Hi Autocar Team, I currently own a 2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi (P) and have covered 100,000 km. My daily running is around 90–95 km for my office commute, and I live in Delhi-NCR while working in Greater Noida. I am a family of two, and my ownership experience so far has been completely hassle-free. The Swift is still running perfectly and delivers an average of around 22 km/l. Since I have now crossed the 100,000 km mark, should I consider upgrading? Given my daily running and the fact that I can manage home charging, I feel an EV could suit my requirements. Should I consider the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Alpha or the VinFast VF6 Wind?

autocar.india

•22h

The Hyundai Creta EV LR would be our recommendation. It offers the most balanced package of the three, with a strong real-world range, a well-sorted driving experience and Hyundai's proven electric car ownership ecosystem. The Maruti e Vitara 61 kWh is a good alternative with a larger battery and Maruti's service reach, but its cabin isn't as roomy and its ride quality isn't as comfy as the Creta EV. The Kia Syros EV ER is also a good option, but this Hyundai car has the edge in terms of overall size and its more conventional design. The Punch EV 40 kWh was a sensible choice, but if Tata's delivery situation in Goa is forcing you to look elsewhere, the Creta EV LR is the most dependable and well-rounded alternative.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Kia Syros EV

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•1d

Of the three, the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Zeta makes sense. The two Tata EVs are strong value propositions, with the Nexon being a good city car. For you, however, the e Vitara offers a good range, and Maruti's extensive and reliable service network can come in handy on your long family trips. Over your 8-10 year ownership period, it is also likely to be more reliable and give you a more predictable ownership experience. However, a point to note is that the rear is not very spacious and the boot is very small, so your family may not be very comfy at the rear over long distances, and the boot may not suffice for your family's luggage. If you can stretch your budget, you can opt for the Creta electric, which has a more comfortable rear seat experience and a larger boot too. It will also be very reliable and is nice to drive, with a well-tuned powertrain and easy and handy controls like a paddle shifter for regen control. However, with the base variant you will have a smaller battery, so depending on your long route, it might mean an additional charging stop. All in it is a much better all-rounder than the three you have mentioned, but the only point of concern is that you would have to pay more.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Hyundai Creta Electric

Tata Nexon EV

autocar.india

•16h

Between the two, the Kia Seltos is the better overall package. It is larger outside, roomier inside, and feels more modern and premium. The 1.5-litre engine and IVT combination is also excellent in terms of refinement and makes for a very relaxing car to drive in the city. With regard to your lighting concerns, this Kia car does come with LED headlights from the base model onwards, but LED fog lights are only standard from the HTX onwards. However, LED fog lamps should be part of the official accessories catalogue, so check with your dealer about the same.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXi (O) is also a well-equipped variant with LED headlamps and a good feature set. Its engine is also very refined, and the 6-speed automatic transmission is very smooth-shifting. The downside compared to the Seltos is that it isn't as spacious inside.Overall, the Seltos is a better choice for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris