I am in the market for an EV. I am confused between the Harrier EV Fearless Plus 2WD 65kWh and the Sierra EV Adventure 2WD 63kWh. The price of both cars is the same due to discounts on the Harrier. My running is within the city, with occasional highway trips, and my annual running is about 15,000-20,000km. Rear seat comfort and overall comfort are important. Which car makes more sense?

autocar.india

•2d

First, a quick clarification: diesels are unlikely to be phased out anytime soon. There are tighter emissions norms and some city-specific restrictions to keep an eye on, but there is no immediate reason to avoid a modern BS6 diesel purely on the assumption that it will soon become unusable. Mahindra, in particular, is likely to continue offering diesel SUVs for as long as there is meaningful demand. The XUV 7XO AX7T’s 2.2-litre diesel remains a strong fit for frequent highway use, long-distance touring, heavy loads and buyers who value effortless torque and quick refuelling.Your EV reliability concern is understandable, but it should not be a deciding negative by itself. An electric car has fewer mechanical moving parts than an ICE vehicle, which can reduce routine powertrain maintenance requirements. The more relevant question is whether your charging situation and typical driving pattern suit one. If you have dependable home or workplace charging, the Harrier EV makes a compelling case with its quieter, smoother driving experience and substantially lower running costs. The Fearless+ gets a 65kWh battery with a claimed 538km range, while 75kWh versions claim up to 627km, though real-world range will naturally be lower and depend on speed, weather and driving style.If you do regular intercity runs, especially in areas where charging stops may be inconvenient, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is still the easier all-round ownership proposition. It is also likely to be the better choice if you plan to keep the car for a long time without changing your travel routine.If a hybrid is what you are after, there are now two relevant options. The MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV offers a useful EV-only range of around 100km, backed by a 1.5-litre petrol engine. However, a plug-in hybrid only makes sense if you can charge it regularly. The Kia Sorento is a conventional strong hybrid, so it does not need external charging and should offer better refinement and economy than a regular petrol SUV. It is, however, considerably more expensive than the XUV 7XOOur advice: Choose the Harrier EV if you have home charging and most of your running is urban or predictable. Choose the XUV 7XO diesel if long highway trips and maximum convenience matter more.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Sorento

MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV

Tata Harrier EV

autocar.india

•3h

Go for the Tata Punch petrol. With a family of five and a maximum monthly running of 500 km, CNG simply does not make financial sense. The savings are too small to justify the compromises in boot space and convenience. The Punch is the better choice over the Altroz because it offers a higher seating position, better ground clearance and a more robust suspension setup, which is particularly useful in a tier 3 city where road conditions can be unpredictable. It is also easier to get in and out of, which matters for family use. The Altroz is a good hatchback, but the Punch is the more practical and versatile option for your needs. As for ethanol, modern engines are engineered with tolerance for higher ethanol blends, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. The impact is mainly a slight reduction in fuel economy, not a reliability concern.

Tata Punch

Tata Altroz

autocar.india

•6h

Go for the BMW IX1 if you're looking for zippy yet seamless performance as well as low running costs. If you can arrange for home charging, the IX1 is certainly the better option. Pick the X1 LWB only if home charging isn't an option or if you frequently do over 500km road trips and don't want to plan for charging stops along the way.

BMW X1 LWB

BMW iX1 LWB