I want a better electric car than the Nexon & ZS EV

BHPian narayanbabu recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, I have been searching/waiting for the "Octavia" equivalent of EVs in India. The titled cars are quite underwhelming in terms of missing out on basic comfort and ADAS functionality that's available in a typical "Octavia" segment car. And as I am desperate to give away my diesel Rapid DSG for something better (next segment), none of these seems like an "upgrade" from that.

I don't have a crore budget to go for the top tier and look for something like the BMW i3 or Audi e-tron. Last year, I test drove the XC40 Petrol (quite liked it), and was told XC40 Recharge is launching end of the year. I begged him to take my booking, but he was not sure of the dates. Now, I am told it is pushed back to the end of 2022. Does it make sense to even wait for a "good" EV or should I just switch from Rapid to ICE vehicle (thinking used 2020 XC40 Diesel).

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Agreed with you that there's a large void in the middle of the market. You have the cheaper EVs on one side for 10 - 30 lakhs and then straight, it's over a crore.

Worry not though. There will be EVs coming in the Rs 40 - 70 lakh range, but it will take time. The earliest will be Tesla with their fantastic Model 3 which you should strongly consider waiting for. The Kia EV6 also looks promising as does the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Others, you'll have to be patient, as manufacturers always follow a "top-down" approach for new technology. That's why all the luxury EVs are currently on the 1+ crore models.

If you absolutely want to buy something "green" today, get the Camry Hybrid. It's got a full electric mode and is a proper luxury car. In my books, the current Camry is a Lexus with a "T" badge...it's that good.

The used 2020 Volvo XC40 diesel would be a great "interim" car to own, while you wait for the electric car scene in India to become more mature.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

You’re right that there is indeed a massive gap between the MG ZS EV and the 1 crore plus offerings.

From a 2022 purchase standpoint, perhaps wait for the Ioniq which is slated to launch this year. That should slot in the 50-60L range and be a plush (albeit overpriced, being CBU) offering that bridges this gap.

The difference between going Camry / Lexus and EV is that while the former is “nice” to drive, their driving pleasure won’t necessarily match a car like an Octavia. They will however be predictable to own, properly luxurious and also give you a green footprint without things like range anxiety etc.

The EV on the other hand will be properly fun to drive but perhaps not as plush as the hybrids mentioned above. Take a call on what works best but there are definitely green options available in 2022 for you to upgrade from your Rapid.

Happy shopping.

Here's what BHPian carthick1000 had to say on the matter:

If you are not in a hurry wait for one of these 3. The wait is worth Here are my topic picks, if they get launched:

1. Tesla model 3: Chances of launch is low but the price point might well within your ballpark
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5: Chances of launch is high and a very practical CUV and should be launched at around 45L. I wrote about the driving impressions here (Driving Impressions: Hyundai Ioniq 5)
3. Kia EV6: The sporty sibling of Ioniq 5 and should also be priced somewhat similar to Ioniq 5. But I am not sure if EV6 will be launched in India as it might cannibalise Ioniq 5. You never know.

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