Tata Nexon EV Creative+ MR

We would recommend waiting for the new Renault Duster, whose launch is just a few weeks away, on March 17. Like the original Duster, it is expected to offer a tough yet comfortable suspension, and it has a whopping 212mm of ground clearance, which should keep it from bottoming out on bad roads. It comes with a choice of turbo-petrol engines - a 100hp 1.0-litre and 160hp 1.3-litre - both of which are understood to be quite fuel efficient. 

However, if you can wait until Diwali, Renault is launching a strong hybrid version of the Duster that uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine, 1.4kWh battery and 49hp electric motor for a total of 160hp, and promises exceptional mileage. If you want a diesel option, check out the Tata Sierra diesel, and if you want an EV option, check out the Tata Nexon EV, both of which have robust suspension to tackle rough roads.

Since you have a high highway running, we would advise getting a diesel. While EVs do offer low running costs compared to diesels, the charging infrastructure, especially on highways, is still at a nascent stage. 

If your commute involves a location with a fixed charger, then an EV would make sense. In that case, the Tata Nexon EV Empowered 45 would be a good option. With this version, you get a large 45kWh battery that's capable of delivering a real-world range of 345-355km on a single charge. It also gets a practical and feature-rich cabin with good ride comfort. 

However, if charging is going to be an issue, a diesel SUV would be a lot less hassle. The Tata Sierra with a diesel engine and a manual gearbox would be a good option to consider. The engine is torquey and has good efficiency as well as a modern design and feature-rich cabin. 
The Adventure trim also gets you a 360-degree camera, sunroof and cruise control, among other features. 
 

The Tata Nexon EV will be the ideal choice for your requirements. The Fearless 45 version gets you the bigger 45kWh battery pack with a real-world range of 350km and it has a good set of features along with an excellent ride that will come close to the Duster you owned. It is stable on the highway, the charging network is growing rapidly and as a city car, it offers the lowest running costs in comparison to ICE. 

While the Tata Punch EV is a good all-rounder, it is perhaps a size too small for a family of 5 or to be chauffeur driven in. The Mahindra XUV 3XO EV and Windsor have far more spacious cabins, but then the Mahindra is low on boot space when it comes to your 180-200km round trip. However, this would still be our pick as it has a spacious cabin for 5, tough chassis and comfortable ride quality. 

The Windsor may be more spacious on the whole, but its suspension and ride are quite stiff, and its large touchscreen, which controls the entire car, is full of bugs and glitches. Moreover, in standard guise, it has a very low range, and you would have to move up to the Pro version, which will increase your budget. Also consider the Tata Nexon EV, which, though expensive, feels like a more complete car than any of these.