Toyota Urban Cruiser Ebella E3 61kWh

The Ebella's prices haven't been announced yet, but going by its badge engineered version - Suzuki e Vitara's pricing, it is likely to be in the same ballpark, i.e. between Rs 16-20 lakh (ex-showroom). The Hyryder G CNG on the other hand tops out below Rs 18 lakh on-road. And while the Hyryder CNG is a manual, the good news is that its clutch and gearbox are light, so even though it isn't nearly as convenient as the EV, it doesn't feel cumbersome to drive. What you need to keep in mind however is that boot space is compromised due to the CNG tank, hence during your 700km drives, it could be inadequate. 

Even the Ebella's boot is small, cabin floor is high (so the seating position is knees-up) and the infotainment's user-interface/user-experience is far from perfect. Also, while we haven't tested the Ebella's range, our preliminary tests indicate a highway range of about 370km, which means you will need to charge a few times on the way to your hometown, so you need to factor that in as well.

Between the two cars you've shortlisted, we'd recommend the Hyryder CNG, which is a tried and tested car. However, if you're open to options, the Maruti Victoris CNG will be ideal for you as it shares its platform, equipment and powertrain with the Hyryder, and thanks to its repositioned CNG tank (beneath the boot), luggage space doesn't feel as compromised as in the Toyota.