I'm looking to purchase an electric vehicle as I travel approximately 500 km per week. My priorities are safety, driving pleasure, and economy. My budget is around ₹15 lakh. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•7h

The Maruti Suzuki E Vitara is a sensible EV for your usage and budget.For 70-80 km a day and around 25,000 km a year, going electric will significantly cut your running costs, and charging from solar makes it even more economical. The e‑Vitara is positioned as a reasonably priced compact electric car, so it should sit comfortably within your 17 lakh budget and still offer the ease of an automatic, quiet drive and low maintenance.However, there are some important comfort limitations to be aware of, particularly for someone who is 6'3". The cabin is not very spacious, and you’re likely to need the driver’s seat pushed all the way back, which leaves very little legroom for a passenger sitting directly behind you. The floor is also quite high because of the battery pack, so your knees sit more upright than normal, which can reduce long‑distance comfort for tall occupants.If rear‑seat space matters or you often travel with family, it’s worth looking at alternatives like the MG Windsor EV, which offers a noticeably roomier cabin and more comfortable back seat. But if you mostly drive alone or with one front passenger, the e‑Vitara will do the job quite well.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

MG Windsor

Autocar India

•1d

Choose the Hyundai Creta diesel automatic; with your 1,000+km/month across city, highway and village roads, it offers strong low-end torque, good ground clearance, a comfortable cabin, and proven nationwide service.For your usage pattern, a diesel makes more sense than an EV. The Creta diesel offers good fuel efficiency, the automatic is smooth and easy to use, and the compliant suspension handles rough village roads quite well. Cabin quality, space and seat comfort are also well suited to long trips.The one thing you give up is the ultra-low running cost of an EV. If you can install a home charger and typically travel less than 250km between fast chargers, then consider the Tata Nexon EV with the larger 45kWh battery.On the test drive, do a sustained 80-90kph run and a rough-road loop; check cabin noise, automatic creep in traffic, and confirm extended warranty (five to seven years) and service package pricing with the dealer.

Hyundai Creta

Tata Nexon EV

Autocar India

•1d

Choose the Tata Punch EV Empowered 40. For elderly parents’ city use and occasional highway trips, it combines easy ingress, a comfortable ride and a decent real-world range.Since most drives are in the city, the 40kWh battery should deliver around 280-300km of range, which means charging once a week is feasible. Highway use will see this drop, but a 200–250km run on a single charge is still achievable. The tall seating position and wide-opening doors make ingress and egress easier for elderly occupants, while the compact footprint and good visibility make it easy to drive and park. Ride quality is also superb, and high-speed stability is reassuring.The one trade-off is rear seat space for three passengers. It is possible to sit three abreast, but the narrow width means it can feel a bit cramped. For slightly more range and a more spacious rear seat, consider the Tata Nexon EV Empowered 45.On the test drive, have your parents check ease of entry, seat height, brake feel and the regen modes. Plus, take note of battery consumption based on their driving style.

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Punch EV