Real-world range tested: EVs under Rs 25 lakh

While every electric vehicle made in India comes with an official range given by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), these figures are indicative, and very rarely do EVs achieve them in the real world. To gauge each EV’s real-world range precisely, we at Autocar India put them through our stringent and methodical tests to ensure accurate results. So, without further digression, here are the 10 EVs under Rs 25 lakh that we have tested for real-world range.

Tata Tiago EV - 187km

Tata Motors’ smallest and most affordable EV comes with two battery pack options: 19.2kWh and 24kWh. The larger battery pack powers a 74hp, 114Nm motor and is said to take the electric hatchback 275km on a single charge. Our real-world tests saw the Tiago EV 24kWh achieve 187km on a combined city and highway cycle, posting a respectable efficiency figure of 7.77km/kWh. Tata has just given the Tiago EV an update for 2025 and claims that the MIDC range has increased to 293km. The EV is priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 11.14 lakh.

MG Comet EV - 193km

MG Motor India’s most affordable model gets a sole 17.3kWh battery powering a 42hp electric motor, which has a claimed range of 230kph. While the Comet EV has the smallest battery on this list, it is the most efficient of all, posting an 11.17km/kWh figure and a combined range of 193km, thanks to its lightweight and relatively low-power motor. The prices for this tallboy EV range between Rs 7.00 lakh and 9.65 lakh, though those who opt for MG Motor’s BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) programme would pay between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.66 lakh, with an additional Rs 2 per km for the battery rental.

Citroen eC3 - 228km

The Citroen eC3 has a 29.2kWh battery pack that powers the front wheels via a 57hp, 143Nm motor. While the electric high-riding hatch is rated at 246km on a full charge, our range tests saw it accomplish a combined (city and highway) range of 228km, registering an efficiency figure of 7.8km/kWh. The eC3 rivals the Tiago EV and costs Rs 12.76 lakh-13.56 lakh. Citroen is offering discounts of up to Rs 80,000 this month on the e-hatchback.

Tata Punch EV - 229km 

Like every other Tata EV, the Punch EV is available with more than one battery pack option: 25kWh (Standard Range) and 35kWh (Long Range). We’ve tested the latter. The Punch EV 35kWh has a 122hp, 190Nm motor and an ARAI-rated range of 365km. However, our range tests saw the small e-SUV go a combined 229km, which is 1km more than the eC3. On the other hand, its efficiency figure is significantly lower at 6.54km/kWh. The Punch EV is priced in the Rs 9.99 lakh-14.14 lakh range and is available with discounts of up to Rs 70,000 this month.

Mahindra XUV400 - 251km

Mahindra’s answer to the Tata Nexon EV comes with 34.5kWh and 39.4kWh battery options, and we got our hands on the larger battery version with a 150hp, 310Nm motor. It should be noted that unlike the other models here, the XUV400’s MIDC range quoted does not account for highway tests, which is why the figure is a significantly high 456km. This makes its real-world range of 251km seem much smaller in comparison. With prices ranging between Rs 16.74 lakh and 17.49 lakh, the Mahindra XUV400 secured a 5-star BNCAP crash-test rating in November last year.

MG Windsor EV - 308km

MG’s latest model arrived in September last year and has recently seen a price hike of up to Rs 50,000. The Windsor is powered by a 38kWh battery, which has an ARAI range of 332km, and it comes with a 136hp, 200Nm motor mounted on the front axle. Interestingly, the MG Windsor EV is one of the few models here that posted a real-world number that is close to its ARAI figure. It went a combined (city and highway) 308km on a single charge, delivering an impressive efficiency of 8.6km/kWh. While prices start at Rs 9.99 lakh for the entry-level variant with the BaaS ownership programme, MG Windsor prices start at Rs 13.99 lakh without opting for the battery rental service.

MG ZS EV - 339km

MG Motor India’s first EV in our market, the ZS EV, packs a 50.3kWh battery that powers a 177hp and 280Nm motor, and it has an ARAI range of 461km. This figure, like the XUV400’s, does not account for a highway (or extra urban) cycle, which is why it’s so high. Our tests showed that the ZS EV managed to go 339km on a single charge, an efficiency of 6.7km/kWh. The ZS EV, like other MGs, is included in the BaaS programme, with prices starting at Rs 13.99 lakh. However, buying the EV without the battery rental plan will drive up the entry-level variant’s price to Rs 18.98 lakh.

Tata Nexon EV - 350km

Tata’s Nexon EV is on sale with 30kWh, 40.5kWh and 45kWh battery pack options, with ARAI ranges of 275km, 390km and 489km, respectively. We tested the 40.5kWh and 45kWh versions. The former, which has a 145hp and 215Nm electric motor, can go 273km on a full battery, and the latter, with a 150hp, 215Nm motor, is capable of 350km on a single charge. Efficiency figures for the Nexon EV LR and Nexon EV 45 stood at 6.8km/kWh and 7.79km/kWh. The electric compact SUV is priced from Rs 12.49 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh.

Tata Curvv EV - 365km

Tata’s Curvv EV, available with 45kWh and 55kWh battery pack options, is priced between Rs 17.49 lakh and Rs 21.99 lakh. The larger batter pack is said to take the coupe-SUV as far as 502km, but our tests showed a real-world range of 365km on a combined cycle, resulting in a calculated efficiency figure of 6.54km/kWh.

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