I am in a rather peculiar situation and genuinely need advice on how to move forward while keeping the right perspective. To give some background, I owned a used BMW 523i for four years and absolutely loved the experience. I eventually sold it because I moved back to Mumbai and only had access to open parking. By then, the car had also completed nearly 10 years in total. Over the last five and a half years, I have changed cars multiple times: Tata Nexon EV Prime (bought for ₹19 lakh, sold for ₹13 lakh) Upgraded to Nexon EV Max within 1.5 years (₹19.5 lakh, sold for ₹13.5 lakh) Upgraded again to MG ZS EV after 1.3 years (₹22 lakh, sold for ₹16 lakh) Finally bought a Skoda Kushaq top-end in September 2025 for ₹20.2 lakh through a good deal I do like the Kushaq, but now it feels slightly small after a new addition to the family (my baby), and my family also finds the rear seat less comfortable. At the same time, I still feel internally unsatisfied. It is not the badge value I miss, but rather the unmatched sense of satisfaction, thoughtful design, premium feel, and driving experience that I experienced with the BMW 523i and generally associate with luxury cars. I miss that feeling quite a lot. Luxury cars are beyond my ideal budget, but I could stretch financially with some sacrifices. I am seriously considering options like the BMW iX1 LWB, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with the 84kWh battery. I feel I could manage the loan over seven years, and if I make this purchase, I would ideally want to keep the car for at least 10–15 years. At the same time, I worry about EV resale values in the long term, although luxury EVs seem to hold value slightly better than mainstream EVs. Given my situation, do you think moving into a premium EV makes practical and emotional sense, or should I hold on to the Kushaq for longer? I would really appreciate an honest perspective.

Autocar India

•3d

Since the Audi A6 is the most under utilised, it makes sense to sell it and get an EV instead. Among your choices, the BYD Sealion 7 2WD gets you the biggest battery, which should deliver a real-world range of around 450km. Your fuel spend and fatigue will drop sharply thanks to smooth one-pedal driving and strong regeneration in stop-go traffic. The Sealion 7’s SUV stance and ride, cope better with Bengaluru’s roads than a low-slung sedan, and fast chargers in the city are now easy to find, while a home wallbox will be your primary charger.Keep the Innova Crysta. At 1.5 lakh km, it is still the most stress-free way to haul six people and luggage. With the EV becoming your new primary, it wont rack up the kms as quickly, but its worth keeping around as an alternative for trips where you don't want to plan ahead for charging. The Verna can stay as the spare city tool.On reliability and batteries, BYD’s Blade LFP battery pack has a good record. BYD also offers a pretty long warranty and the option to extend to 8 years/250k kms. The only real trade-off with the BYD is its smaller dealer network and slightly higher road and wind noise at highway speeds. A BMW iX1 is nicer inside and carries the badge, but it's cabin is tighter, has a smaller boot, and you will pay more for less usable range. Alternatively, you can also consider the Hyundai Ioniq 5 - its 84kWh is the largest in the segment, its cabin is premium and it is very nice to drive. Hyundai's network is also larger than BYD's which helps.

Audi A6

Toyota Innova Crysta

Hyundai Verna

BMW iX1 LWB

Autocar India

•3d

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid with captain seats. For chauffeur-driven usage in Bengaluru where rear legroom is king, nothing near this price gives you more usable space. The second row slides a long way, the chairs are high and supportive, and in the ZX (O) you even get the recliner with leg rest, which should feel close to your old Lexus for back-seat comfort.City use is where the hybrid shines - it glides off the line silently, rides gently over bad roads, and the cabin stays calm in traffic. The AC is powerful with roof vents for the rear, so three to four people stay cool without fuss. Safety kit is strong with multiple airbags and stability control, and higher trims add driver assists that help on longer runs.One thing to know: the ZX(O) stretches the budget in Bengaluru. If you'd like to consider an EV instead, check out the BYD Sealion 7. It too comes with a captain seat second row option, and has one of the smoothest EV powertrains for the money. But it's not quite as spacious as the HyCross, and of course the associate EV drawbacks are there, especially range on your occasional long-distance trip.

Toyota Innova HyCross

BYD Sealion 7

Autocar India

•10h

Yes, the electric Hyundai Creta will suit you quite nicely. The car has a very well-tuned electric drivetrain that is easy to drive. In the city, controls are light enough, and the ride is good. To support the additional weight of the battery, the Creta Electric’s suspension is stiffer than the ICE version’s, but it doesn’t translate into an uncomfortable ride. You can feel some firmness at low speeds, but road shocks are well in check, and what’s nice is that the stiffness has eliminated unnecessary (secondary) body movements, and even at highway speeds, the Creta Electric doesn’t lose its poise. So on your long trips, too, you will enjoy the driving experience. In true Hyundai fashion, the car is also well equipped and feels nice, and it feels nice and airy inside.

Hyundai Creta Electric