How is the WLTP range figure calculated and claimed by car manufacturers? In real-world driving, these figures are almost never achieved. For example, my Citroën eC3 has a claimed WLTP range of 320 km, but even at 100% charge, the car usually shows only around 230 km of range. Why is there such a large difference between the claimed range and the actual real-world range in EVs?

autocar.india

•2d

Your understanding is mostly right, but it has two major real-world catches. First, the Supreme Court explicitly protected BS-IV and newer vehicles from automatic age-based seizures, meaning your 2017 Endeavour is legally safe to run past its 10th birthday in 2027, subject to passing routine fitness and emission tests. This provides great relief, but it only applies on regular days. The bigger immediate hurdle is that you cannot wait until GRAP Stage 4 to park your car. Under current regulations, BS-IV diesel private cars are banned from plying starting right from GRAP Stage 3. Because Delhi-NCR regularly hits Stage 3 during the winter months, your SUV will be legally grounded for long stretches of the season, and if caught driving, it will face a hefty Rs. 20,000 fine. In short, you can absolutely enjoy your Endeavour past 10 years on clear days, but you will definitely need a backup vehicle for the winter smog.

autocar.india

•2d

Go ahead with it. The Kia Syros’ low-set vertical headlamps aren’t especially vulnerable in city use. They sit behind a chunky bumper lip and cladding, so in slow nudges, the bumper usually takes the hit first.For daily city driving, the real risk is parking scrapes and two-wheeler footrests brushing past in traffic. Because the lamps are lower, they can pick up cosmetic scuffs sooner than a high-mounted setup. If you do manage a hard knock, LED modules are pricey to replace as a whole unit, so the bill can sting, but that needs a proper impact, not a gentle tap.Simple habits help. Leave a little gap to high kerbs while nose-in parking, avoid squeezing past auto-rickshaw corners, and make the most of the front sensors or camera if your variant has them.

Kia Syros

autocar.india

•3h

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to know what to recommend, but strictly speaking, for your family of six, the best car around is the Toyota Innova Hycross Hybrid. It's the most spacious car this side of Rs. 50 lakh and comes with one of the most efficient hybrid powertrains. The interior is flexible, so you can reconfigure it to suit your specific needs, and being an MPV, getting in and out will not be too difficult for your parents further down the line. It's a Toyota, so reliability is a given, and maintenance costs are reasonable too. In the city, the hybrid powertrain will run mostly on electric power, giving you a refined and relaxing experience, and on the highway, there's enough punch, even with a full load of passengers. If this is outside your budget, however, consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which offers a great mix of features, space and flexibility for the money. Plus, with a wide choice of engines and gearboxes, you should find something that suits you.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis