I have been using a diesel car for the past 10 years. My daily commute is 25 to 30 km, with occasional long drives of around 300 km once a month. I want to switch to an electric car this time. Is it a good idea to buy an EV now? I am from a Tier 3 city in Andhra Pradesh, and I like feature-rich EVs. Please suggest one around Rs 25 to 30 lakh.

Autocar India

•16h

The Hyundai Creta Electric is the best model from your shortlist. It's got a very refined powertrain and delivers a good range (LR variant). It also feels the best-rounded thanks to its cabin being roomier than the Tata Punch EV's and Toyota Ebella's. The Tata Punch EV is impressive, but it is essentially two sizes smaller than the Hyundai Creta Electric. Correspondingly, it won't be as well-suited to family use as the Creta. Toyota's Ebella doesn't quite hit the spot. It's not particularly practical for its size, and the stiff ride quality also marks it down. The Toyota should be keenly priced when it goes on sale in the days to come.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Tata Punch EV

Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella

Autocar India

•1d

Among mid-size SUVs, there are several with genuinely spacious and comfortable rear seats, but the best choice depends a bit on your budget and whether you’ll be chauffeur-driven or driving yourself.At the top end of the segment, the Mahindra XUV 7XO offers a very roomy and supportive rear bench with good legroom and headroom The electric Mahindra XEV 9S goes a step further with a sliding middle row, which lets you prioritise either legroom or boot space as needed, and this adjustability makes a big difference if you often have adults in the back or use a child seat.Lower down the price band, the Tata Sierra stands out for rear seat comfort. It has an exceptionally accommodating back seat with loads of legroom, a natural, slightly elevated seating position and well-cushioned seats that give you that “loungy” feel. It’s the kind of rear bench you can spend hours in without feeling tired.If outright rear space is your priority, though, the MG Hector is still the benchmark. Its rear seat is very wide, so three passengers can sit comfortably, and the flat-ish floor helps as well. The low step-in height makes it easy for elderly passengers to get in and out, and the soft suspension setup does a good job of smoothing out broken urban roads. These traits make the Hector particularly well-suited if the car will be largely chauffeur-driven and rear seat comfort is at the top of your wish list.

MG Hector

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

The Skoda Kodiaq Sportline does not come equipped with hill hold or hill descent control. While hill hold assist is a convenient feature, especially for steep urban parking ramps or stop-start traffic on inclines, it’s not essential if you know how to manage the car on slopes. Hill descent control, on the other hand, is primarily useful for off-road conditions with loose surfaces. It’s not a feature you will miss in normal hill driving situations.This Skoda car is powered by a 204hp, 2.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox. The engine offers strong torque and smooth performance, which helps the car climb inclines easily. However, since the DSG is a twin-clutch unit, it can roll back slightly if you take your foot off the brake before the clutch engages. This is typical behaviour for such transmissions.You can easily work around this. Either use your left foot lightly on the brake until you feel the clutch bite, or engage the electronic parking brake when stationary on a slope. It automatically releases as you press the accelerator, making hill starts much easier.

Skoda Kodiaq