Hi Autocar team, I own multiple cars, all diesel and petrol driven, but I now want to buy an electric car. My usage will be approximately 1,500 km per month. I have shortlisted the Mahindra XEV 9e and 9S, but am unable to decide between the two. I am heavily built with a height of 6 feet 1 inch. In your reviews, Nikhil Bhatia mentions that the suspension of the 9S is softer, so I am confused. Kindly help.

autocar.india

•5h

Unfortunately, there are very few EVs that will give you a real-world range of 600km - even though their official rating says so - and fewer still with a 7-seat layout. The only one that fits the bill is the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, whose price is around Rs 1.5 crore. If that fits your budget, then go for it, as it is one of the best luxury EVs you can buy in India today. The other three-row EVs lower down are the Tesla Model Y L (6 seater) and the Mahindra XEV 9S (6/7 seater). Both have official ratings of over 650km, but the real-world range is likely to be more in the region of 500km. In our real-world range test, the XEV 9S with the largest (79kWh) battery pack returned 477km overall, and while we haven't range tested the Model Y L, previous Tesla models have proven quite efficient. If your budget can accommodate the Tesla at around Rs 65 lakh, you should get it. If not, the Mahindra at around Rs 22-32 lakh should be adequate.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Tesla Model Y

Mahindra XEV 9S

autocar.india

•5h

Pick the Toyota Innova HyCross. It is the only one here that is easy to drive and park in the city, yet still seats 7 or 8 in real comfort on trips. The hybrid shines in slow traffic, so your running costs drop, and it feels lighter and simpler to handle than the very long Carnival. Your comfort worry is also solved. The HyCross has a roomy middle row and a genuinely usable last row, with a comfier ride than the Fortuner’s ladder-frame setup. Your family will be happier day to day, not just on highways.You also get Toyota’s service reach and resale, which answers the trust question you have with MG. That peace of mind matters over the entire ownership period. It will not feel as plush as a Carnival or Majestor inside, and yes, you will miss out on some features, but the basics are spot on. If you still want that “limo” feel and are mostly chauffeur-driven with easy parking, the Carnival can work. For mixed city use with family comfort and low hassle, go for the HyCross.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carnival

MG Majestor

autocar.india

•10h

With just 12,000 km on your 2017 Datsun Redigo, the car is still relatively fresh mechanically, but the bigger issue is Datsun’s exit from India. While basic servicing and spares are still available through Nissan, long-term parts availability and resale value will only get tougher with time. If you plan to keep the car for another 5-7 years, it is still usable, but if you are already considering an upgrade, now is a sensible time to move on before resale value drops further.Between the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Baleno is the better upgrade. It offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot, a more comfortable ride and a stronger resale value. The Grand i10 Nios is a good city car, but the Baleno feels like a more substantial step up from the Redigo. Go for the Baleno petrol manual or AMT, depending on your budget and driving preference.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios