As a city car, the Mahindra XEV 9E/9S offers a good range and will work well. You’ll typically only need to charge it every couple of days, depending on your usage. In fact, if you have home charging, an EV is even more convenient than an ICE car. On the highways, it's a different story altogether. A road trip in an EV can be an adventure, as the public fast-charging network can be hit-or-miss. With some proper planning and back-ups (for charging) built into your itinerary, it is possible to travel across India except for very remote locations. The good thing is that the XEV 9E/9S has a good range, and you can comfortably get 400+ km on one charge with some careful driving. The software issues are largely resolved, as Mahindra is constantly updating the software on its EVs to iron out bugs. We have also seen a dramatic reduction in customer complaints. Though the XEV’s INGLO platform is designed to take AWD, the cost of an AWD variant is too high. Therefore, Mahindra doesn’t feel that there is an immediate market for it. Hence, an AWD variant is unlikely to be launched in the coming year.

The two Royal Enfield 650s you are looking at are limited in terms of comfort in one way or another. The Continental GT 650 - with its committed rider's triangle - will be comfortable only for short blasts before you start to become uncomfortable. Meanwhile, with its rather stiff rear suspension, the Bear 650 will toss you around over anything other than perfect tarmac roads. Between the two, we'd still recommend choosing the Continental because at least you have the peace of mind of tubeless tyres if you fit the accessory alloy wheels to it, which isn't possible on the Bear. If you are open to considering the Interceptor, that makes for a fun Sunday bike, too, with far fewer compromises than both of its aforementioned siblings. A test ride of all three will help you make up your mind.

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO mainly because it has a third row (which the Tata Sierra and Harrier do not), and it will be a comfortable spot for your dog.Apart from the additional seating, the XUV 7XO, which is an updated version of the XUV700, works very well for long trips. It makes a great highway car thanks to strong petrol and diesel engines and good high-speed stability. Mahindra has a vast service network, so your concern is also taken care of.

Between the cars you have shortlisted, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx stands out as an outlier because it is over ₹3 lakh cheaper than the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra 3XO. If value for money is your priority, the Fronx with the 1.0 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 6-speed automatic makes a lot of sense. The engine feels punchy, and the automatic gearbox is smooth. The Fronx is also spacious and comfortable with a sufficiently large boot. That said, compared to the others, it offers fewer premium features, and the cabin design and quality feel more basic.Between the Hyundai Venue and the Mahindra 3XO, the choice is much closer as both are strong products. The 3XO is wider and works better as a five-seater, and it is also the more engaging car to drive. The Venue, on the other hand, feels more polished overall, with better feature execution, slicker infotainment and digital instrument screens, and a significantly larger boot than the 3XO.