Hello, I currently drive a VW Virtus GT and absolutely love it. Lately my office commute has changed, and I now have to travel about 50 km a day in Hyderabad traffic, so my fuel bills are increasing. I want to know if switching to an EV is suitable and advisable, as I’m worried about EV after-sales maturity in India and charging infrastructure on highways (like queues at charging stations). Please advise if switching to an EV is a good idea, and if so, which model within the same budget would give me a similar feel to the Virtus.

Autocar India

•6w

If your commute is no more than 50km a day, then yes, an EV could be a good solution for you. It will certainly bring down your running costs compared to a petrol car. After-sales service is not an issue; in fact, EVs require far less maintenance and upkeep than ICE cars. It's mostly consumables - like brake pads - that get changed with subsequent services.

However, what takes a hit is resale value, which for an EV is nowhere as strong as for an ICE car. As for charging infrastructure, it's always advised to have a charger installed at home or at work (or both) to reduce reliance on the public charging network. As it is still developing, and in some regions it is unreliable.

In and around a big city like Hyderabad, however, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. You should, however, plot at least 2-3 charging options on any highway journey you make, as functionality and queues are potential hurdles.

As for which EV to buy, none will give you quite the same thrill as a Volkswagen Virtus GT, especially in the same budget. But you can try out the Mahindra BE6 or the Vinfast VF6, both of which are fast and fun to drive, with a solid build.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

BE 6

from ₹20.00 Lakh

Vinfast

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from ₹18.31 Lakh

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Chandan Jha

•1d

I currently own a Maruti S-Cross and a Honda Brio, and I plan to replace both. My budget for a 5-seater SUV is around 15-16 lakh, and for a compact hatchback, around 6 lakh. Both cars will be used in the city, and I want petrol options that are easy to maintain and fun to drive. The SUV will occasionally be used for family trips with four people (2 adults and 2 kids). My must-have features include a rear parking camera, steering-mounted controls, automatic climate control, rear AC vents (in the SUV), and keyless entry. I really like my current cars, especially the Brio.

Autocar India

•15h

The Skoda Kushaq 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with the 8-speed automatic transmission is a fun-to-drive mid-size SUV that you can replace your Maruti S-Cross with. Its compact size makes it ideal for 2 adults and 2 kids, and the Classic+ variant will fall within your Rs 16 lakh budget, and it has most of the features listed, except a rear parking camera. You can also consider a Honda Elevate V CVT, which will be very easy to maintain and is fun to drive.With your Rs 6 lakh budget, though, you will only be able to get entry-level variants of the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios or mid variants of a Maruti Celerio and Tata Tiago. Between the three, the Nios has the nicest interior, while the Celerio's engine will be more efficient. Do keep in mind that neither of the three cars will be as fun to drive as your Brio. So, if your car is in good condition, you should retain it.

Skoda Kushaq

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Tata Tiago

Honda Elevate

Deepanshu

•1d

Hi Autocar, my parents have had a Grand i10 since 2017 and are now looking for an upgrade. My father is comfortable with its lower ride height and smaller body as they reside in Delhi. Now the requirements are: a hybrid car, 15 lakh budget, automatic transmission, and maximum safety features with ease of navigation in Delhi traffic. Your advice, please. I have shortlisted the Grand Vitara hybrid and Brezza. Open to all suggestions, but only companies like Maruti, Hyundai, etc., whose service facilities are easily available and spares are also economical.

Autocar India

•16h

Just to clarify, in your Rs 15 lakh budget, a strong hybrid or plug-in hybrid option won't be available, and you would have to opt for versions with a mild hybrid system, with an integrated starter generator (ISG), a secondary lithium-ion battery and engine stop-start function, which are also beneficial for fuel savings and emissions, though not to the extent of a strong hybrid.That being said, go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi+ AT. For Delhi traffic, it fits your parents best. It's compact like the Grand i10 but gives a higher seat for better view, light steering for tight streets, and a smooth 6‑speed automatic that takes the stress out of stop-start traffic. The mild-hybrid system of this Maruti car helps the engine switch off at long signals and start again quietly, which keeps the drive calm. We'd advise you to move up to the ZXi+ for the full set of features, though it is slightly outside your budget.You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 Turbo Petrol Alpha AT. It comes with a mild-hybrid setup, is slightly more affordable, and offers a punchier engine, though it isn’t as spacious as the Brezza. As for the Grand Vitara, for your budget, you simply don't get a high enough variant, nor do you get as much seating space in the back as you do in the Brezza. Overall, for your budget and easy service with low running costs, the Brezza ZXi+ AT is a simple, stress-free upgrade.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Rajesh

•2d

Hi, I am currently using a 2017 Maruti Wagon R AMT, which has run around 84,000 km. I am planning to upgrade within a budget of ₹16 lakh and have shortlisted the Tata Nexon Creative Plus (1.2 DCA), Kia Sonet 1.0 GTX Plus, and Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TC. My usage will be approximately 70% highway and 30% city, mostly on weekends. My key priorities are driving comfort, safety, and real-world mileage. I would appreciate your expert advice on which option would be the best fit for my needs.

Autocar India

•18h

The Kia Sonet 1.0 DCT is a well-rounded car which delivers on several fronts, including driving comfort, interior quality, features and its real-world fuel efficiency will be respectable too. It has all the safety features too, including ADAS, which prevent an accident in the first place.Do keep in mind that the current version of the Sonet is towards the end of its lifecycle, and a new model will be introduced next year. Alternatively, you could consider a Hyundai Venue 1.0 DCT instead, which is thoroughly modern, and besides all the safety kit, like the Sonet. It has also been crash tested and awarded 5 stars by Bharat NCAP for adult and child protection.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

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