Hi team, I am looking to buy a new car with a budget of 14 lakh. My daily running is 50KM. I would be using it for just office commutes. This is going to be my second car. I already have a Toyota Innova Crysta. I have shortlisted: Honda Amaze ZX CVT, Thar 1.5 RWD (I am afraid of the upcoming diesel ban), and Tata Punch EV 40 KW Smart plus variant. Please help me finalise one.

autocar.india

•1d

Buy the Tata Punch EV now and sell the Baleno, because you mostly drive alone in the city, and the EV will cut your daily costs while the Carens stays for family and longer trips. The Punch EV is small and easy to park at hospitals, feels sturdy, sits a bit higher than a hatch, and the smooth, quiet drive is a real stress‑buster in traffic. Your Carens has very low running and is the better car to keep for outstation or airport runs; the Baleno overlaps with what the EV will do.Since you are considering an EV, we assume you have a dedicated parking spot with a 15A socket at home or at your clinic or hospital. Public fast charging is improving, but relying on it for all your charging needs is not practical.

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•1d

Pick the Tata Punch EV. For a 100 km daily run as a second car, its bigger battery gives you a safer buffer than the Tiago EV, and the higher ground clearance makes bad roads, speed breakers and monsoons less stressful.If you have parking with a 15A socket, the Punch EV’s mid-battery version will comfortably handle your commute with overnight top-ups and still leave range in hand for errands.Go Tiago EV only if the price is tight and you’re disciplined about charging daily. It’s easy to drive and cheap to run, but 100 km days will leave a thin cushion once you add AC, traffic and battery ageing.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

autocar.india

•2d

Pick the Tata Punch EV, provided you can install a home charger for the car too, because at 1500 km a month, your running cost drops sharply and you sidestep any E30 or diesel drama. It is small enough for Jaipur’s traffic and tight parking, but feels tough over broken roads. Coming from an Ather bike, the EV basics will feel natural - smooth drive, strong energy recovery in traffic, and no heat or clutch fatigue after long days. Real-world range is enough for typical city routes; most owners charge every few days rather than nightly. If your company pays a flat per-km rate, the low electricity bill means more money left in your pocket. Just make sure you have a dedicated parking spot with a reliable socket, and think about your longest single-day route. Summer AC and expressway speeds will trim range, and fast chargers outside city limits in Rajasthan are still spaced out, so plan ahead for outstation calls. Tata’s software and service can be a bit inconsistent, though it has improved. If those boxes are ticked, the Punch EV fits your use better than any petrol or diesel right now.

Tata Punch EV