Hi, I drive between Pune and Mumbai at least 16 times a month, with a monthly running of around 5,000 km. I was exploring an EV like the 9e or the Harrier for this kind of usage, but I still want to consider alternative options, maybe a hybrid or a diesel. What would you suggest? I’m okay with a budget of 25-30 lakh.

Asked by: Abhishek Bhalla

If you are comfortable with an EV and have easy access to charging, the electric options are sure worth a look. Your running costs will be lowest with an electric car. The Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra XEV 9e are good options within your budget. We did find the Mahindra XEV 9e to be the more complete package. You can read the Tata Harrier EV vs Mahindra XEV 9e comparison article for detailed insights.

Among diesel options, the Mahindra XUV 700 AT is a good buy for your needs. It's got a strong diesel engine, a smooth auto gearbox and is generally a good highway car. The Tata Harrier/Safari AT are also good but don't quite match the XUV on refinement. You could also consider the Hyundai Creta AT. While it's not as punchy as the XUV 700, the engine-gearbox combo is really good and fuel economy is a highlight.

Hybrid options include the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Victoris, and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. There are also mid-spec versions of the Toyota Innova HyCross and Maruti Suzuki Invicto within your budget.

Great fuel economy is a given on the hybrids, but the drive experience on the highway isn't as satisfying as what you'd get on the electric and hybrid options listed above.

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Harrier EV

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Autocar India Team

Nov 24, 2025

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Asked by: rohit kothari I am confused between the XEV 9S and the XUV 7XO. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, and I have my own parking space. Please advise. The new Mahindra XEV 9S and upcoming XUV 7XO will be closely related in many ways, sharing their body panels, interior layout and features. However, the two will be very different under the skin, with the 9S coming built on Mahindra's new-age INGLO electric architecture.If the majority of your usage will be in the city and you have the option to install an EV charger in your parking, the Mahindra XEV 9S would make more sense. For starters, running costs will be significantly lower than the petrol/diesel XUV 7XO, and there's also the other advantages you get on an EV - near silent running and supremely smooth performance. What's more, with the benefits available on EVs, the final price will not be much more than a comparable Mahindra XUV 7XO.The 7XO promises to build on the XUV 700's strengths by adding more features like a three-screen layout. The petrol and diesel engines will be carried forward from the XUV 700, but that's no bad thing because they are powerful and refined. That said, consider the XUV 7XO only if you undertake long-distance journeys frequently, where the lack of reliable public EV chargers can play spoilsport.

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Asked by: Akshay Patil Hi team, my monthly driving is around 1,000 km. I want to buy a diesel car, and my budget is Rs 17 lakh. Please help me select the right vehicle. I am open to both manual and automatic options. There are quite a few diesel-manual options available within your budget. You could go for a smaller but more feature-equipped vehicle or a larger, more powerful but less-equipped vehicle. Of the smaller vehicles within your budget, the Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO should be on your shortlist. Among the larger vehicles, the Hyundai Creta and Mahindra XUV700 are worth a look. As for automatic gearbox options, the best pick would be the Kia Sonet diesel GTX+ AT. The refined 1.5-litre diesel engine and smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission work really well together to deliver a premium driving experience. Hyundai also offers the same combo on the new Venue, though you'll need to up your budget to get a feature-equipped model.

Autocar India Team

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