Hi, I want to purchase a new car for my wife as a replacement for the Santro, with similar dimensions. Her daily office commute is around 30 km. Will an EV make sense?

Autocar India

•9h

Considering your requirements, you should take a look at the Tata Punch Pure+ CNG AMT. It costs Rs 10 lakh on-road, and being an AMT automatic, you'll appreciate the convenience on your city drives. The Punch also comes with a dual cylinder setup that's placed under the boot floor, so you don't have to compromise on boot space on your highway drives. Furthermore, it still gets a spare wheel too which should give you additional peace of mind. The Punch CNG AMT is compact and feels easy to drive in the city and it feels planted and composed at highway speeds, which is exactly what you'd want. Alternatively, you can consider the Maruti Fronx Delta CNG. While the Maruti will be more efficient than the Tata car, it only comes with a manual gearbox and you loose out on boot space as the CNG tanks are placed there.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•9h

Since your running is very low and majorly in the city, a simple petrol automatic makes more sense for you. Consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI+ automatic as it falls in your budget and fits your brief best. The high seating means its easy to get in and out of and the big windows make it easy to see all around, which you'll appreciate. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is refined and the torque converter automatic gearbox is smooth, which makes it relacing to drive. Maruti’s wide service reach keeps ownership simple and the Brezza has also proven to be a reliable SUV. With only about 100 km a month, you won’t save enough on fuel to offset the higher price of an EV. An EV can still suit you if you have a fixed parking spot with access to a charger and you want a quiet and easy drive. If that appeals, look at the Tata Punch EV. Do note the upfront price is higher, and long-term battery ageing and resale values are still settling in our market.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch EV

Autocar India

•10h

Since you're looking for comfort and fuel efficiency, you could consider the 1.5 NA petrol versions of the Maruti Victoris or Maruti Grand Vitara. Both these are competent, no-nonsense cars that will meet your requirements. Also, being high-riding vehicles, ingress-egress will be easier than in your Honda City, and because you're seated higher up, visibility is also quite good. Since these cars are very similar beneath their skin, pick the one that you think looks better outside and in. You won't go wrong picking either.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Honda City

Autocar India

•5d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•6d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•6d

You need a car for pure highway use and want the longest stretch between stops; in that case, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh for its better real-world highway range. In our real-world testing, we managed 477 km on the highway, which suits your “pure highway” pattern. We have also tested the AWD Harrier EV, which managed 401 km (combined). While the RWD version should better that, it will likely still fall short of the XEV 9S’s range.One thing to note: the Mahindra’s ride can feel a bit floaty on undulating highway surfaces, so try it out before you commit. If that is an issue, the XEV 9e has a more settled ride.Overall, for highway-first use and maximum range, the XEV 9S 79kWh is the safer bet.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV