MG Windsor Essence EV

Autocar India

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The MG Windsor is a sensible choice as a second car, especially given your high monthly running of around 3,000km (roughly 100km a day). An EV will significantly reduce your running costs compared to a diesel, and with fewer moving parts, maintenance expenses are also typically lower.The Windsor EV, in particular, is well-suited to city use. It’s spacious, comfortable, and easy to drive, making it a practical daily commuter. Its relaxed driving nature and smooth performance should complement your Mahindra XUV 700 diesel well, which can continue to serve as your long-distance vehicle.Do factor in charging convenience. With your usage, you will likely need to charge every other day, so having access to reliable home charging is important. Public charging can work as a backup, but it’s not as convenient for daily use.Overall, as an urban runabout alongside your XUV700, the Windsor EV fits your requirements well and should deliver meaningful savings over time

MG Windsor

Autocar India

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Go for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid automatic. It fits your usage best by balancing low running cost, ease of use and long-term reliability without adding the dependency of charging, which is important given your mix of city driving, regular highway trips and rural road access.In your real-world use, the hybrid works brilliantly because most of your city driving will run on electric power. It gives you excellent efficiency and a very relaxed driving experience, while on highways and those weekly farm runs, the petrol engine seamlessly takes over without you needing to think about charging or range. In fact, the Hyryder hybrid is significantly more efficient than a diesel automatic like the Seltos in real-world conditions.The Kia Seltos diesel automatic is still a strong option if you prioritise performance, features and a more premium feel, and it will feel more powerful and planted on highways. But it will cost more to run over time and does not match the hybrid’s efficiency advantage. The MG Windsor EV is tempting on paper with very low running costs and decent range, but for your usage, it adds a layer of dependency on charging infrastructure, especially with rural drives, and while it can do long distances, it requires planning and adaptation, which may not be ideal right now .

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

MG Windsor

Autocar India

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The MG Windsor EV and Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo CVT cater to very different priorities, so your choice really depends on how and where you drive.If your usage is mostly city-based and your round trips are typically under 280 km, the Windsor EV makes far more sense. It’s quiet, smooth and relaxing to drive, which makes it perfect for daily commutes and stop-start traffic. There are no gearshifts to feel, the accelerator pedal response is instant, and overall refinement is superb compared to a petrol automatic. If you can install a home charger and most of your trips are within the city, ownership is refreshingly simple and economical. All you do is just plug in overnight and wake up to a full battery every morning.The Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo, on the other hand, is a great all-rounder. It’s far more versatile, comfortable over long distances, and feels reassuringly tough on rough roads. The high ground clearance and rugged build make it ideal for highway runs and weekend getaways. However, its running costs are higher than the EV’s, and the turbo-petrol plus 6-speed DCT combination isn’t quite as seamless in bumper-to-bumper traffic, with some turbo lag and gearshift delay.In short, for city life and short commutes, the Windsor EV is the smarter, calmer, and cheaper-to-run choice. But if your driving includes frequent long trips or rough-road conditions, the Duster’s durability and range flexibility make it the more practical buy.

MG Windsor

Renault Duster

Autocar India

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No other car in that price bracket has a full-sized panoramic glass roof and delivers the same lounge-like feeling as the MG Windsor EV does. If you're open to EVs, this is your best bet. The next best option is the Kia Syros, which has the largest panoramic sunroof in its segment. Additionally, due to its superb packaging, space in this sub-4-meter SUV is unmatched, and if you like the way it looks, it is certainly worthy of your consideration.

Kia Syros

MG Windsor

Autocar India

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The Tata Curvv EV rides better, and the suspension handles rough roads well, so your child will not get tossed around. Its rear seat space is reasonable, although its sloping roofline limits headroom for tall adults.As you've rightly mentioned, the MG Windsor feels much roomier, and it's got a huge boot too. However, most functions are embedded in its slow-to-respond touchscreen, and its ride comfort isn't as good as Tata's either. Alternatively, you could check out the Vinfast VF6 and Kia Carens Clavis EV, both of which are (pricier) excellent alternatives to the Curvv EV.As far as ADAS goes, these certainly provide an extra layer of safety, and can be a life-saver in case the driver isn't paying attention. However, it can occasionally feel intrusive, especially in bumper-to-bumper conditions. When other road users cut you off, you could be taken by surprise and slam on the brakes. Hence, it would be better to leave these off for the city, and use them only on the highway.

Tata Curvv EV

MG Windsor

Vinfast VF6

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

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Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) DCT for your 800 km a month in Delhi NCR and one or two long trips a year, it is the easiest, least-stress choice in your budget. In daily city traffic, the DCT automatic, feels very smooth and makes stop-and-go driving simple. The Seltos is roomy for family use, rides well, and Kia’s service reach in and around Delhi is strong, so ownership is straightforward. For the rare outstation run, you just fill up and go, with no planning around chargers or range.One thing to be aware of is that the 1.5-litre NA engine isn't the most enthusiastic when pushed on the highway. If saving on fuel is your main goal, an EV will help, but at 800 km a month, the extra money you pay upfront will take time to come back.If you have private parking with a socket for home charging, look at the MG Windsor EV Pro. It is smooth and cheap to run in the city, but expect to plan charging stops on highway trips.

Kia Seltos

MG Windsor

Autocar India

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The MG Windsor EV’s ride is indeed on the firmer side, and that’s something we’ve pointed out in our review as well. On broken roads and sharp bumps, it doesn’t feel very plush, but at higher speeds, it settles down and is quite stable. The air-conditioning isn’t the strongest in the class, yet in normal use, it does the job and is not a major weakness.Given the price, space and long list of features the Windsor offers, there’s very little that matches it for sheer value, so these compromises are something most buyers can live with.However, if you don’t really need that much space and mostly drive yourself, the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara is worth considering. It has a more comfortable ride, better overall refinement and an efficient air-con system, which will matter on long highway runs and in hot weather.

MG Windsor

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Autocar India

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With your kind of usage of 30,000-40,000 km a year, mostly city driving, long-term ownership and an 8 kW solar setup, going electric makes a lot of sense. Running costs will be significantly lower, especially since you can charge at home using surplus solar, and the smooth, silent nature of an EV suits city driving perfectly.The Tata Nexon EV Long Range is still one of the most well-rounded options here. It offers a good balance of range, practicality and ease of use, and can handle your occasional 300-500 km trips with one planned charging stop. It is also a proven product with a wide user base.However, since you have concerns about Tata’s service, it is worth considering alternatives. The MG Windsor EV with the larger battery pack is a strong option. It offers more space, a more premium feel and a bigger battery, which helps with range and reduces charging stops. The Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara is another promising option, especially from a long-term ownership perspective, thanks to Maruti’s strong service network and reliability.Diesel is still a valid fallback. If you prefer complete flexibility and do not want to depend on charging infrastructure at all, options like the Hyundai Creta diesel automatic or Kia Sonet diesel automatic make sense, offering strong mileage and effortless highway performance.So, the decision comes down to priorities. Given your high running and solar setup, an EV is clearly the smarter long-term choice. Among EVs, the Nexon EV is the proven option, the Windsor EV offers more space and range, and the e Vitara is the safest bet for long-term ownership. Diesel should only be considered if you want maximum convenience without planning charging stops.

Tata Nexon EV

MG Windsor

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Hyundai Creta

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

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The Maruti Suzuki E Vitara is a sensible EV for your usage and budget.For 70-80 km a day and around 25,000 km a year, going electric will significantly cut your running costs, and charging from solar makes it even more economical. The e‑Vitara is positioned as a reasonably priced compact electric car, so it should sit comfortably within your 17 lakh budget and still offer the ease of an automatic, quiet drive and low maintenance.However, there are some important comfort limitations to be aware of, particularly for someone who is 6'3". The cabin is not very spacious, and you’re likely to need the driver’s seat pushed all the way back, which leaves very little legroom for a passenger sitting directly behind you. The floor is also quite high because of the battery pack, so your knees sit more upright than normal, which can reduce long‑distance comfort for tall occupants.If rear‑seat space matters or you often travel with family, it’s worth looking at alternatives like the MG Windsor EV, which offers a noticeably roomier cabin and more comfortable back seat. But if you mostly drive alone or with one front passenger, the e‑Vitara will do the job quite well.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

MG Windsor

Autocar India

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For your kind of usage, yes, you're right, an electric car could make more sense - daily running that's not excessively high and mostly in urban confines. Of your choices, the MG Windsor Pro is a good bet for you. It's not exciting to drive, and its over-reliance on its touchscreen can be frustrating, but the overall package is superb. It has incredibly spacious and comfortable interiors, which are easy to get in and out of, which will come in handy for your senior-citizen parents.The Pro version has more than enough range for your needs and also falls comfortably in your budget. And though they're not of a high priority to you, it does come with a long list of features.

MG Windsor