I want to buy an EV with a budget of under Rs. 15 lakh. I am considering the Punch EV, Nexon EV, and Windsor EV. My usage will be primarily in the city. My priorities are low maintenance costs, minimal software issues, and strong resale value. Which one would be the better choice?

Autocar India

•1d

Your use is mostly city driving with one long trip a month, so switching to the Tata Punch EV 40kWh as your only car makes sense. In daily traffic, it feels smooth, quiet and easy to drive, while the instant response makes gaps in traffic easy to manage. On the highway, it feels stable and cruises comfortably. Expect a real-world highway range of around 220-230km, which means you will likely need just one fast-charging stop depending on your speed and load. If your route has enough fast chargers and you can charge overnight at your destination, this should not be an issue, and overall, it is a better solution than keeping your Renault Duster and buying a smaller city car.Two things to note versus your Duster: the Punch EV’s cabin and boot are smaller, and range can drop sharply if you are travelling fully loaded with luggage on longer trips.If that does not suit your usage, then keep the Duster for the monthly highway run and get a Tata Tiago EV for city use only. Do remember that even if the Duster is used only once a month, it will still need regular upkeep. Choose this option only if the running costs and parking needs of owning two cars are not a concern.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

Autocar India

•4d

For a 40-50 km daily city run and a budget of Rs. 15-17 lakh, go with the Nexon EV 45kWh version in a mid trim. It suits your use and budget better than stretching for the Vinfast VF6. You’ll get more than enough range for the week with a healthy buffer; it is easy to drive and park, rides comfortably over bad patches. Also, Tata’s service reach is fairly wide. The Nexon EV has also proven to be a safe car.Do note, the Nexon EV’s cabin does not feel as premium as the VF6. But for office runs, traffic and the odd weekend trip, it works well.If you want a fresher shape and a bit more road presence from your shortlist, the Tata Curvv EV is worth a look.

Tata Nexon EV

Vinfast VF6

Tata Curvv EV

Autocar India

•30m

While there are a fair few options within your budget, we'll narrow the list down to models that can be had in mid-spec and above form. After all you don't want to pay Rs. 15 lakh and feel shortchanged on feel good features. Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Kia Syros use the same 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine. The engine is pleasant and comes paired to a smooth 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. However, it's the 6-speed torque converter automatic version that we'd recommend you opt for. The gearbox is well in tune with the engine's characteristics, and what you get is a very polished drive experience. Of the three, the Hyundai Venue is the best all rounder but is on the pricey side for what you get. The Kia Syros is easily the roomiest and feels most premium inside too. A firm ride does take away from the experience, though. The Sonet is the oldest of the lot but still holds its own in quality, tech and features. In fact, the Sonet that's in its run out phase (the next-gen Sonet comes in a few months) is available at very tempting prices without feeling like a last-gen model. If you like the robust build of your VW Polo, you might find a good replacement in the Mahindra XUV 3XO. There's a toughness to the package, and ride and handling are very well sorted. Go for the manual, though. The AMT is not great.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Kia Syros