Tata Harrier EV

autocar.india

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Pick the Tata Nexon EV. It will feel closest to your Altroz while giving you more range cushion and more room for four. With 100 km daily, that larger battery and stronger AC performance mean less charging stress and easier weekend runs, and the Nexon’s wider rear seat and bigger boot make family life comfier. The Nexon's larger footprint also translates to greater confidence, especially at higher speeds.The Punch EV is a great value and very easy to drive in traffic. If your use is almost all city and parking is tight, the Punch EV can be considered as an option. However, for an Altroz owner used to that solid, grown-up feel, the Nexon EV will feel more familiar.About an Altroz EV, there’s nothing on sale or officially announced for the near term. Tata showed a concept years ago, but the current focus is Punch EV, Curvv EV, Harrier EV and Sierra. If you want an EV now, do not wait.

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Punch EV

Tata Curvv EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Sierra

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The Harrier EV is a good bet if range is a concern on your first EV as its large battery gives you a comfortable buffer even on highway journeys. And yes, as you've pointed out, the excellent ride quality should be helpful for your everyday use on city and rural roads. As for spending Rs 2 lakh extra for ADAS on the Empowered version, we don't think it's essential, as your highway use is only occasional, and even then, given how unpredictable highway conditions are, it's real-world efficacy is limited. There are few more features you'll lose out on too, like the larger 14.5-inch touchscreen, a powered tailgate and heads-up display, but these are more convenience features than essentials. The Fearless variant is very well equipped too, including with Cruise Control, which is really the feature you'll want on your highway runs. In conclusion, if you're getting the Fearless 75 at a good price, we think you should go for it.

Tata Harrier EV

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Before committing to an EV, it is advisable to speak to electric car owners in the complex to know about the ease of charging. Public chargers in easy access are a plus, but the ideal and often most reliable solution is a charger in your own parking. Many housing complexes do not allow this, making it all the more important to research public charging options in the vicinity. In general, Bengaluru does have a wide network of chargers, so a weekly plug-in shouldn't be a hassle. Further, major highways south and west of the city have regular fast chargers, so planned roadtrips are very workable.Of the cars, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a sensible buy for your usage. It's a good size for Bangalore's traffic yet offers comfortable seating for five passengers. It won't match your Tesla's wow factor, but the Creta does pack in all the features that you would need and use over your short commutes. You can buy the 51.4kWh battery pack version, which offers ample range for your city drives. If you'd prefer a larger vehicle with more interior space, options include the Mahindra XEV 9S (the 70kWh battery pack is a good pick but just out of your budget) and the Tata Harrier EV with the 65kWh battery pack.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV

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For your usage, we would not switch to an EV purely because of ethanol blending worries. With 12,000 to 13,000 km a year, 60 per cent city use and a 10-year ownership plan, a petrol SUV like the Kia Seltos is still a perfectly practical choice. E20-compliant petrol cars will continue to be supported, and a move to higher ethanol blends like E85 would require dedicated flex fuel engines, so there is no realistic scenario where today’s compliant petrol cars suddenly become unusable.If you genuinely want to move to an EV, then the decision should be based on your usage pattern, charging convenience and ownership comfort, not fuel policy anxiety. Between your options, the Tata Harrier EV looks like the most complete fit today. It gives you the space you need for four adults and a child, feels like a proper family SUV and removes the uncertainty of waiting for an unlaunched product. The Mahindra XEV 9e is also a strong EV, but since you already find it a bit too gimmicky and are not looking for that kind of experience, it does not sound like the natural fit.As for the Tata Sierra EV, we would absolutely suggest waiting if you are not in a rush, because it is expected soon and could land in the sweet spot between the Harrier EV and the smaller EV SUVs in terms of practicality and positioning. The only caveat is that buying an EV without a reliable home charging setup would make far less sense than simply buying the Seltos petrol and moving on.

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9e

Tata Sierra EV

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What you felt in the Mahindra XEV 9e Pack Three is a fair observation. The XEV 9e does have a softer suspension tune, and for some rear seat passengers, that can translate into a floaty, slightly boat-like vertical movement over undulations, which can feel uncomfortable or even nauseating if you are sensitive to that kind of motion. As far as we know, there is no major suspension hardware difference between Pack One, Two and Three that fundamentally changes this character, so we would not expect the lower variants to feel significantly different in this regard.If rear seat ride quality and body control are a major priority, the Tata Harrier EV is the better option right now. It feels more tied down, composed and generally better controlled from the rear, without that excessive floatiness. If you still want to stay with Mahindra, the XEV 9e actually feels more balanced in this respect and does not have the same exaggerated bouncy character as the XEV 9S.That said, since you are clearly particular about ride quality and already like how Tata’s EVs are tuned, we would absolutely suggest waiting for the Tata Sierra EV as well, especially since its launch is right around the corner. It should sit in that sweet spot above the Nexon EV in size while potentially offering the kind of more settled suspension setup you seem to prefer.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Harrier EV

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If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV

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The Hyundai Creta Electric Excellence LR is the one that fits your brief best. It fits within your price range, and it has a cabin that is comfy and easy to live with for a family of four. Also, Hyundai’s EVs are usually very refined and smooth to drive in traffic, which matches your focus on a calm, polished experience.Two things to keep in mind for your needs. First, in this budget, a true 500 km in real use is tough. The Creta Electric may have a claimed range of 473km (ARAI), but we managed to get a real-world figure of 432km in our testing. Second, fast charging speeds on mid-price EVs like the Creta are usually modest, so plan stops on longer trips accordingly.The Tata Harrier EV will suit you only if you can stretch the budget. Being a bigger car with a larger battery, it will be roomier inside and offer more range. The Tata Sierra EV is worth waiting for only if you love the look and want a roomier cabin. But prices, exact specifications and launch timing are not final yet.

Hyundai Creta

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Sierra EV

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You need a car for pure highway use and want the longest stretch between stops; in that case, we would lean towards the Mahindra XEV 9S 79kWh for its better real-world highway range. In our real-world testing, we managed 477 km on the highway, which suits your “pure highway” pattern. We have also tested the AWD Harrier EV, which managed 401 km (combined). While the RWD version should better that, it will likely still fall short of the XEV 9S’s range.One thing to note: the Mahindra’s ride can feel a bit floaty on undulating highway surfaces, so try it out before you commit. If that is an issue, the XEV 9e has a more settled ride.Overall, for highway-first use and maximum range, the XEV 9S 79kWh is the safer bet.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV

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The Mahindra XEV 9e is the better pick, both in terms of range and comfort. On the highway, you can easily expect around 480km of real-world range with the 79kWh battery version. Performance is plenty, its steering is light, suspension setup is good, and seats are comfortable, which makes it ideal for long-distance travel. Also, it is worth noting that the XEV 9e's fast charging speeds are much higher than the Harrier EV's, translating to shorter charging times when connected to a 120kW or faster DC charger.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Tata Harrier EV

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The base Mahindra XEV 9S gets a 59kWh battery, with a 231hp/380Nm rear motor, and its claimed range is 521km. The entry-level Harrier EV on the other hand gets a 65kWh battery, with a 238hp/315Nm rear motor, and its claimed range is 538km. Even though their specifications are similar, the Mahindra car is Rs 1.5 lakh more affordable. For the money, the XEV 9S also gets you a premium kit like a dedicated passenger (third) touchscreen and panoramic sunroof, among others. Additionally, the XEV 9S has a lighter steering and a tighter turning radius, which makes manoeuvring the car much easier in the city. Additionally, the extra row of seats can come handy occasionally. Overall, the Mahindra XEV 9S comes across as the better pick of the two.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Tata Harrier EV