Maruti finally launched the e Vitara, its first electric offering, more than a year after unveiling it. Priced competitively from Rs 15.99 lakh ex-showroom, inclusive of battery, the e Vitara sits in the heavily contested midsize EV space, with the Creta Electric – the EV counterpart of Hyundai’s bestseller – being a close rival. In this article, we compare their top-spec variants, the e Vitara Alpha and the Creta Electric Excellence LR, to see which one offers more value.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Dimensions
e Vitara has a longer wheelbase, but Creta Electric offers additional frunk storage
The e Vitara has a 90mm longer wheelbase than the Creta Electric and is slightly wider. However, the Hyundai is 65mm longer, rides 15mm higher and has 127 litres more boot space, not to mention an additional frunk that the e Vitara lacks.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Battery and range
e Vitara boasts a bigger battery pack and a higher claimed range
In the top-spec version, the Creta Electric comes with a 51.4kWh battery pack and the e Vitara with a 61kWh unit. Both have a front-axle-mounted single-motor setup. While the e Vitara slightly nudges ahead with 3hp more, the Creta Electric packs more grunt with 62Nm higher torque output. As for claimed range, the e Vitara can go up to 33km further than the Creta Electric on a single charge.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Charging speed and time
Creta Electric supports faster charging speeds
The Creta Electric supports faster charging speeds: home top-up is up to 11kW AC versus 7.4kW maximum for the e Vitara, while the DC fast charging goes as high as 100kW compared to the rival’s 70kW. Thus, juicing up the Creta Electric is quicker not only because of faster charging support but also due to a smaller battery.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Exterior features
e Vitara runs on larger wheels and gets fog lamps
Both the e Vitara and the Creta Electric come with LED light setups, but the e Vitara additionally gets fog lamps. Moreover, its alloy wheels are a size larger at 18 inches. Monotone and dual-tone colour options are offered with both models, but only the Creta Electric can be opted for with a matte finish for the exterior. Notably, the e Vitara is purely a born-electric model, while the Creta Electric is an ICE-to-EV converted model.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Interior features
Creta Electric packs more feel-good features
The e Vitara comes with leatherette dashboard inserts, additional adjustment for the powered driver’s seat, two extra speakers and more USB ports over its rival. But the Creta Electric offers more useful features, such as a powered front passenger seat with boss mode, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone AC, a wireless phone charger for the second row and a cooled glove box.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Driving tech
Drive modes are same, but e Vitara also gets a snow mode
Both EVs come with three drive modes, but only the e Vitara offers a dedicated terrain mode: snow.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Safety Features
While e Vitara offers an additional airbag, Creta Electric has an in-built dashcam
Both are packed with safety features and appear more or less matched in this area, but the e Vitara gets an additional airbag, and the Creta Electric offers an in-built dashcam. While the Creta Electric has not been tested for safety, the e Vitara has achieved a 5-star rating from BNCAP.
Top-spec Maruti e Vitara vs Hyundai Creta Electric: Prices and verdict
We would pick the e Vitara, as it not only offers a bigger battery pack with a higher claimed range but is also Rs 3.87 lakh more affordable. While the Creta Electric supports much faster charging speeds, packs some additional feel-good and convenience features, such as a cooled glove box, rear sunshades, a panoramic sunroof and boss mode, along with more storage space, it does not justify the price premium over the e Vitara.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Rivan RS 
Saumil Shah
Saptarshi Mondal
