My current car, a 2017 Maruti S‑Cross 1.3 Alpha (diesel), is not listed in the form above. I am thinking about selling it if I get a good resale value and buying a new vehicle. My driving is predominantly city-based (20-22 km per day) with occasional longer trips of 100+ km once every 2-3 months. I am confused about choosing between an EV and an ICE vehicle for my use case. Online ROI calculations seem to favour ICE in the long run (for example, XEV 9E vs Sierra turbo petrol). Can you please help me with a suggestion and practical considerations? Thank you.

Autocar India

•8w

The two cars which you are considering, the Mahindra XEV 9E and Tata Sierra Turbo-petrol, overlap in terms of pricing. Hence, the decision-making of whether to go for one or another is purely based on your personal choice.

An XEV 9E is larger in size, has a large battery and strong motor, and it will deliver a more enjoyable drive experience, being quicker, smoother and quieter.

Your running costs will be significantly lower than those of an ICE vehicle, even more so if you charge your car at your residence/office. At a similar price, you are likely to get a lower or mid-level variant (after discounts) of the XEV 9E. They are well-equipped but will have a few, feel-good features missing, compared to the top-spec Sierra.

Moreover, with the bigger battery, the Mahindra's real-world range of over 400km is very impressive too. Its charging speeds are very quick, too, adding to the peace of mind for highway drives. Hence, if you are open to EVs, the XEV 9E is the one to go for.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XEV 9e

from ₹23.26 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

•6d

I am 6 ft 2 in tall and want to buy an SUV. I am a bit confused between the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Tata Sierra, Mahindra 7XO/Scorpio, Honda Elevate, Suzuki Victoris, Grand Vitara, Hyryder, and Skoda Kushaq. Please suggest a suitable choice based on better ride quality and comfort, for city traffic, budget around 15L, 30km daily driving, and seating for 5/7.

Autocar India

•1d

Do note that you will only get the base models of most of these SUVs in your budget of Rs 15 lakh (the two Mahindra cars are entirely out of your budget), so be prepared to increase your budget if you want more features or a more powerful engine. That being said, among your chosen options, the Tata Sierra is the most spacious and comfortable, and best suited for tall passengers, so that should be your choice from the five-seaters.If you want a seven-seater, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is the best value-for-money option you could pick, and it meets all your requirements, including the budget. However, another car worth considering is the Citroen Aircross X, which comes in both 5- and 7-seat options, and is priced really well. It's spacious, comfortable and gets a punchy engine with a smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Amitabh Sharma

I am looking for a good replacement for the Tata Hexa. My main priorities are comfort and stability, especially for long drives and highway usage. The Hexa has been a very comfortable and stable vehicle, so I would prefer something that can match or improve upon its ride quality, space, and overall driving comfort. Which cars available today would be a good replacement for the Tata Hexa?

Autocar India

•3h

The Tata Safari is a good replacement for the Tata Hexa. Like the Hexa, the Safari feels tough and has great road presence. At the same time, the Safari is also a lot easier to drive than the Hexa. Comfort and high-speed stability are highlights, and you'll also like the performance on offer. The 2-litre diesel engine and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol suit the Safari's character; we'd recommend the automatics though. As another bonus, the Safari's third row is usable and better than the Hexa's.

Tata Safari

Barun Pattanaik

•1w

I’m planning to buy the Tata Harrier Hyperion (1.5L petrol), which was recently launched and costs around ₹23 lakh. I would like opinions on whether buying the petrol version at this price is a good decision. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is new and hasn’t been long-term tested in real-world conditions yet. Many reviewers say it isn’t underpowered, but I’m still concerned about real-world performance in situations like city traffic, highway overtakes, driving with the AC on, or with a fully loaded car. I also want to know the practical, real-world mileage (city and highway) that owners are actually getting, not just the claimed figures. Should I wait for more long-term reliability feedback before buying, or is it safe to purchase now? Alternatively, would it be wiser to choose the diesel version for proven reliability and better fuel efficiency? My main concerns are performance, real-world fuel efficiency, reliability of a newly launched engine, and whether paying ₹23 lakh for the petrol variant is justified.

Autocar India

•2d

Your concerns about Tata's 1.5-litre Hyperion engine being new are valid. If you are not in a hurry, it is advisable to wait a few months to see what buyers have to say about its reliability and efficiency. Do note that the same engine also powers the Tata Sierra, which is selling in huge numbers, so owner feedback should be coming soon.That said, the Hyperion engine is one of Tata's best engines to date. During our first drive review, we found that performance was much better than the displacement suggests. It picks up speed effortlessly and feels grunty in city driving, and even on the highway, it does not run out of breath. We also tried the same engine in the Tata Safari with six people on board and the AC on, and even then, performance was more than adequate. Real-world fuel efficiency will not be great, expect single digits in the city. The diesel will offer better efficiency and is a more proven powerplant, and if you are driving huge mileages, then it is the better choice. However, performance is not as strong as the petrol.If you are still concerned about reliability, we suggest you look at the Kia Seltos. The current generation has grown in size, resulting in a roomier interior, and the 1.5-litre TGDi petrol offers good performance and proven reliability. Before you decide, take test drives of both cars.

Tata Sierra

Tata Safari

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