I am looking for my first EV car. My requirements are a spacious cabin, a usable 3rd row, and good storage space that can fit a folded wheelchair, along with reliable service - please suggest suitable options. Thank you.

autocar.india

•3d

With 76,000 km in 4 years, you are clearly a high-mileage user, and that changes the EV equation. The bigger question is whether you are ready for the electric car ownership experience. If you have reliable home charging and your usage pattern is predictable, the Mahindra XEV 9S can make sense. But if your driving includes frequent long highway trips or unpredictable routes, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol remains the more hassle-free option for now, or perhaps a diesel to bring down your fuel bills.As for the XEV 9S is a very interesting product and will feel like a natural slide over from your 700; however, expect a softer-sprung suspension, which can be discomforting to passengers who feel travel sick, and the electronic features, while plentiful, can cause some more niggles than your 700. These points aside, the XEV9S is a good EV worth considering.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra XEV 9S

autocar.india

•19h

Go for a petrol automatic with a torque converter gearbox. Your usage is low, mostly city with occasional highway trips, so petrol is the right choice and a torque converter automatic is the most reliable and stress-free option for city driving. The Hyundai dealer is incorrect – Hyundai cars use DCT gearboxes on turbo petrol engines and torque converter automatics on naturally aspirated petrol engines, and they are both completely different. DCTs can feel jerky in stop-start traffic and can throw up some issues, while torque converters are smoother and more reliable in the long run.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the most sensible recommendation here. It uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, is reliable, easy to drive in the city and has Maruti’s strong service network; the ride too is geared for plush low-speed city comfort, on highways though there is some float at higher speeds. On the EV side, your low running does not justify the higher upfront cost, and you do not have a clear financial case for it. On the fuel blending concern, modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20, and there is no official roadmap beyond that, so it should not be a reason to avoid petrol. Furthermore, Maruti has said that they have built in a higher margin for material compliance to slightly higher ethanol blends, so on the material front you should be fine; mileage, though, would likely drop with higher ethanol blends, but this would be true across models. Thus, go for the Brezza automatic and you will have a hassle-free ownership experience.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•9h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 petrol. It is the better all-rounder for your requirements. The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is more powerful than the Safari’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and delivers stronger performance without a significant penalty in fuel efficiency. The XUV 7XO also has a more modern cabin, a larger boot and a smoother ride, which makes it the better family car overall. Mahindra’s service network is strong, and the 7XO has a good reliability track record.The Tata Safari petrol is a comfortable and spacious SUV, but its engine may feel strained with a full load. Its main advantage is a more comfortable third row than the 7XO’s. Overall, though, the XUV 7XO is the more rounded package.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO