I currently own a 2023 Tata Tiago Petrol Automatic. My monthly city running is around 600-700km, and about 4km of my daily commute is on extremely rough, rocky roads. My Tiago returns only 8-9kpl. I'm considering replacing it with another automatic car. Since there aren't many CNG automatic options, would an EV be a better choice within a 9 lakh budget?
An electric car can make sense for your needs if you can charge at home. If yes, the Punch EV 30kWh makes sense for your needs, but you will need to stretch your budget closer to Rs 11 lakh. The Punch has better ground clearance than your current Tiago and takes on bad roads very well. The base Smart trim is very bare-bones, so opt for the Smart+ instead.
If you must stick to your Rs 9 lakh budget, then the Tiago EV is the only other option. While it will lower your running costs, you will still need to deal with the low ground clearance. Apart from that, the updated Tiago EV's interior will feel like a step up from your 2023 model. The Pure+ trim has most of the basic features covered, and the 19kWh battery should give you sufficient driving range. Just beware, if your current Tiago scrapes its belly on the rough patch you encounter, so will the Tiago EV.
If you can't charge at home, the Punch CNG AMT is your best bet, but you will need to stretch your budget to about Rs 10 lakh. It has a dual-tank setup, so you still have a usable boot, the AMT works reasonably well and will make life easier in traffic, and it has the ground clearance you need.
Overall, the Tiago EV is a good fit for your needs if you can charge at home. If not, the Punch CNG AMT is worth stretching for.

Tata Punch EV
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@user_ewvpjz36 Go for Punch EV because a. Your ride will be far better than the Tiago b. Your running cost will be much lower, especially if you can have a charger installed at home. I personally made this transition last year and it has been a brilliant decision
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Posted on: 20 Jul 2026
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