Cars that I have in my mind are the Mahindra BE 6, MG Comet EV, Tata Punch EV, Nexon EV, and BYD Atto 3.
BHPian Auto_guy_101 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Dear BHPians,
I’m looking at adding a second car to my garage, and an EV at that. I couldn’t find a more apt thread to seek advice on the EVs as most of the threads I noticed were for specific models of EVs.
Firstly, I currently own a Kushaq DSG that is sitting at 18k Kms in just 14 months of ownership. Most of my miles are highway miles though. While the thought of a second vehicle, suited for city duties, has been on my mind for a while and I had initially considered the Jimny, I can’t bring myself to call that a financially good deal.
The EV bug hit me when I saw the specs on the BE 6 and I was sold on that car. I’m going to structure my needs into my usage pattern, followed by the cars I’ve shortlisted and the reason for thinking of buying one now.
Usage Pattern:
I make a 500 km one way trip almost every month and this is all highway. On top of that, I try to add a shorter joyride to the outskirts of Bangalore every 2 months or so. While I don’t have a daily commute, when in Bangalore, I do 7-15 km one way everyday and I make a 25 km one way trip almost every weekend I’m in my hometown. I’m mostly going to remain the primary if not sole driver.
Vehicles I have in mind: (all prices OTR Kochi)
1. BE 6e (400+ km, 21-28L)
This is the car that started it. I felt like it would be an Indian Tesla and I didn’t mind the design. However, a couple of things hold me back. One is the rear seat, which will be a pain for my aging grandma, and the second is the pricing. I will be shelling out 21L on pack one, then some 1-2 L for the charging and additional electrical work needed at home.
Mahindra has made sure I’ll also be waiting a fair bit and that wait could also include price hikes and tax changes. The Pack 2, with a 79 kWh battery, would have been ideal, but prices are yet to come. The cherry (or rather rotten cherry) on top is the high insurance cost of EVs. Apart from all this, the size of the vehicle will make it slightly cumbersome to park at home and use in the city.
2. Comet (180 km, 8-10 L)
I have mixed reactions to this car. While I’m taking a TD this week, my showroom visit left me impressed on the touch and feel of the car. My only concerns are the driving position and the rear passenger comfort (grandma may not be able to climb out easily). All said and done, for 8-10L, I feel this is a worthy car. My only gripe being the size, range, and dynamics will leave it as a purely city car and the odo might not run up so much.
3. punch.ev (200-270km, 11-16.5L)
This car ticks most of my boxes. Despite the size, it was very comfortable to sit in. I was even able to get into the rear in a not so knees up position with the driving seat set to my position (I prefer it being a little relaxed). I even get a fairly usable boot here. My only downside is the pricing. The mid range with power windows is 12.5 and the LR starts at 14.5, which seems a bit steep for the car.
4. Nexon.ev (270-350 km, 15.5L+)
Sales person said the Nexon now starts with the Creative 45 KWh at 15.5L. While I have test driven the previous gen and liked it, the added advantage here is the usable range, making it capable of long distances is the highlight. I could take this car on alternate months to Bangalore as the charging infra is decent. I could run up 15000 kms a year on this easily, though it would result in my Kushaq sitting idle. Only downsides are whether I will actually drive it enough and the higher insurance costs.
5. Atto 3 – the surprise entrant (380-450km, 27L+)
Other than the pricing, I loved everything about this car. Even if I had an option to get this at 27L before buying my Kushaq, I’d have bought it, but they cut the prices after my purchase. Should a rate cut bring this to say 22L (BE 6 prices), this is the car I’d get. Yes, size is a small issue, but for this car, it’s a worthy compromise.
Why Now?
I feel the tax cuts might be taken off the EVs. The Creta and e-Vitara will just make the space more interesting. I’m anyway waiting upto March 2025 to take a call on whether to buy and which one to. Should any of the above cars be discounted, I’ll swoop in.
Please help me decide. Thanks in advance!
Here’s what BHPian bijims replied:
Firstly, get a thorough test drive of all these cars (especially the BE 6) before making a decision, secondly, is a second car a necessity?
I don’t understand the reasoning and why the Kushaq, which is smaller than 2 out of the 5 cars on your list can’t handle city duties, sure mileage may be an issue, but besides that, is there any particular reason you need a second car, or are you unhappy with your purchase?
If that’s the case and an EV is a necessity, then for short trips, the Comet is a good buy considering the size (I have personal experience with the car and you can take it on the smallest of roads and park it anywhere), the 150 to 180 km of range is more than enough for city duties.
The next option would be the Nexon EV which we also have in our family, a good car but considering the newer launches in this space, the BE 6 seems to provide much better value and is the option I would recommend over anything else.
The Pack 3 with 79 kWh battery costs 30 lakhs OTR and should be good for both the city and the highway, the Pack 2 would get the 59 kWh battery only and the Pack 3 will also get a 59 kWh model after March.
The Atto 3 Dynamic (49.92 kWh) at 27.65 lakhs OTR is a great option and worth considering too, but a bit pricey considering the other options.
Here’s what BHPian electric_eel replied:
If you are going to use it only as a second car, why not go for one of the smaller ones instead of the giants like BE6e. It will save you money and would be much more convenient to use on the narrow roads of Kerala.
It is another matter that people who have bought EVs thinking that it is a toy often switch over completely. Suddenly their Highway stars become expensive garage queens.
Here’s what BHPian mathewanil replied:
From an owner of a Kushaq and a Citroen EV this is my take:
You have to decide if you really need the two cars?
If yes, the Kushaq, which can give a mileage between 15 to 19 km/ l on the highway, will be your go-to car for long drives. It is reliable, niggle free, fantastic to drive and will save you time on your 500 km trip.
Any EV from Comet to Punch will take care of your everyday city drives.
If there is no necessity for two cars, you can then consider disposing of the Kushaq and pick up an EV with a 70 KW battery if it’s within your budget and if you have an easy access to a power supply for AC “ fast” charging (7.2 to 11 KW). The magic number 7 is what you multiply with battery capacity to get the actual range of the car. (Here 70 Kw x 7 = 490 Km of range)
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