Mumbai

Anil

•10h

The dealer representative has told me that they do not allow a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). How can I convince them to permit a professional PDI before I take delivery of my new EV?

Autocar India

•31m

Push back politely and tie full payment to a supervised PDI before registration; most dealers agree when money is on the line. With an EV, you want to catch battery, charging and software issues early, and once it is registered, a swap becomes far harder.

Ask for the VIN and Form 22 by email and propose a 30-minute supervised inspection with your inspector at their yard, with their staff present, no photos of other cars, and you signing an indemnity. If they won’t allow yard entry, ask for the same PDI in their workshop or delivery bay before invoicing and registration. Put this in writing on the booking email: PDI by customer or professional, before invoicing, with the right to reject allocation if defects are found.

Make the PDI EV-specific: check odometer is low, no warning lights, charge port door and latch, both charging cables present, wallbox details noted, AC charging demoed for a few minutes, app pairing works, software version recorded, panel gaps and paint closely inspected.

If the sales rep still says no, escalate to the dealer principal and the carmaker’s customer care with your written request. Be ready to switch dealers. The only real downside is it can delay delivery a bit.

Anil

•27m

Thank you 🙏

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More questions on similar cars

Sanket Relkar

•8h

I am planning to buy my first car with a budget of around Rs. 15 lakh. Please suggest a car that is enjoyable to drive, comes with a smooth automatic transmission, and offers sufficient legroom and headroom, as I am 6'1" tall.

Autocar India

•1h

Get the Skoda Slavia 1.0 automatic. Its 6-speed auto is the smoothest in this price band, it has the best front seat space and headroom for tall drivers, and it’s genuinely nice to drive without feeling tired in the city.At 6'1", you will sit comfortably with a relaxed knee angle and good visibility, and the steering and pedal position suit long legs. The engine is quiet in traffic, but has enough pull for quick overtakes on the highway. Ride is absorbent, so bad patches will not beat you up, and the boot is huge for weekend trips. Expect roughly 12-14kpl in mixed use.The only catch is the lower automatic trims are simpler inside and you may have to stretch slightly on-road beyond Rs. 15 lakh depending on your city. If you can, go one trim up for better kit. Also in just about two to three months, Skoda will release an updated version so if you can wait, we would recommend you do so.

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s v rajan

•5h

I want to buy a mid-size SUV with a petrol automatic powertrain. My priorities are good fuel efficiency and strong resale value. The vehicle will be used mostly for city driving.

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris hybrid automatic for city use and the lowest fuel bills. In stop-go traffic, it runs on electric power a lot of the time, so you will see around 20-plus kpl in town, far better than regular petrol automatics. It feels calm and smooth at low speeds, and the steering is light and easy enough to twirl in traffic and also reassuring at higher speeds. Resale should be strong too as with most Maruti Suzuki models, plus with hybrids increasing in demand, your resale should be healthy.

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Rihan

•6h

I have a budget of 17 lakhs and want an EV for a family of 5. What are my best options?

Autocar India

•3h

Pick the Tata Nexon EV Empowered 45kWh version. For a family of 5 on a Rs. 17 lakh budget, it gives the most spacious cabin and easy step-in height for parents and kids, it rides well on bad roads, and its real-world range is enough so you'll have to charge it once or twice a week. You also get proper fast charging and Tata’s wider EV support, which matters when you are out with family.Do note that three big adults in the back will be shoulder-to-shoulder on long trips, but it is fine for two adults and a child. If your use is mostly city and you want to save money, the Tata Punch EV LR does the job, but space is tighter for five.

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Balaji

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I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India

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You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

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Zorro

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Hello Experts, I recently test drove the Citroen C5 Aircross, and my primary concern was the price, around 41-42 lakhs for a diesel model. I'd appreciate your expert opinion on whether it's worth the investment.

Autocar India

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The Citroen C5 Aircross diesel automatic is worth it if your top priority is comfort and a calm drive. It rides over broken roads better than almost anything at this price, the seats are soft and supportive, and the diesel is quiet and smooth, so long trips feel easy. Space is good, the back seat is friendly for three, and the boot is big for airport runs or weekend bags.The catch is value. At this price, others give more showy features and tech. Also, the Citroen brand has a small dealer network, so ready service is available only in pockets. Further, the Citroen brand is not very strong at the moment, and this will impact resale value down the road.Also note, the diesel engine is best suited for longer runs. If your daily life includes rough roads and frequent highway trips, pay for the comfort. If you want rich features, badge pull, or mostly city use, the price feels high.

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Arun Sharma

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I am looking to buy a new car, preferably an EV or a strong hybrid, mainly for my daily office commute. My monthly running is around 600–700 km, and I rarely take my own car on outstation trips, as I usually prefer to hire a cab or a chauffeur-driven vehicle for long journeys. I currently drive a Maruti Wagon R CNG and want to upgrade to an automatic car for a more premium, comfortable experience. My budget can stretch up to around ₹22-25 lakh, and my main priorities are: Hassle-free long-term ownership for the next 8–10 years Reliability and low maintenance Comfortable automatic driving experience Practical and sensible design without unnecessary gimmicks or flashy features Good efficiency and peace of mind

Autocar India

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Pick the strong-hybrid variants of the Maruti Grand Vitara, Victoris or Toyota Hyryder. The hybrid powertrain is very efficient; it is an automatic, and Toyota’s hybrid tech has a proven track record worldwide, so keeping it for 8-10 years should be stress-free.Since you don't drive out of the station at all, you could also consider the Hyundai Creta Electric with a 42kWh battery. For your daily office commute, it is a smooth, reliable option.

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