I am planning to buy an EV. I am 55 years old, and I will be driving about 150km outside the city on ECR, Chennai, every other day. I am looking for a comfortable drive, particularly considering my age and the distance involved. Please suggest some options.

autocar.india

•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With 20 km a day and only a few 200-300 km trips a year, the Seltos keeps life simple on highways and in the city, with wide service support and no charging stops to plan. It also gives you the most rounded mix of space, features and safety from your shortlist, and it feels easy to drive every day.The Seltos is E20 compliant, and material-wise, it should be fine with slightly higher blends. A drop in fuel efficiency, though, is to be expected from higher ethanol content. The honest catch is the running cost. An EV like the Mahindra XEV 9e will be cheaper per km and quieter. If you have a fixed parking spot with a plug at home, the XEV 9e starts to make sense for your short daily runs, but fast-charging on intercity routes can still be hit-or-miss outside big cities. Alternatively, consider the Hyundai Creta Electric.Overall, the Seltos makes the most sense for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XEV 9e

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•45m

Get the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid, because nothing under Rs. 30 lakh will save more fuel in real city traffic. The hybrid runs on electric power at low speeds, so you’ll often see the engine off in jams and still average 20-plus kpl in town. It is easy to drive, has a smooth automatic transmission, good ground clearance and enough space for a small family.Be aware the hybrid’s boot is smaller than the pure petrol, and high-speed performance is calm rather than exciting.If your usage is mostly long highway runs, a diesel will make more sense on the open road. In that case, the Kia Seltos diesel is the efficient highway pick, with strong cruising and good efficiency if you keep steady speeds.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1h

Buy a simple petrol automatic hatchback or compact sedan with a naturally aspirated engine. It suits your 200 km a month, occasional 400 km trips, and makes learning easy. Diesel won’t pay back for your usage and can hate short runs. CNG saves only with high km and is a pain on highway trips with long queues and a small boot. Budget electric cars under Rs. 15 lakh can work only if you have home charging and don’t mind planning stops on those 400 km runs.Stick to a naturally aspirated petrol. It’s smoother at low speeds, simpler for 8-10 year ownership, and real-world mileage is steadier than small turbos that tempt you to drive harder and are sensitive to driving style. Get the automatic to reduce stress; you’ll drive more often because it’s easy.Models that fit your plan and budget now and should still be around in 2027 (if that is what you mean): Maruti Suzuki Baleno or Toyota Glanza automatic for top mileage and easy city manners, Honda Amaze automatic if you want a comfy sedan with a big boot for trips, or Tata Punch automatic if you like a higher seat and extra ground clearance. You’ll give up a little mileage with an automatic, but the ease is worth it.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Glanza

Honda Amaze

Tata Punch