While every electric vehicle (EV) in India comes with an official range, typically certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), these numbers often fall short of real-world performance. To offer more practical insights, Autocar India has rigorously tested a range of EVs to gauge their actual driving capabilities. Below is a list of 10 EVs priced under Rs 25 lakh, highlighting their real-world range and efficiency after our exhaustive tests.
1. Tata Tiago EV – 187 km
- Battery: 24 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 275 km
- Real-World Range: 187 km
- Efficiency: 7.77 km/kWh
Tata’s most affordable EV, the Tiago EV, offers a solid 187 km on a combined city-highway route. With a 74hp motor and a larger 24 kWh battery, it delivers good efficiency, and Tata claims an increased MIDC range of 293 km for the 2025 update. The Tiago EV is priced between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 11.14 lakh.
2. MG Comet EV – 193 km
- Battery: 17.3 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 230 km
- Real-World Range: 193 km
- Efficiency: 11.17 km/kWh
The MG Comet EV, with its 17.3 kWh battery and 42hp motor, offers the best efficiency on this list, achieving 193 km in real-world conditions. This compact and lightweight EV excels with an impressive efficiency figure of 11.17 km/kWh. Prices range from Rs 7.00 lakh to Rs 9.65 lakh, or Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.66 lakh with MG’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) option.
3. Citroen eC3 – 228 km
- Battery: 29.2 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 246 km
- Real-World Range: 228 km
- Efficiency: 7.8 km/kWh
The Citroen eC3 packs a 29.2 kWh battery and a 57hp motor, offering a commendable range of 228 km in real-world tests. Despite a modest motor, it efficiently balances performance and energy consumption. The eC3 is priced between Rs 12.76 lakh and Rs 13.56 lakh, with some discounts available.
4. Tata Punch EV – 229 km
- Battery: 35 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 365 km
- Real-World Range: 229 km
- Efficiency: 6.54 km/kWh
The Tata Punch EV, with a 35 kWh battery, achieves a combined range of 229 km in our tests. The Punch EV is equipped with a 122hp motor, but its efficiency is lower compared to others on the list. Prices range from Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 14.14 lakh.
5. Mahindra XUV400 – 251 km
- Battery: 39.4 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 456 km
- Real-World Range: 251 km
- Efficiency: 6.45 km/kWh
The Mahindra XUV400 features a 39.4 kWh battery and 150hp motor. Despite an impressive official range of 456 km (without accounting for highway cycles), the real-world range stands at 251 km. With prices between Rs 16.74 lakh and Rs 17.49 lakh, the XUV400 also boasts a 5-star BNCAP crash-test rating.
6. MG Windsor EV – 308 km
- Battery: 38 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 332 km
- Real-World Range: 308 km
- Efficiency: 8.1 km/kWh
The MG Windsor EV impresses with a real-world range of 308 km, closely matching its official figure. Its 38 kWh battery and 136hp motor offer a solid balance of range and efficiency, making it a competitive choice. Prices start at Rs 9.99 lakh for the entry-level model with BaaS.
7. MG ZS EV – 339 km
- Battery: 50.3 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 461 km
- Real-World Range: 339 km
- Efficiency: 6.7 km/kWh
The MG ZS EV, with its 50.3 kWh battery, achieves 339 km on a full charge, despite the official MIDC range of 461 km. Its efficiency of 6.7 km/kWh makes it one of the more capable EVs in the market. Prices begin at Rs 13.99 lakh with an option for BaaS.
8. Tata Nexon EV – 273-350 km
- Battery: 40.5 kWh (Standard) & 45 kWh (Long Range)
- Official Range (MIDC): 390 km (40.5 kWh) & 489 km (45 kWh)
- Real-World Range: 273 km (40.5 kWh) & 350 km (45 kWh)
- Efficiency: 6.8 km/kWh (40.5 kWh) & 7.79 km/kWh (45 kWh)
The Tata Nexon EV is available in both standard and long-range versions, with the latter achieving up to 350 km in real-world tests. The Nexon EV is a popular choice in the segment, with prices ranging from Rs 12.49 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh.
9. Tata Curvv EV – 365 km
- Battery: 55 kWh
- Official Range (MIDC): 502 km
- Real-World Range: 365 km
- Efficiency: 6.64 km/kWh
The Tata Curvv EV combines a stylish coupe-SUV design with a 55 kWh battery, offering a real-world range of 365 km. Despite its official MIDC range of 502 km, its efficiency is competitive in the segment. Prices range from Rs 17.49 lakh to Rs 21.99 lakh.
These vehicles represent a broad spectrum of affordable EVs, showcasing varying battery capacities, efficiency figures, and real-world ranges. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level EV or a more advanced option, the market under Rs 25 lakh has multiple choices to fit different needs.
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