Mahindra BE 6 Pack Three 79kWh

Autocar India

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Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S or Mahindra XEV 9E, both of which are more spacious than the Mahindra BE 6, which feels surprisingly cramped, especially for rear seat passengers. The 9E and 9S have front seats too, and they get a three-screen layout too, which your front passenger is likely to appreciate on long drives. The XEV 9E has an edge over the XEV 9S on account of its slightly firmer suspension setup, which results in a more settled highway ride.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

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The Hyundai Creta Electric is one of the best-suited options here. It is a spacious and comfortable SUV, which makes a big difference for long drives. The ride quality is well-tuned for comfort, the seats are supportive, and the overall driving experience is relaxed, which will suit you well as a senior driver.It is also extremely easy to drive. The controls are light, the power delivery is smooth and predictable, and the car feels very natural to get used to. Unlike some newer EVs like the Mahindra BE 6, which feel more futuristic and tech-heavy, the Creta EV feels like a normal, familiar car that just happens to be electric. This makes it far less intimidating and more comfortable to live with day to day.Performance is strong enough for inclines thanks to instant torque, and it feels confident on highways. The real-world range is sufficient for your 100 km regular drives and can manage your 250 km trips with some planning. Safety is also well taken care of, with modern features and driver aids adding reassurance on longer journeys.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

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If your commute is no more than 50km a day, then yes, an EV could be a good solution for you. It will certainly bring down your running costs compared to a petrol car. After-sales service is not an issue; in fact, EVs require far less maintenance and upkeep than ICE cars. It's mostly consumables - like brake pads - that get changed with subsequent services. However, what takes a hit is resale value, which for an EV is nowhere as strong as for an ICE car. As for charging infrastructure, it's always advised to have a charger installed at home or at work (or both) to reduce reliance on the public charging network. As it is still developing, and in some regions it is unreliable. In and around a big city like Hyderabad, however, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. You should, however, plot at least 2-3 charging options on any highway journey you make, as functionality and queues are potential hurdles. As for which EV to buy, none will give you quite the same thrill as a Volkswagen Virtus GT, especially in the same budget. But you can try out the Mahindra BE6 or the Vinfast VF6, both of which are fast and fun to drive, with a solid build.

Mahindra BE 6

Vinfast VF6

Autocar India

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If you are considering an electric car, the VinFast VF7 stands out as an excellent choice. In its higher variants, which fall within your budget, it gets a dual motor setup producing around 350 hp and can do 0 to 100 kph in just over 6 seconds.At this price point, you will not find a quicker accelerating five seater. More importantly, it is not just fast in a straight line. The ride is comfortable, the cabin is spacious, and it feels well-suited for daily driving as well as longer journeys.Other EVs you could also look at include the Mahindra BE 6 and the Tata Harrier EV AWD, both of which have strong performance and a fun-to-drive nature. But the VinFast remains the quickest and most exciting option on pure performance.If you prefer an internal combustion engine, the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo petrol automatic is a very good option. The petrol engine is powerful, smooth and refined, and with the recent facelift, Mahindra has improved the suspension setup as well. As a result, it now offers a more comfortable ride without losing its engaging driving character, making it a good balance between fun and comfort for daily use.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Vinfast VF7

Mahindra BE 6

Tata Harrier EV

Autocar India

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In our opinion, you should avoid retrofitting CNG to your around 7-year-old Seltos. Instead, it makes more sense to sell it and move to a newer car that is more efficient and easier on the pocket.If you can set up home charging, an EV makes a lot of sense. It will significantly cut down your travel expenses, and, being an electric car, there is no hassle of changing gears. EVs are smooth and extremely easy to drive, which can greatly reduce daily driving stress.Since you already own a Kia Seltos and would prefer something familiar, we would suggest considering the Hyundai Creta Electric. It is a very well-rounded product, and the calibration of the electric motor is spot on, making it extremely smooth and easy to drive. It also offers a single pedal regenerative braking mode that works beautifully, and once you get used to it, you will rarely need to use the brake pedal, reducing fatigue even further. Considering your running, we would recommend the larger 52 kWh battery pack, which should deliver over 350 km on a single charge, making it practical for your usage.There are other, on-paper, more impressive EVs at this price point, such as the Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra BE 6. However, if you are looking for a car that is easy to drive, hassle-free and easy to live with, the Creta EV is a very strong choice.If you prefer to stick with an internal combustion engine but want lower running costs, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid. It runs in EV mode a lot of the time at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, making it very smooth and easy to drive. Being a strong hybrid, it is also extremely efficient, and even in the worst traffic conditions, you can safely expect over 20 kpl. Since it is still an ICE vehicle, occasional long highway trips don’t require planning, unlike an EV. What you will need to plan, however, is luggage, as the hybrid battery under the boot floor does eat into usable boot space.If you are willing to wait, the new Renault Duster is expected to get a hybrid powertrain around Diwali, and the next-generation Creta and Seltos are also expected to receive hybrid options early next year.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra BE 6

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

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The two SUVs are really very different, and the choice between the two comes down to what you want and value more. The Mahindra BE 6 is a thrilling car to drive and a very flashy one that appeals to the heart. However, there are many compromises like a difficult entry and exit, low interior space and reduced all-around visibility.The Sierra, on the other hand, is not as exciting to drive as the BE 6, but it delivers a much better user experience with very good interior space. So the electric Mahindra BE 6 would be more for the heart, while the diesel Tata Sierra would be more for the head.

Mahindra BE 6

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

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The Hyundai Creta Electric is the most practical, sensible, and most sorted EV out of the options listed. It is practical, spacious, and it drives well too. Moreover, it is very efficient, hence you can expect over 400km of range without trying too hard. Since you are looking at a long-term buy, it is the Hyundai's ownership experience that's likely to be fuss-free.The Tata Nexon EV 45's real-world range isn't likely to be as good as the Creta Electric's. The Mahindra BE 6 is the most radical option with excellent performance, battery and range. However, its user-experience is simply too complicated, its ergonomics are flawed, and backseat space isn't as good as the others.Short-term resale values of EVs are not as good as those of ICE cars. However, since you are likely to hold on to your car for 10 years, resale should be the least of your concerns.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Tata Nexon EV

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

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Since you are looking for an EV for city use, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a good choice. While it isn't as powerful as the Mahindra BE 6 or Tata Harrier EV, performance is brisk and more than adequate for city conditions. The same holds true for its battery as well, which is the smallest (LR versions get a 51.4kWh battery pack) but delivers a comfortable 400km of real-world range in city driving. What makes the Creta Electric likeable and ideal for city use is its size. A Harrier EV is a full-size vehicle, while the BE6 is significantly wider. It means both can feel a bit cumbersome in congested confines. What also goes in favour of the Creta is that the tech onboard works as it's supposed to - free of glitches and errors.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra BE 6

Tata Harrier EV

Autocar India

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The Mahindra BE 6 has a futuristic design, and its driving manners and performance are outstanding. However, its design isn't universally appealing, cabin ergonomics and user interface are flawed, and rear seat space is compromised.Instead, you could consider the entry-level Mahindra XEV 9S or XEV 9e, which are relatively more spacious and practical. What's more is that the XEV 9E has great discounts going on, hence you could also end up getting the mid variants at a good price.Alternatively, in that price range, you could check out the Hyundai Creta Electric with the 51.4kWh battery - it is a fundamentally sorted EV. You can expect a real-world highway range of close to 400km, performance is good, space is excellent, and it is well-equipped too. While the Creta Electric is a car you just can't go wrong with, do keep in mind that the DC fast charging times (using a 60kW or higher charger) are much slower than the Mahindra EVs.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra BE 6

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

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Both the Mahindra BE 6 and Vinfast VF7 are excellent EVs at a similar price but offer two completely different experiences. Where the Mahindra wows you with its design and long list of features, the Vinfast doesn't have the same road presence, though it is still unique-looking. Similarly, the interior of the BE 6 is far more radical and exciting to look at, but the VF7 is built of higher-quality materials and has better ergonomics. The biggest difference, however, is space, of which the Vinfast offers far more, especially in the rear seat, where the BE 6 is cramped. And finally, performance, where the VF7 comes in dual-motor guise with 350hp, the BE 6 offers 286hp for about the same price. The Vinfast's AWD system allows for much better acceleration than the RWD setup of the Mahindra. On handling, too, the lower-slung Vinfast feels sharper and more confident around corners, whereas the Mahindra feels loose, with lots of body roll.As for range, the two have similarly sized batteries, and we expect range to be comparable. In our real-world test, the Mahindra achieved 449km of range overall, so expect the AWD Vinfast VF7 to offer a slightly lower number.

Mahindra BE 6

Vinfast VF7