I want to buy a new car with a maximum on-road budget of Rs 15 lakh. My annual running is very low, around 5,000-6,000 km, with about 70 percent of the driving on highways and hills and 30 percent in the city. We are a family of five and enjoy highway trips together. I have been using a Renault Kwid for the past 10 years with about 50,000 km of running, and now want to upgrade. Which car would you recommend?

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Tata Nexon EV with the 45kWh battery. You can easily expect around 350km of real-world range, and with home charging, you can top up its battery overnight and run for a week without worry, keeping your 50-75km usage in mind. In daily traffic, it feels smooth and quiet.But if you can't arrange for home charging, then you could consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel-AT option. Keep in mind, being an AMT, gearshifts aren't very smooth, and on account of its weight, the XUV 3XO won't be as efficient as a Kia Sonet or Hyundai Venue diesel-automatic, which will also be far smoother to drive.

Tata Nexon EV

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2d

The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7L is substantially more expensive than the Maruti Brezza ZXI+; however, you get a lot more for the money. In addition to features like ADAS, all-wheel disc brakes, etc, you also get a more powerful 131hp turbo-petrol engine. It makes the drive experience far more effortless, both in the city and on the highway. Also, the XUV 3XO's cabin feels a lot more upmarket and airy, not only due to the bright interiors, but also due to its panoramic sunroof. As a product, it is certainly superior to the Brezza.Space-wise, though, the Maruti Brezza is similar, and both cars feel equally capable over bad and broken roads. The Brezza has an edge in terms of boot space, and its fuel-efficiency will be better than the Mahindra's. The Maruti's overall ownership experience with its wider service network is likely to be trouble-free as well. In case you're going for the Brezza, wait for the updated version which is likely to be launched in a few months.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•12h

If you can install a charger at home, then go for the Tata Nexon EV 45kWh with your 250km daily Greater Noida to Gurgaon run, it is the calmest, lowest-cost way to cover this distance on a single charge. In our real-world testing, the 45kWh Nexon managed 350km (combined city and highway) on one charge, which is enough for your commute with some buffer. It feels smooth and quiet, pulls cleanly for quick lane changes, and the higher seating position and light steering make long hours less tiring.One thing to be aware of: at very high speeds, the range will drop faster, so stick to a steady 80–90kph to comfortably finish the day without a top-up. If you want to stick with CNG and need three rows, then consider the Kia Carens Premium (O), which can be had with a dealer-fitted CNG kit.Do a test drive of the Nexon on part of your actual route to see the range you get at your usual speed.

Tata Nexon EV

Kia Carens