Now, this time I am planning to buy an EV. Please suggest the best option up to the 12 Lakh range.

autocar.india

•23h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG because your 2,500 km a month on highways needs very low running costs, and it stays within Rs. 10 lakh in the sensible mid trims. It sips far less money than petrol on long runs, the 1.2 engine is smooth enough for steady 90-100 km/h cruising, and Maruti’s wide service network helps when you are clocking big miles.There is a catch. CNG cuts boot space. If this is an issue, consider the Tata Tiago CNG. However, make sure your usual routes have reliable CNG pumps. If that is shaky where you drive, consider going electric, but only if you have home charging and your trips have charging stops you trust. The Tata Tiago EV will slash your fuel spend even more, but it needs planning for very long stretches. If you’d rather stick to petrol, expect higher running costs; among those, the Toyota Glanza or Maruti Baleno 1.2 are the most efficient, but they will still cost more per km than CNG.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Tata Tiago

Tata Tiago EV

Toyota Glanza

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

autocar.india

•3d

The Mahindra XUV 3XO EV is a good pick if you can charge at home, because it handles a 100km peak-hour city commute with ease and still leaves a healthy buffer. In real-world city traffic with the AC on, expect roughly 220-250km on a full charge, so an overnight top-up from a 15A socket every second day keeps life simple. The smooth drive, instant torque and strong regenerative braking make stop-go traffic far less tiring.Pricing sits at the upper end of your budget for the base AX5 trim. If you do not want to spend quite that much, you could save a few lakh and get the Punch EV instead. Range from its 40kWh battery will be comparable to the XUV 3XO EV’s 39.4kWh unit. The Punch is also smaller overall, making it easier to squeeze into tight spaces, though the trade-off is a less roomy cabin.Be honest about charging first. If you do not have a fixed parking spot and access to a plug, relying on public fast chargers during peak hours will soon become frustrating, and those charging sessions cost more. If home charging is sorted and your driving is mostly in the city, the XUV 3XO EV is a good choice. If your budget is tight, the Punch EV is the better bet.

Mahindra XUV 3XO EV

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•2h

Go non-hybrid. With only 20 km a week, you will never save enough fuel to cover the extra price of a hybrid, even over many years. Your running is low, so a simple petrol car or SUV will be cheaper to buy, easier to keep, and perfectly fine for short trips. Spend the money you save on a safer trim or an automatic that makes traffic easier, not on a powertrain you will not fully use.Hybrids shine when you crawl through city traffic every day and clock big yearly mileage. They are smooth and sip less fuel there, but the price gap is usually a few lakhs, and your fuel spend is tiny at roughly 1,000 km a year.