking any further decisions. The study is expected to assess durability, mileage, engine health and long-term reliability over tens of thousands of kilometers.There is also a strong possibility that consumers will be offered a choice of fuel blends at petrol pumps rather than a sudden replacement of E20 with E30. Discussions are already underway around offering multiple ethanol blend options based on vehicle compatibility. Even if higher ethanol blends eventually arrive later in the decade, manufacturers, fuel companies and regulators will have to provide a transition path because millions of E20-compatible vehicles will still be on the road.Between the two cars, we would actually lean towards the Baleno AMT. The Baleno's 4-cylinder petrol engine is noticeably smoother and more refined than the Dzire's 3-cylinder unit, which makes a difference in everyday driving. It also has one of the better calibrated AMT gearboxes in the segment, feeling smoother and more predictable than many rivals. For elderly parents, the Baleno's wide-opening doors, comfortable ride and easy drivability are all strong positives.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Dzire