My monthly running is about 3,000 km, mostly on highways. Should I go for an EV?

Autocar India

•10w

Given your monthly running, yes you could opt for an EV as you would save on running costs. However there are three important things to consider.

Personal charging: You should have the option to charge at home or at your place of work. This is the most basic requirement as living fully on public charging is very challenging, given the paucity of free and operational chargers as well as the time required to charge.

The length of your journey; since you said most of you running in on highways, this is very important. Highway chargers are present but often can be occupied or even not operational, thus if your journeys are upwards of 300 kms, you will need to stop for charge with most EVs.

The route elevation; besides distance the elevation of the route is important as you can lose a lot of range with steep and long ghats.

Thus if your highway running is below 300 kms per trip with very few to nil ghat sections, you can safety opt for an EV, else you would be better off with a strong hybrid or even a diesel.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta Electric

from ₹19.08 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Rajesh R

•3d

My weekly car travel is 700 km, with 60% on state highways (two-lane) and 40% in the city. I'm confused between the Creta EV Excellence LR 51.4kWh and the Kia 2026 Seltos diesel manual or automatic. My yearly run is approximately 33,000 km. It is also for business purposes, with occasional visits to rural village areas up to 200 km, about three times a week. The above annual run includes all of this.

Autocar India

•2d

Since most of your driving is outside the city and even in rural areas, an electric car might pose some challenges like recharging. Rural areas don't have as many chargers as small towns or cities, and even if you do find one, voltage fluctuations are a common occurrence. Also, for long highway trips, an EV requires a lot more planning and factors like waiting queues at charging stations.Your best bet for a hassle-free ownership experience would be a diesel SUV. The Kia Seltos is new, updated and gets a tried and tested diesel engine that suits your needs the best. We would recommend the Seltos diesel over the Hyundai Creta Electric.

Hyundai Creta Electric

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Shivathmaja PS

•13h

I am looking to buy a car for my parents, who do not drive, so it will mostly be chauffeur-driven. My main priority is rear seat comfort. We are upgrading from a 2011 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. The car will mainly be used for highways and long trips, with minimal city usage. However, I would prefer an automatic transmission in case I need to use it occasionally in the city (Bengaluru). Before starting test drives, I wanted your suggestions on some suitable vehicles. Based on my initial research, I have shortlisted the following options: Honda City ZX CVT Kia Seltos HTX iVT Honda Elevate ZX CVT Škoda Slavia 1.5L Sportline DSG or 1.0 Monte Carlo AT Volkswagen Virtus Topline AT My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh. Which option would you recommend, especially considering rear seat comfort and highway usability?

Autocar India

•7h

Go for the Honda City ZX CVT. For chauffeur‑driven parents, it offers the comfiest rear bench, ample legroom, and a smooth CVT for Bengaluru traffic within your ₹20-21 lakh budget.Rear comfort is its strength: the 2,600 mm wheelbase helps knee-room, the rear seat is well-cushioned with good thigh support, and the ride is tuned soft for long trips. The 506‑litre boot easily swallows luggage for highway runs. ZX adds 6 airbags and ADAS with adaptive cruise control, useful on long highways. The CVT’s smooth creep and no shift‑shock make occasional city use easy. Versus your shortlist, Elevate’s rear bench feels upright, while Slavia/Virtus ride firmer and are more driver‑centric for back‑seat comfort.The one thing you give up is ground clearance in comparison to the Elevate. Also, if getting in and out is a concern, the Elevate's high-set seats would make it easier. A test drive should sort that out. For now, we recommend the City for its hassle-free ownership experience, reliability and most of all, a refined and comfortable cabin.

Amit Khanna

I am confused between the Mahindra XUV700 AX7T automatic and the Mahindra XEV 9S Pack 2 (above 70 kWh). My usage is mostly in the city with occasional long trips.

Autocar India

•8h

If you have home charging available, the Mahindra XEV 9e Pack 2 makes a lot of sense. Electric cars are extremely smooth in city traffic, offer instant torque and have much lower running costs compared to petrol SUVs.However, if home charging is not easily available and you prefer the convenience of quick refuelling for occasional long trips, the Mahindra XUV 7XO automatic is the safer and simpler choice. It removes the need to plan charging stops and will feel more convenient for highway travel.Choose the XEV 9e if you have home charging and want lower running costs with a smoother city drive. Choose the XUV 7XO automatic if you want maximum convenience for long trips without worrying about charging.

Mahindra XEV 9e

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