Hi Autocar team, please suggest an EV for elderly parents. Usage will mostly be in the city, with occasional highway trips of 200 to 250 km. Budget is approximately ₹10 to 17 lakh.

Autocar India

•1d

You’re moving from an Ignis and want a small, city‑friendly pure EV where comfort matters more than range or speed. Given that brief, we would pick the Tata Punch EV with the Standard battery in a mid trim, rather than the Long Range. It suits your use because the size is still easy to park, the higher seat makes it simple to get in and out, and the suspension feels more comfortable on broken city roads than most small cars. Compared to your Marutu Suzuki Ignis, the Tata Punch EV rides much better, and the cabin is far quieter, so your daily runs will feel calmer. Since you don’t need a big range, the Standard battery keeps price and weight down, which helps ride comfort too.Two things to keep in mind. The Punch EV is a touch larger than the Tata Tiago EV, so in very tight parking, the Tiago is still the easier tool. Also, Tata’s charging network is improving, but still uneven by area, so check chargers near your regular routes before you decide.On your question about more small EVs from Hyundai or Maruti, as of now, neither has a small, affordable city EV in showrooms. Maruti’s next EV is expected to be an MPV, and Hyundai too has nothing in the same bracket as the Punch EV. If you want the smallest footprint today, the Tiago EV remains the other good pick, but for comfort-first city use, the Punch EV fits your brief best.

Tata Punch EV

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Tata Tiago EV

Autocar India

•2d

Since your running is very low and majorly in the city, a simple petrol automatic makes more sense for you. Consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI+ automatic as it falls in your budget and fits your brief best. The high seating means its easy to get in and out of and the big windows make it easy to see all around, which you'll appreciate. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is refined and the torque converter automatic gearbox is smooth, which makes it relacing to drive. Maruti’s wide service reach keeps ownership simple and the Brezza has also proven to be a reliable SUV. With only about 100 km a month, you won’t save enough on fuel to offset the higher price of an EV. An EV can still suit you if you have a fixed parking spot with access to a charger and you want a quiet and easy drive. If that appeals, look at the Tata Punch EV. Do note the upfront price is higher, and long-term battery ageing and resale values are still settling in our market.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch EV

Autocar India

•6h

If you're already leaning towards the Tesla Model Y L, you should go for it, as, for the money, it's one of the best EVs out there. At this time, we're yet to review the L, but the improvements it promises over the standard-wheelbase models are impressive. For one, there's the additional space, captain's chairs for the second row and a usable third row, which already elevates it above most others at this price point. The already long list of features gets an upgrade with heating and ventilation in the second row, faster wireless chargers and an upgraded sound system. They've even added adaptive dampers, which should address a big criticism of the standard models - a harsh ride quality. The biggest gains, however, appear to have been to performance and range, thanks to a dual-motor setup with around 500hp, and with a 681km WLTP range, expect upwards of 500km on a full charge in the real world, as Teslas are known to be quite efficient. Downsides you should be aware of - the wheelbase is 150mm longer, but ground clearance has only gone up by 2mm (now 169mm), so be careful over speed breakers. And shortcomings of old remain, like very few buttons on the interior, and a quality that doesn't feel good enough at this price range. However, we're sure you're familiar with the vehicle already, as you're already inclined towards it. Another alternative that's very appealing is the new Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric, which has an even longer range and tech that's arguably on par with Tesla. However, it is nowhere near as spacious as the Model Y L.

Tesla Model Y

Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric

Autocar India

•1d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

Autocar India

•5d

If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV