Mumbai

•33w

Which is the best vehicle type for a daily commute of around 100 km: EV, petrol, CNG, or diesel? We undertake long drives only once every six months. Please help me choose the right car.

•33w

Given that your monthly running is quite high, we would recommend you consider an electric car. Most EVs on the market today will easily offer a range sufficient to cover your 100 km a day, and over the course of time, you will definitely save a lot in fuel bills.

However, it is very important to note that you must have access to your own charging at home or your place of work. Relying on public chargers will be difficult, given that you will have to find one vacant and working and then spend your time there.

We are unaware of your budget, but you can consider the Tata Punch EV or the Hyundai Creta Electric, both of which are good choices in their respective segments.

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Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.13 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta Electric

from ₹19.12 Lakh

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More posts on similar cars

•3d

How good is a budget EV on highways? Will it reasonably match a highway travel schedule?

•1d

Budget EVs can handle highway runs, but you need to plan your trip a bit differently. Most budget EVs like the Tata Punch EV or the MG Windsor have a real-world range of 200-300 km, so on longer journeys you will need to factor in charging stops.If you plan your route around fast chargers and start each leg with a full battery, you can keep your schedule fairly predictable. Charging times are the key variable. A 30-40 minute fast charge is typical, but availability and queue times can add up.In terms of performance, most budget electric cars can cruise at highway speeds comfortably, but you will see range drop if you drive aggressively or use the air conditioning heavily. Overall, a budget EV can do highway trips, but you need to build in charging time and be a bit more organised than you would be with a petrol or diesel car. If you are doing this kind of trip regularly, a diesel or petrol car is still the more convenient option. If it is occasional and you are happy to plan, an EV can work.

Tata Punch EV

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•1w

I have an old Honda City, a 2011 model, which we use for my kids' daily school commute. The daily travel is around 45 km. I'm planning to get a Tata Punch EV for the same purpose. Should I keep the old Honda City, or exchange it? It would be useful during the service period of the Punch EV.

•2d

The Tata Punch EV makes for a sensible upgrade for your daily 45km use. It will be far more efficient and cheaper to run than your Honda City, and the compact size makes it easy to manoeuvre in city traffic. The question of whether to keep the City comes down to how you plan to use the car. If the Punch EV will be your only car, it is worth keeping the City as a backup for longer journeys. However, if the Punch EV will be dedicated to the school run and you have access to another car for longer journeys, it makes sense to exchange the City and reduce your overall ownership costs. This Tata car is a reliable and practical choice for your daily commute, but keeping the City as a backup gives you flexibility if you need it.

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Honda City

•3d

Hi Autocar! I am planning to buy the Creta EV. The showroom is providing a 7.5kW charger at a cost of almost Rs 75,000. When I search online, I can find options starting from around Rs 25,000 for the same-capacity charger. Does it make sense to go for such a charger, or is it better to stick with the Hyundai charger? Can you also provide some recommendations for safe, reliable chargers available in the market?

•16h

Go with the Hyundai charger. The Rs 75,000 price is not just for the hardware; it also includes installation, integration with the car’s battery management system, and Hyundai’s warranty support. That matters because if you ever have a charging-related issue, Hyundai cannot blame a third-party charger. With the Hyundai charger, you have a single point of accountability.The cheaper Rs 25,000 chargers you see online are often basic AC wallboxes without installation, safety certification or integration with the car. They may work, but you are taking a risk with a Rs 20 lakh+ EV. If you do want a third-party charger, look for brands like Exicom, Delta, ABB or Servotech, and make sure the installer is certified and the charger is BIS-approved.But our advice is simple: for a new Creta Electric, buy the Hyundai charger, have Hyundai install it, and keep your warranty and support intact. The Rs 50,000 difference is not worth the risk on a new electric car.

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•1w

I want to buy my first car, and I have a strict budget of Rs 10 lakh. I will not use the car on a daily basis; I will drive it occasionally, and I live in Kolkata.

•5d

For a car under 10 lakh budget and occasional use, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno makes sense. It is a genuinely spacious hatchback with a comfortable ride. It's easy to drive in the city and has a proven ownership record. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and reliable, and Maruti’s service network in Kolkata is excellent, which keeps long-term running costs low.For occasional use, you want a car that is easy to live with, dependable and does not demand much attention, and the Baleno fits that brief perfectly. It also offers a good balance of features and practicality within your budget.If you prefer a slightly higher seating position, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is worth considering.

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•2d

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•3h

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

I am planning to buy the Tata Harrier Adventure X Plus Dark Petrol Manual, and I booked it two months ago. However, I am not sure whether I will receive the car within the promised timeline. Should I continue waiting, or should I start looking at other available options? Also, could you tell me the expected waiting period for the above-mentioned Harrier variant? My annual running is roughly 6,000 km, and the Harrier's size and space suit my requirements well.

•6d

With a running of just 6,000 km a year, a petrol engine is the right choice, and the Harrier petrol is a good fit if you like the size and space. The bigger question is the waiting period. Tata’s official waiting periods can vary by city and dealer, but for the Harrier petrol, it is not unusual to see waits of 2-3 months depending on demand and allocation. If your dealer is already saying it may not arrive on time, it is worth checking with other Tata dealers in your city to see if they have a shorter queue or a cancelled booking in the same variant.If you are happy with the Harrier’s space and comfort, it is worth waiting a few more weeks rather than switching to a different car. The only reason to change would be if you need the car urgently. In that case, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol is the closest alternative.

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