I want to purchase a new car with a budget of around ₹40 lakh to upgrade from my 2020 S-Cross petrol. It should be an EV with AWD. I am interested in the E Vitara AWD if it launches this year. Otherwise, among the Sierra EV AWD, VF7 AWD and Harrier EV AWD, which would you recommend?

Autocar India

•1d

Thanks for being a loyal subscriber. As you've rightly mentioned, the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara gets two versions 144hp/189Nm motor with a 49kWh battery, and the other is 174hp/189Nm motor, 61kWh battery. The common factor between the two versions is the 189Nm motor torque, which makes it zippy. Of course, being more powerful, the larger battery version is likely to hit higher (three-digit) speeds more quickly, but within town (up to speeds of 60-70kph), the difference between their acceleration is likely to be negligible. So opt for the 61kWh version only if you need more range, else as a city commuter, the 49kWh version's performance should be more than sufficient.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Autocar India

•53m

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Kia Sonet

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•2h

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar