MG cars in India (11)

Autocar India

•21h

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Thar Roxx

MG Hector

Autocar India

•1h

The first thing to understand is that the 468km figure is the ARAI-certified range, and that number is achieved under standardised test conditions. In the real world, every electric car sold in India delivers significantly less than its claimed ARAI range, depending on speed, driving style, traffic, terrain, air-conditioning use and weather conditions.This is not unique to the VinFast VF6. Models such as the Nexon EV, Curvv EV, Windsor EV and Creta Electric also deliver real-world ranges that are noticeably lower than their official ARAI figures. That said, a real-world range of around 280km does appear lower than expected and is worth investigating.Before concluding that there is a fault, check factors such as average speed, drive mode, AC usage and whether the battery has completed a few charge-discharge cycles. Many EVs show more consistent efficiency after the initial running-in period.As for escalating the issue, insist on a written response from the dealer and ask them to arrange a battery health and diagnostic check. Keep records of all communication. If the dealer is unable or unwilling to provide contact details for the manufacturer, ask for the regional service manager's details and raise the matter through VinFast's official customer support channels.

Vinfast VF6

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Curvv EV

MG Windsor

Hyundai Creta Electric

Autocar India

•3d

4WD SUVs are getting rarer by the day, but given what you're looking for, the best fit is the Mahindra Thar Roxx. For the price, it feels the closest to your Endeavour in the stuff that matters - proper 4x4 with low range, generous ground clearance even when loaded, and a strong 2.2-litre diesel that responds eagerly. The Roxx's new-gen chassis is Mahindra's best ladder frame yet, soaking up rough roads without breaking a sweat and handling highway duties reasonably well too. It's also gotten a lot more liveable than previous Thars, with genuine space, premium feel and creature comforts.There's the Jeep Compass and Meridian too, but their interiors won't feel spacious enough after your Endeavour, and on the other end are the MG Majestor and Toyota Fortuner, though those are likely to be out of budget. Of the petrols, the Kodiaq is probably the best AWD bet, but as you said, it is too expensive. A few-year-old example of any of these, however, might be a good option.On diesel in NCR, it might still make sense, if you can make your peace with the 10-year cap - and the associated resale value hit. You may see the odd winter restriction put into place, but new BS6 diesels have generally been clear of those. It's not an easy decision, but if it's for a car you'll enjoy, and you can work out a shorter ownership cycle that suits your needs, it can still work.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Jeep Compass

Jeep Meridian

MG Majestor

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq

Autocar India

•4d

Buy the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid or its sister car the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. With 85% highway and 1,250 km a week, you need range and minimal downtime; this hybrid will do around 20 kpl at steady speeds, refuels in minutes, and Toyota’s hybrid system is proven and low on upkeep. Over big mileages, the petrol you save, versus normal petrol and the time you save versus hunting for public chargers, make a bigger difference than the savings with an EV.Here’s the catch you should know: the hybrid’s boot is smaller than the pure petrol’s and maintenance costs would be more than an EV, but not prohibitively so. If you have dedicated parking and can plug in every night, an EV would be cheaper to run and maintain. In that case, skip small batteries. Pick the MG ZS EV for its highway range, or the Tata Nexon EV Long Range if you want a lower price. On home power you’ll spend roughly Rs. 1.5-2 per km. Relying on highway fast chargers pushes costs close to petrol per km and eats time, which is why the Hyryder Hybrid fits your weekly grind best unless home charging is easy.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

MG ZS EV

Tata Nexon EV

Autocar India

•5d

Pick the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid or its sister model the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara; with 2,500 km a month in city and a chauffeur, it will slash fuel costs and stay smooth and quiet in traffic. In real city use, you can see around 20kpl, the automatic is seamless, and the hybrid system is proven for long, low-hassle ownership over 5-7 years. The back seat is comfy enough for daily commutes, ride quality is calm, and for your few self-driven highway trips it cruises easily and has the range of a petrol without the diesel DPF worries.One point to note: the hybrid’s boot is smaller than some rivals, so two big suitcases plus soft bags is about it. Also, it isn’t the quickest for fast hill overtakes, though it’s perfectly fine at normal speeds. If you need a bigger rear seat and huge boot above all else, MG Hector is roomier, but its city fuel costs will sting. For your use, the Maruti or Toyota Hybrid is the sweet spot under Rs. 30 lakh.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

MG Hector

Autocar India

•1w

Daily 100 km in Kolkata with a Rs. 15 lakh cap points to the Tata Punch EV with the larger 40kWh battery version as the best fit. It covers your full day with a healthy buffer, so you are not hunting for a plug each evening. The car is small and easy to park in tight city lanes, yet feels confident at typical city speeds. Tata also has wide service reach and plenty of public chargers in and around Kolkata, which makes living with it simpler. If you can install a home charger, you’ll top it up overnight and forget about range in daily use.A trade-off to note: the rear seat is fine for two passengers but three at the back will be a squeeze. You could also consider the MG Windsor. It is significantly larger and roomier than the Tata Punch EV. Your budget would get you the entry level spec so you will have to compromise on battery size and some comfort and convenience features.

Tata Punch EV

MG Windsor

Autocar India

•1w

While your preference is for a diesel, we suggest you consider the Skoda Kodiaq, which is a petrol-only model. Its 2-litre turbo-petrol engine is strong and punchy, and the SUV's good high-speed stability makes it a great road trip car. The third row is tight on space, but this shouldn't be a deal breaker given your occasional use of the last row. With the last row down, the Kodiaq offers loads of room for luggage. The Kodiaq is also well kitted out, and you'll like the sound quality from the Canton sound system. Do note, fuel economy isn't great in town, but the Kodiaq returns reasonable numbers on highway drives. If a diesel is a must, the new MG Majestor is an option for you. It's a size or two larger than your Tata Safari and scores big for road presence. The large size also means the Majestor is big on space. Performance is good, and there are also loads of features packed in. The only question mark for now is the price, but we expect it to be within your budget.

Skoda Kodiaq

MG Majestor

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•2w

Since you want a city-friendly EV under Rs 10 lakh and don't want to go for either the Tata Tiago EV or MG Comet, you should consider the entry-level Tata Punch EV Smart. It's priced around your budget, it is small enough to drive and park comfortably in the city, and you can easily do a few days of your running on a single charge. The Punch EV also has an elevated seating position, so you get a great view out, the cabin is practical and comfy and being an EV, you'll appreciate the quiet and refined drive. As for upcoming models, Vietnamese manufacturer Vinfast is considering launching its smallest EV, the VF3, in India, but that is yet to be confirmed. So as it stands, your best bet is the Tata Punch EV Smart.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

MG Comet

Autocar India

•2w

The Tata Punch EV is an excellent option. It feels solid on broken roads, has good ground clearance, and its small size makes tight city lanes and parking easy. The range is more than enough for your 60-65 km daily run with a safe buffer.The MG Windsor you mentioned is significantly larger in size, so unless you need that extra cabin and boot space, we'd recommend opting for the more compact Punch EV instead.The Kia Syros EV is likely to be launched in August. If you can, wait for it. It could be worth considering.

Tata Punch EV

MG Windsor

Autocar India

•2w

For your daily running of 10-20 km in Hyderabad and with a budget of Rs. 10 lakh, you should consider the base Tata Punch EV Smart variant. It suits short city use best because it is small and easy to park, feels smooth at low speeds, and has enough range to do your commute multiple times on one charge. The tall seat gives you a good view out, and the good ground clearance makes dealing with speed breakers and broken patches easy.Meanwhile, the Tata Curvv EV, Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara and MG Windsor are larger and pricier, and will go well past your budget. As for your concerns, Tata's service quality varies by outlet. In Hyderabad, the EV network is among the widest, but pick a dealer with strong Google reviews, choose their bigger workshop, and take an extended warranty to keep peace of mind.Alternatively, you could even consider the MG Comet EV as an urban runabout.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Curvv EV

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

MG Windsor

MG Comet