Is buying a diesel car or an EV more cost-effective in the long term?

Autocar India

•42s

In terms of running costs, an EV is certainly better than a diesel in the long run. Especially so if you charge mostly at your home and limit public charging, which is more expensive.

However, you would also have to factor in resale value. If you are planning to sell your car, say in about 4 to 5 years, an EV could potentially have a significantly lower residual value than a diesel, as the used market for EVs is yet to be established and values set.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XEV 9e

from ₹23.26 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sanjeev

•3d

I am planning to buy a 7-seater with a budget of ₹25-30 lakh. I like the Mahindra 7XO but am confused between the petrol and diesel versions. My running is 300-400 km per month with long trips once every six months. Please advise.

Autocar India

•20m

Given your low running of just 300-400km per month, it might seem that the petrol version is the right choice for you. However, while that is true of most cars that offer petrol and diesel options, in the case of the Mahindra XUV 7XO, the opposite might be true. For one, the price difference between like-for-like petrol and diesel variants is very small, when you consider the overall price of the SUV. And secondly, the diesel is the better of the two engines overall. It is almost as refined, it is smoother and more relaxed, and there is a small but important advantage in fuel economy, which will pay off in the long run. Plus, should you want it, you get the option of AWD with the diesel engine, which is not available in the petrol version.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Vijish

•3w

I have a 20 km one-way commute, and I wish to get a bike instead of a car for two reasons: first, the Mumbai traffic, and second, because a bike gives better mileage. My travel time takes approximately 1-1.5 hours. Which bike do you suggest that offers great ride comfort and decent mileage?

Autocar India

•35m

Since you have a pretty long commute and fuel efficiency is your priority, you should be looking at either a 125cc or a 150/160cc commuter motorcycle. In the former category, options like the TVS Raider, Hero Super Splendor / Glamour / Xtreme 125R and Honda Shine / SP125 / CB125 Hornet are bikes you should be considering. Do bear in mind that some of these are simple, no-nonsense commuters with more traditional seating positions, and some are feature-rich, snazzy-looking options - pick the one you think will suit you better. In the latter category, you should be considering Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ models and Honda Unicorn / SP160. Over here, the Yamaha and Honda bikes are slightly less powerful and have better fuel economy, while the other three are slightly sportier.In general, the 125cc bikes will be more fuel efficient and more affordable to purchase, while the 150/160s will be less so in both regards. However, if you spend a lot of time at fast highway speeds, then going for a larger machine will make sense because it will feel more relaxed at higher speeds. A test ride will help you decide which bike is the best fit for you.

TVS Raider

Hero MotoCorp Super Splendor

Hero MotoCorp New Glamour

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R

Honda Shine 125

Pracy

•1w

I need to buy a new car and am confused between the Skoda Kylq and the Kia Sonet. It will be used only in the city and driven by the owner. Please advise.

Autocar India

•1h

If it's a manual you are looking to buy, then we would pick the Kia Sonet, as you would find the clutch pedal and gear shifts lighter. Given that you are primarily driving in the city, this is something you would appreciate. However, if it's an automatic you are looking to buy, then the Skoda Kylaq would be our pick. The gearbox is a torque convertor unit, which is smoother and better suited to stop-and-go traffic than a dual clutch transmission (DCT), which is the auto option on the petrol Sonet.

Kia Sonet

Skoda Kylaq

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