Every mass market EV real world range tested

As is the case with nearly every EV on sale in India, there’s a homologation process conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), from which an MIDC range figure is announced. While this ARAI-rated range is used by carmakers on their brochures, very rarely do electric cars achieve this number in the real world. We’ve listed the real-world range of the top EV cars in India put through Autocar India’s stringent and methodical tests, which ensure accurate results.

Tata Tiago EV

Tiago EV 24kWh has a real world range of 187km

Tata Motors’ smallest and most affordable EV comes with two battery pack options – 19.2kWh and 24kWh. The larger pack powers a 74hp, 114Nm motor and has a claimed range of 275km. Our real-world tests saw the Tiago EV 24kWh achieve 187km on a combined city and highway cycle, posting a respectable efficiency figure of 7.77km/kWh. Tata has just given the Tiago EV an update for 2025 and claims that the MIDC range has increased to 293km. The EV is priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 11.14 lakh.

MG Comet EV

Comet EV gets 17.3kWh battery with 193km real world range

MG Motor India’s most affordable model gets a sole 17.3kWh battery powering a 42hp electric motor, and it has a claimed range of 230km. While the Comet EV has the smallest battery on this list, it is the most efficient of all, posting an impressive 11.17km/kWh and a combined range of 193km, thanks to its light weight and relatively low-power motor. The prices for this tallboy EV range between Rs 7.36 lakh and Rs 9.86 lakh; however, those who opt for MG Motor's BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) programme would pay between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.50 lakh, with an additional Rs 2 per km for the battery rental.

Citroen eC3

The eC3's 29.2kWh battery goes 228km in the real world

The Citroen eC3 has a 29.2kWh battery pack that powers the front wheels via a 57hp, 143Nm motor. While the electric high-riding hatch is rated at 246km on a full charge, our range tests saw it accomplish a combined (city and highway) range of 228km, which translates to 7.8km/kWh. The eC3 rivals the Tiago EV and costs between Rs 12.9 lakh and Rs 13.53 lakh. 

Tata Punch EV

Punch EV LR gets 35kWh battery with 229km real world range 

Like every other Tata EV, the Punch EV is available with more than one battery option: 25kWh (Standard Range) and 35kWh (Long Range). We’ve tested the latter, which has a 122hp, 190Nm motor and an ARAI-rated range of 365km. However, our range tests saw the small e-SUV go a combined 229km, 1km more than the eC3. Its efficiency figure is significantly lower at 6.54km/kWh. The Punch EV is priced in the Rs 9.99 lakh-14.44 lakh range.

Mahindra XUV400

XUV400's 39.4kWh battery delivers 251km in the real world

Mahindra’s answer to the Tata Nexon EV now comes only with the 39.4kWh battery; there was a 34.5kWh option available earlier. We got our hands on the larger battery version with a 150hp, 310Nm motor. However, it should be noted that unlike other models here, the XUV400’s MIDC range does not account for highway tests, which is why the figure is significantly higher at 456km. This makes its real-world range of 251km seem much smaller in comparison. The Rs 17.49 lakh Mahindra XUV400 secured a 5-star BNCAP crash-test rating last November.

MG Windsor EV

Windsor's 38kWh battery pack has a tested range of 308km

MG’s latest model, which arrived last September, recently received a larger battery version with a Pro suffix. The standard Windsor is powered by a 38kWh battery, which has an ARAI range of 332km, and it comes with a 136hp, 200Nm motor mounted on the front axle. The Pro variants get a 52.9kWh unit with up to 449km of ARAI range. Interestingly, the MG Windsor EV is one of the few models here that posted a real-world number close to its ARAI figure. It achieved a combined (city and highway) range of 308km, delivering an impressive efficiency of 8.1km/kWh. MG Windsor prices start at Rs 10 lakh for the entry-level variant with the BaaS programme and at Rs 14 lakh without it.

MG ZS EV

ZS EV gets a sole 50.3kWh battery with 339km of real world of range

MG Motor India’s first EV in our market, the ZS EV, packs a 50.3kWh battery that powers a 177hp, 280Nm motor and has an ARAI range of 461km. This figure, like the XUV400’s, does not account for a highway (or extra urban) cycle, which is why it’s so high. Our tests showed that the ZS EV managed to go 339km on a single charge, an efficiency of 6.7km/kWh. The ZS EV, like other MGs, is included in the BaaS programme, with prices starting at Rs 13 lakh and going up to Rs 15.51 lakh. However, buying the EV without the aforementioned plan will drive up the entry-level variant’s price to Rs 17.99 lakh and that of the top-spec ZS EV to Rs 20.50 lakh.

Tata Nexon EV

Nexon EV 45 has a 350km real world range

While the Nexon EV was available for sale with 30kWh, 40.5kWh and 45kWh battery pack options – with ARAI ranges of 275km, 390km and 489km, respectively – Tata discontinued the 40.5kWh version, which was among the models we had tested. Called the Nexon EV LR, it came with a 145hp, 215Nm electric motor, with a claimed range of 273km and an efficiency of 6.8km/kWh.

We have also tested the Nexon EV 45, which is powered by a 150hp, 215Nm motor. Our real-world tests showed the 45kWh battery can do 350km on a single charge, recording an average efficiency of 7.79km/kWh. This electric compact SUV is currently priced from Rs 12.49 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh.

Tata Curvv EV

Curvv EV 55's tested range is 365km

Tata’s Curvv EV, available with 45kWh and 55kWh battery pack options, is priced between Rs 17.49 lakh and Rs 21.99 lakh. The larger battery pack is said to take the coupe-SUV as far as 502km, but our tests showed a real-world range of 365km on a combined cycle, resulting in a calculated efficiency figure of 6.64km/kWh.

Tata Harrier EV

Harrier EV AWD gets a 75kWh battery with 401km real world range

The top-spec Tata Harrier EV AWD comes with a 75kWh battery that powers two motors – one on each axle – delivering a combined 313hp and 504Nm of torque. While the Tata’s flagship EV has an ARAI range of 622km, our Harrier EV AWD range tests showed the heavy-weight SUV had an overall range of 401km on a single charge, posting a combined efficiency of 5.35km/kWh. The Harrier EV AWD is priced from Rs 28.99 lakh, while the RWD versions cost between Rs 21.49 lakh and Rs 27.49 lakh. Lower variants get a 65kWh battery with an ARAI range of 538km.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Creta Electric LR's 51.4kWh pack has a real world range of 432km

The Hyundai Creta Electric is on sale with 42kWh and 51.4kWh battery options, with ARAI ranges of 390km and 473km, respectively. Our Creta Electric Long Range real-world tests showed the 51.4kWh battery can go 432km on a single charge, which is just 40km short of the MIDC range. Hyundai’s Mahindra BE 6 rival also posted an impressive efficiency figure that is the second-highest on this list – 8.4km/kWh. The Creta Electric LR has a 171hp, 255Nm front axle-mounted electric motor and is priced between Rs 21.50 lakh and Rs 24.38 lakh. The Creta Electric 42kWh costs Rs 17.99 lakh-Rs 20.88 lakh.

Mahindra BE 6

BE 6 Pack with the 79kWh battery has 449km real world range

The first of Mahindra’s born EVs, the BE 6, is available with 59kWh and 79kWh battery pack options. While the ARAI-certified range is 682km, our real-world test of the top-spec BE 6 Pack Three – which is only available with the larger 79kWh battery – showed the Hyundai Creta Electric rival averaging 449km on a single charge. The Mahindra BE 6’s 79kWh battery delivers 5.68km/kWh, the lowest among the EVs tested so far, and that’s due to the powerful 286hp, 300Nm motor and portly 2,115kg kerb weight. Prices for the BE 6 start at Rs 18.90 lakh and go up to Rs 26.90 lakh, but they do not include a fast charger option and its installation cost.

Mahindra XEV 9e

XEV 9e Pack Three's 79kWh battery goes 456km on a single charge

Interestingly, the larger and heavier Mahindra XEV 9e Pack Three (2,201kg), which gets the same 79kWh battery and 286hp, 300Nm motor as the BE 6, was more efficient, with a longer range than its smaller sibling. While the range-topping variant of the coupe-SUV has an ARAI range of 656km, our XEV 9e real-world tests saw it achieving a combined range of 456km, posting an efficiency figure of 5.78km/kWh. Mahindra’s Tata Harrier EV rival is currently priced from Rs 21.90 lakh to Rs 30.50 lakh.

All prices, ex-showroom, India