Hi, I have a budget of Rs 20 lakh and typically keep my cars for at least 10 years. My annual running is around 12,000 km. I am confused between the Kia Seltos HTE(O) petrol or diesel automatic, Kia Carens Clavis EV, and Hyundai Creta EV. Which would be the best buy?

Autocar India

•1d

Thank you for your kind words :-)Your use will be mostly in Bengaluru city, with one long 180 km run each week to the plant, while your parents do daily 45 km trips in the Creta. In this mix, pick the Hyundai Creta Electric, ideally the larger-battery version, and leave the petrol Creta with your parents. It suits your Bengaluru routine better because it is easy to drive and very quiet, so daily traffic is less tiring, and its size is simpler to park than a big three-row car. For the weekly highway run, an EV works if you charge at home and either top up at the plant or plan a quick stop on the route. There are public fast chargers on most big Bengaluru highways now, including towards Andhra, but do check your exact route and set up a charger at the plant if you can. The Kia Carens Clavis EV only makes sense if you often carry six or seven people or lots of gear; otherwise, you pay more, use more energy, and don’t gain much for solo trips. For your pattern, Creta Electric fits best.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•1d

We would recommend the MG Windsor. Within your budget, you should be able to get the top variant with all the features, along with the larger 52kWh battery pack. This battery should comfortably handle your daily 200km city commute with the AC running. In real-world conditions, the Windsor offers a range of well over 300km on a full charge. The car is comfortable and easy to drive; however, with most of the controls, like even outside rear view mirror adjustment located within the touchscreen, it's not a user-friendly experience. That aside, the space is plenty, and the ride is comfortable enough over bad city roads. As an option, you could consider the Hyundai Creta EV. At around Rs 20 lakh, you would be able to buy the base variant. While you will miss out on some features, you will still get a car that is very easy to drive. It has light controls, a well-tuned suspension, and a smoothly calibrated powertrain.

MG Windsor

Hyundai Creta Electric

Autocar India

•2d

With 1,200 km a month in Chennai and mostly city traffic, moving to one automatic is sensible if your family’s schedules work with a single car. In that use, the Tata Nexon EV Medium Range is the stronger fit in your Rs. 15-17 lakh window. It is very smooth in stop-and-go traffic, there is no clutch heat or strain, and the instant response makes gaps easy. Your monthly running suits an EV well, and if you can install a home charger, you start each day with a full “tank” and very low running costs. As your only car, the Nexon EV has enough space for a small family, rides comfortably over broken patches, and feels easy to place in tight lanes and parking. If you can stretch your budget, the Hyundai Creta EV would make for a much better EV with a better driving experience and a larger and more comfortable car. Two watch-outs: you need a fixed parking spot with charging, and longer highway trips will need some planning around chargers.If you would rather stay with petrol, pick the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic in a mid trim. It keeps life easy in traffic, sits a bit higher for a better view, and you already know Maruti service from your S-Cross, and if you can stretch for the hybrid, it will keep your fuel costs in check. Overall, for city-heavy use, the Nexon EV makes the most sense.

Tata Nexon EV

Hyundai Creta Electric

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara