I am planning to buy an electric car for mixed usage, including city driving, highway trips, and occasional hill drives. I have shortlisted the Tata Punch EV, Tata Nexon EV, and MG Windsor EV, but I am confused about which one would be the best choice. My key considerations are real-world driving range, highway performance, hill driving capability, and overall value for money. Could you please suggest which EV among these would suit my needs best and which variant I should choose?

Autocar India

•3m

Since your usage is a mix of city and highway driving, with occasional trips to the hills, it would be advisable to opt for the largest battery pack available. Among your chosen options, the standard MG Windsor has the smallest battery at 38kWh, the updated Tata Punch EV can be had with a 40kWh battery, and the Tata Nexon EV gets a 45kWh unit. MG has also introduced the Windsor Pro with a 52.9kWh battery pack, but it comes at a premium of almost Rs 2 lakh over the standard Windsor.

If you are willing to stretch your budget, the Windsor Pro will offer the longest real-world range of the three. In our testing, the standard 38kWh Windsor managed a combined real-world range of 308km, with an efficiency of 8.1km/kWh. With a significantly larger battery, the Windsor Pro should be able to deliver around 400km in real-world conditions.

Naturally, the range will drop when climbing hills, but you will be able to recoup some energy on the way down using the regen modes. If you are on a tighter budget, then the Nexon EV with the 45kWh battery is a good choice too. In our testing, it delivered an efficiency of 7.79km/kWh and a real-world range of around 350km.

Explore cars mentioned

Windsor

from ₹14.85 Lakh

Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.28 Lakh

Tata

Nexon EV

from ₹13.27 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Pradeep kukreja

•1w

Hello Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹12-14 lakh. I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX5 DCT, Kia Sonet HTX 1.0 DCT, Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT, and Tata Nexon EV 45 Creative. My primary car is an EV (MG Windsor), which I use daily for around 60-65 km. This new car will be my second vehicle, with a daily running of around 20-25 km. I did not like the road presence of the Venue much, although I liked its cabin. The Sonet has a strong road presence but feels a bit dated inside. The Brezza feels outdated both inside and outside, although it offers Maruti’s reliability. I also liked the Nexon EV, but the variant within my budget misses some features like rear AC vents. I am quite confused between these options and am specifically looking for an automatic variant. Could you please guide me on the best choice?

Autocar India

•1h

Since you already have an electric MG Windsor, it would be advisable to get a petrol vehicle that can be used for longer journeys as well as the short commutes you mentioned. Among your choices, the Hyundai Venue is a very good pick. Although it shares its powertrain with the Kia Sonet, the Venue is based on a more modern platform. In the HX5 trim you’ve chosen, it comes equipped with most of the essential features, including a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and even a sunroof.A facelift for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is expected, but the timeline is not yet confirmed. Sources suggest it could arrive around the festive season this year or even early next year. The exterior is not expected to get a radical makeover, but we do expect it to receive the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and 6-speed torque-converter automatic that does duty in the Fronx. If you are willing to wait, it could be a good option.

Abhee Parmar

I want to buy a sub-4 meter compact SUV. My daily travel is 110km. Should I buy EV, CNG or diesel? Which car should I buy for a budget of ₹13 lakh?

Autocar India

•6h

For your 110km commute, an electric car only makes sense if you can charge it at home overnight. In your budget, the Tata Punch EV with the 40kWh battery pack is a good pick and should deliver a real-world range of over 250km. This means you will likely need to charge it every two days. With the optional 7.2kW wallbox charger, you should be able to charge from 10% to 100% in around six hours.However, if home charging is not an option, then a diesel or CNG car makes more sense. Among the available options, the new Punch CNG and the Hyundai Venue diesel stand out. The top-of-the-line Punch CNG Accomplished + S with the AMT is within your budget and comes well equipped, along with a usable boot thanks to the twin CNG tanks.If you prefer diesel power, then the HX5 variant of the Venue diesel is within your budget. While it is not as well-equipped as the Punch, it is the physically larger vehicle with a roomier interior, and the diesel engine offers much better performance. However, if you want an automatic, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 14 lakh.Test drive all of these vehicles before making your final decision.

kEsHaV bAnSaL

I am confused between the Tata Punch EV, Toyota Ebella, and Hyundai Creta EV. I am not very sure about Ebella, as there is no clear timeline yet for its launch or delivery. Is the Creta EV a good option, or should I consider the Punch EV instead? Or would it be better to wait for the Ebella?

Autocar India

•2d

The Hyundai Creta Electric is the best model from your shortlist. It's got a very refined powertrain and delivers a good range (LR variant). It also feels the best-rounded thanks to its cabin being roomier than the Tata Punch EV's and Toyota Ebella's. The Tata Punch EV is impressive, but it is essentially two sizes smaller than the Hyundai Creta Electric. Correspondingly, it won't be as well-suited to family use as the Creta. Toyota's Ebella doesn't quite hit the spot. It's not particularly practical for its size, and the stiff ride quality also marks it down. The Toyota should be keenly priced when it goes on sale in the days to come.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Tata Punch EV

Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella

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