Quickest mass market EVs as tested

Due to the nature of an electric motor, EVs have all their torque available from 0rpm, which gives electric cars a great initial burst of acceleration. In fact, mass-market EVs are usually more powerful and quicker than their ICE counterparts. Here, we list every mass-market EV under Rs 30 lakh that Autocar India has tested to see which is the quickest.

MG Comet

0-100kph: 23.87s

The MG Comet sits at the last spot, with a 0-100kph time of 23.87 seconds. However, its 0-60kph time of 7.6 seconds is closer to others on this list, showcasing that the smallest four-wheeler EV in India can keep up with urban traffic with ease. The Comet comes with a 17.3kWh battery that powers a 42hp and 110Nm rear axle-mounted motor. The MG Comet EV is priced from Rs 7.63 lakh to Rs 9.99 lakh.

MG Windsor

38kWh 0-100kph: 9.79s

The MG Windsor with the smaller 38kWh battery (Pro versions get a larger 52.9kWh battery) is the first EV here to record a sub-10-second 0-100kph time. It comes with a 136hp, 200Nm rear motor, which enables a 0-60kph time of 4.48 seconds and a 0-100kph time of 9.79 seconds. The Windsor with the 38kWh battery is priced between Rs 14.10 lakh and Rs 16.53 lakh.

Tata Nexon EV

45kWh 0-100kph: 9.77s

As is usually the case, we have tested the larger 45kWh battery version of the Tata Nexon EV; the 30.2kWh battery is available in the ‘MR’ (Medium Range) variants. As its name suggests, the Nexon EV 45 gets the 45kWh battery and a front-axle-mounted 144hp, 215Nm motor. While Tata claims a 0-100kph time of 8.9 seconds for the Nexon EV 45, in our tests, it was 0.87 seconds slower, hitting 100kph in 9.77 seconds. Prices for the Nexon EV 45 range from Rs 13.99 lakh to Rs 17.49 lakh, including the Red Dark variants.

Tata Curvv EV

0-100kph: 9.25s

Unlike the rest of the Tata EVs in this list that offer two battery pack options, the Curvv EV comes only with a 55kWh unit, paired with a front-axle-mounted 167hp, 215Nm motor. Tata claims a 0-100kph time of 8.6 seconds, though our tests show the Curvv EV takes 9.25 seconds for the same. The Curvv EV is currently priced between Rs 16.99 lakh and Rs 19.19 lakh, including the Dark variants.

Kia Carens Clavis EV

51.4kWh 0-100kph: 8.44 seconds

The Kia Carens Clavis EV, the only electric MPV in this list, is also the most affordable Kia EV in our market. It is powered by a 42kWh or a 51.4kWh battery pack. We have tested the latter, which has a front-mounted motor that develops 171hp and 255Nm of torque. In our 0-100kph test, the Kia MPV achieved a time of 8.44 seconds. The Carens Clavis EV’s 51.4kWh extended range versions are priced between Rs 22 lakh and Rs 25 lakh.

MG ZS EV

0-100kph: 8.42 seconds

The ZS EV is currently the most powerful all-electric car from MG. It gets a 50.3kWh battery, which powers a front axle-mounted motor that produces 177hp and 280Nm of torque. Our real-world performance tests showed the ZS EV reaching 60kph from standstill in 4.37 seconds, while the 0-100kph sprint took 8.42 seconds. The MG ZS EV is currently priced between Rs 17.99 lakh and Rs 20.74 lakh.

Hyundai Creta Electric 

51.4kWh 0-100kph: 7.91 seconds 

Up next is the most quintessential midsize electric SUV, the Hyundai Creta Electric. It is offered with two battery pack options – 42kWh and 51.4kWh – and we’ve tested the latter. The battery powers a front-axle electric motor producing 171hp and 255Nm, and in Sport mode, the Creta Electric sprints from a standstill to 100kph in 7.91 seconds, very close to the carmaker’s claimed time. Long-range versions of the Creta range from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 23.67 lakh.

Mahindra XEV 9S

79kWh 0-100kph: 7.54 seconds

Mahindra’s only three-row electric vehicle and the only mass-market three-row SUV in India, the XEV 9S sits on the INGLO platform and is available with 59kWh, 70kWh and 79kWh battery pack options. We’ve tested the 79kWh version, which comes paired with a rear-mounted motor developing 286hp and 380Nm of torque. In our tests, the 9S managed the 0-100kph run in 7.54 seconds. The 79kWh variants of the XEV 9S range from Rs 21.95 lakh to Rs 29.55 lakh.

Mahindra XEV 9e

79kWh 0-100kph: 7.45 seconds

Mahindra’s flagship two-row EV has two battery pack options – 59kWh and 79kWh – and we’ve managed to test the larger battery version. The top-spec XEV 9e Pack Three – only available with the 79kWh battery – has a 286hp, 380Nm rear motor, with Mahindra claiming a 0-100kph time of 6.8 seconds. However, our performance tests showed the Mahindra XEV 9e 79kWh version sprints to 60kph in 4.14 seconds and to 100kph in 7.45 seconds; 0.65 seconds slower than Mahindra’s claim. 79kWh variants of the XEV 9e begin from Rs 26.50 lakh and go up to Rs 30.50 lakh.

Mahindra BE 6

79kWh 0-100kph: 7.1 seconds

Mahindra’s answer to the Hyundai Creta Electric shares its battery options and motor with the larger XEV 9e. Naturally, the smaller Mahindra BE 6 is quicker than the coupe-SUV, with a claimed 0-100kph time of 6.7 seconds. In our tests, the BE 6 Pack Three recorded a 0-60kph time of 4 seconds and a 0-100kph time of 7.1 seconds (0.4 seconds short of the claimed time). The Mahindra BE 6 Pack Three is priced from Rs 26.90 lakh. 

Tata Harrier EV

75kWh AWD 0-100kph: 6.74 seconds

The Tata Harrier EV is the second quickest EV to 100kph that we have tested so far. It gets an all-wheel-drive setup, courtesy of dual electric motors (one on each axle), and even gets a Boost function. We tested the larger 75kWh battery variant, which produces a combined 313hp and 504Nm from the two electric motors. Naturally, the sprint to 100kph was also rapid in just 6.74 seconds in Boost Mode, quite commendable for Harrier EV AWD’s portly 2.3-tonne kerb weight. It’s also not too far from Tata’s claimed time of 6.3 seconds. The top-spec Harrier EV AWD is priced at Rs 28.99 lakh.

Vinfast VF7

70kWh AWD 0-100kph: 6.03 seconds

Vinfast's flagship offering for India, the VF7, is the quickest mass-market EV we have tested to date. The SUV is available with either a 59.6kWh battery pack or a 70kWh unit. The latter is available in two configurations – with a front-mounted motor that develops 204hp and 310Nm of torque or a dual-motor AWD setup churning out 353hp (the most powerful one in this list) and 500Nm. We tested the 353hp version and managed to clock a 0-100kph time of 6.03 seconds, falling short of the company-claimed time by 0.23 seconds. The top-spec VF7 versions range from Rs 26.19 lakh to Rs 26.79 lakh.

All prices are ex-showroom, India