Want to buy a car with an on-road price of approx 18 lakh. Easy to handle & maintain. My usage is moderate with few upcountry trips. I would prefer a moderate EV.

autocar.india

•22h

Pick the Tata Punch EV 40kWh. It fits your 50 km daily grind and those occasional 200 km days without range stress, while keeping running costs far lower than petrol. It is easy to drive and park, rides well on bad roads, and you still get a modern cabin with a big touchscreen, and 360 camera on higher trims. Safety is solid too - the Punch platform has a strong crash-test record, and you get ESC and 6 airbags.Real-world range is about 240 km, so a 200 km day with AC is fine if you start full, DC fast-charging is also quicker with the facelifted version so a top-up on the highway should be relatively quick. You budget should get you the top Empowered Plus S trim.One catch: the rear seat is fine for two but fitting three can be a sqeeze. If that is an issue, you can stretch your budget and get a Nexon EV instead.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

autocar.india

•1d

You don’t have to sell the Figo yet. If it’s healthy, keep it 1-2 years more; parts and service are still fine, and depreciation from here is slow. The Rs. 2.75 lakh offer is fair for a 2019 petrol at 65k km. Try direct sale or multiple portals and aim closer to Rs. 3 lakh-plus if the car is clean.Pick the VW Taigun 1.5 if you upgrade now, because it’s the only one on your list that truly feels like a step up from your Figo for daily drives and relaxed highway runs. The 1.5 is punchy, and the steering and body control make city and highway drives enjoyable. One honest catch: the automatic can feel a bit hesitant in crawl; the manual is more fun if you don’t mind a clutch. The Honda Elevate is nice, but it isn't as enjoyable as the VW/Skoda SUVs.With 500-600 km a month in the city and about 2,000km a year out of town, an EV like the Nexon EV won’t pay back quickly unless you have cheap home charging and your running shoots up.Go petrol. Don’t stress about E20/E30 - the VW-Skoda 1.0/1.5 are E20-ready, and should not pose issues if and when E30 is rolled out.

Volkswagen Taigun

Honda Elevate

Tata Nexon EV

autocar.india

•1d

For your requirements, we think you should go for the MG Windsor. It offers the most space within your budget, and since seating 5 is a priority, it is the best choice. Your budget won't get you the 'Pro' variant with the larger battery, but given your daily usage of 50-80km, the standard version is more than enough. Plus, you should be able to get the fully loaded Essence variant, with all the bells and whistles, in your budget.The Tata Nexon EV is your next best bet, and though not quite as spacious as the MG, it's got the softer suspension, and you and your passengers will appreciate the resultant comfort. It has a larger battery, so the real-world range will be higher, but given your usage, it shouldn't make much of a difference. The issue is you'll only get a mid-range variant in your budget, so you might have to give up a few features. The Punch EV is simply too cramped in the rear seat to be used as a regular five-seater, compared to these two.Whichever you choose, make sure you can have a home charger installed, as that's essential to running an EV as your only car.

MG Windsor

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Punch EV