My daily travel is currently 150 km, and I own a Tata Nexon EV. I now need to buy a new car for office commuting. Should I go for a bigger battery pack or switch to petrol, considering EVs do not have good resale value? My Nexon EV has done 1,10,000 km, and I can get ₹5 lakh for it.

autocar.india

•1d

Budget EVs can handle highway runs, but you need to plan your trip a bit differently. Most budget EVs like the Tata Punch EV or the MG Windsor have a real-world range of 200-300 km, so on longer journeys you will need to factor in charging stops.If you plan your route around fast chargers and start each leg with a full battery, you can keep your schedule fairly predictable. Charging times are the key variable. A 30-40 minute fast charge is typical, but availability and queue times can add up.In terms of performance, most budget electric cars can cruise at highway speeds comfortably, but you will see range drop if you drive aggressively or use the air conditioning heavily. Overall, a budget EV can do highway trips, but you need to build in charging time and be a bit more organised than you would be with a petrol or diesel car. If you are doing this kind of trip regularly, a diesel or petrol car is still the more convenient option. If it is occasional and you are happy to plan, an EV can work.

Tata Punch EV

MG Windsor

autocar.india

•4h

Given your priorities of reliability, good mileage, decent features and long-term ownership, the Kia Seltos IVT would be our recommendation. The automatic version will be better suited, as you are struggling with the heavy clutch. More specifically, the HTX(A) trim will get you everything you would want. The CVT gearbox is smooth and effortless in the city, and the naturally aspirated engine has good performance without sacrificing too much efficiency. The cabin space and quality are excellent, and the Kia cars are very reliable too. Safety is another aspect in which it scores a perfect 5-star rating in the Bharat NCAP tests. Overall, it is a very strong package and one that will suffice your needs the best.

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•5h

With a monthly running of just 350km, diesel is not financially justified, so you should focus on petrol or hybrid options. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible recommendation here. This Maruti Suzuki car offers excellent fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride and a proven ownership experience, making it a very easy car to live with over the long term. The hybrid system works seamlessly in city traffic and keeps running costs low, which is exactly what you want with your usage pattern.If you want something with a more premium feel and a stronger safety package, the Kia Seltos is the alternative to consider. It has a more upmarket cabin, a wider range of features and a more substantial feel on the road. The only trade-off is that it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid in city driving.Overall, the Victoris Hybrid in its ZXI trim will cost around your budget and is the most balanced recommendation for your requirements. It is efficient, comfortable and easy to own, which is exactly what you need coming from a Dzire diesel.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos