I am based in Navi Mumbai and am planning to buy an electric SUV or MPV. My daily commute is around 25km, while I typically drive 200km on weekends. I currently own a 2017 Hyundai Creta 1.6 diesel manual and have test-driven the Hyundai Creta Electric, BYD eMax 7 and Kia Carens Clavis EV. With a budget of Rs 30 lakh, which 6-seater electric SUV or MPV would be suitable for long-term ownership? I am also concerned about BYD's after-sales service and would like to understand how it compares with the other options in terms of service support and long-term reliability.

autocar.india

•2d

After 12 years and 1.2 lakh km with the Xcent, this is a good point to replace the car, particularly with retirement approaching. For around 1,500km a month and regular Bengaluru, Mysuru and Ooty runs, an electric car makes sense if home charging is available. The Creta Electric Long Range is the best fit because it combines a comfortable cabin, good ride quality, easy automatic driving and enough range for regular highway trips. In testing, the 51.4kWh version has delivered around 406km of real world range, while Hyundai covers the battery for eight years or 1.6 lakh km.The Hyundai Creta Electric is also well suited to hill driving because of the instant torque and smooth power delivery. Its ride is slightly firmer than the petrol Creta but remains comfortable, while the stable highway manners are a plus for longer journeys. The only consideration with an EV is charging availability on longer hill trips, so home charging is essential.

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•7m

For a second car that will primarily see city use with occasional long trips, the Kia Syros is the most interesting choice of the three. The Syros gives you a more substantial upgrade, with a spacious cabin, excellent rear seat comfort, a 465-litre boot and a premium interior while remaining under four metres. Its 2,550mm wheelbase is also longer than both the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue, which is why it feels particularly roomy inside.The low sales numbers would not be a major concern. The Syros uses familiar Kia powertrains and components, and Kia's service network is already well established. The headlamp position is unconventional and does expose the units to a greater risk of damage in a minor bumper corner impact, but it should not be a deal breaker if you like the car otherwise.The 360 degree camera is useful but not essential. It is particularly helpful in tight parking spaces and narrow city lanes, but a good rear camera and sensors do most of the job. It would not be worth choosing the Sonet's top variant solely to get a 360 degree camera. The Venue is the safer conventional choice if you prefer a newer, more established package, while the Sonet makes sense if you want a smaller, sportier-feeling cabin and more familiar product. But for your requirements, the Syros offers the most meaningful upgrade from a WagonR.

Kia Syros

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•3d

With your running of around 3,000km a month, two outstation trips a month, daily 100km commutes and weekend 150-200 km runs, an electric car does make sense, but only if you have reliable home charging or charging at your workplace.The Hyundai Creta Electric would be a very sensible choice and should suit your mix of city and highway usage well. It has an excellent ride, is light and easy to drive in the city, and remains stable at higher speeds on the highway. At your Rs 20 lakh budget, you would get the smaller 42kWh battery, which should suffice for your 200km drives, assuming these do not involve too many steep climbs, as these can reduce the range. If you can stretch your budget by about Rs 1 lakh, you would be able to get the larger battery pack, which would make your long drives easier.As for the variant, it would be the base and lower trims that would suit your budget, but you will still get the essential features like automatic climate control and a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Hyundai Creta Electric