Affordable Electric Cars Under ₹10 Lakh: Are They a Good Deal?
As electric vehicles (EVs) gain traction in India, more car manufacturers are introducing cost-effective models to attract a wider customer base. If you’re considering purchasing an affordable electric car priced under ₹10 lakh, several options are worth exploring, including the MG Comet EV, Tata Tiago EV, and Tata Punch EV. This article evaluates these EVs to determine whether they’re a worthwhile investment and align with your specific needs.
MG Comet EV
The MG Comet EV stands out as one of the most budget-friendly electric cars available in India. Currently, its prices start from ₹7 lakh for the base variant, going up to ₹9.84 lakh (ex-showroom). This compact SUV comes with a 17.3kWh battery pack paired with a single electric motor, generating 42 bhp and 110 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through an automatic gearbox. The battery pack is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance.
MG claims a 230km ARAI-certified range for the Comet EV. It includes a 3.3kW onboard charger that can fully charge the battery in 7 hours.
The Comet’s interior is well-equipped with two 10.25-inch screens (one for infotainment and the other for instrument cluster functions), steering-mounted controls, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over 55 connected features, keyless entry, manual AC controls, a one-touch tumble and fold feature for the front passenger seat, 50:50 split rear seats, a rotary drive selector, ABS with EBD, a tire pressure monitoring system, dual front airbags, and more. The MG Comet EV has carved a niche for itself, proving to be an affordable option when compared to the Tata Tiago EV and Citroen eC3.
- Price Range: ₹7 lakh to ₹9.84 lakh
Tata Tiago EV
The Tata Tiago EV is another budget-friendly choice for potential buyers. The lineup has four variants: XE MR, XT MR, XT LR, and XZ+ Tech Lux LR. These are priced at ₹7.99 lakh, ₹8.99 lakh, ₹10.14 lakh, and ₹11.14 lakh, respectively. The XE MR and XT MR variants, which are priced under ₹10 lakh, use a 19.2kWh battery pack with an electric motor. This setup delivers a claimed 61 bhp and 110 Nm of torque. The Tiago EV offers a MIDC range of 223km and can be charged with an AC home charger (0 to 100 percent) in 6.9 hours and a DC fast charger (10-80 percent) in 58 minutes.
The Tiago EV XE and XT variants come with features such as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, steering-mounted controls, a 4-speaker audio system, speed-sensing volume, electrically adjustable ORVMs, a 12V front power outlet, central locking, a digital instrument cluster, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, auto AC, rear parking sensors, speed-sensing auto door locks, a tire pressure monitoring system, and rear passenger sensors.
- Price Range: ₹7.99 lakh to ₹11.14 lakh
Tata Punch EV
The Punch EV lineup offers 20 variants, with prices ranging from ₹9.99 lakh to ₹14.44 lakh. Only the base variant falls under the ₹10 lakh mark. Based on the Acti.ev platform, the Tata Punch EV has two battery options: a 25kWh battery with a 315km MIDC range and a 35kWh battery with a 421km MIDC range. The compact electric SUV has three charging options: a 3.3kW wall box charger, a 7.2kW fast charger, and a 50kW DC fast charger. The smaller battery version generates 82 bhp and 114 Nm of torque, while the larger battery model delivers 122 bhp and 190 Nm. The Long Range variant accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in 9.5 seconds, and the Medium Range does it in 13.5 seconds.
The standard features of the Punch EV include LED headlamps, DRLs, 15-inch steel wheels with covers, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a cooled glove box, powered tailgate release, multi-mode regen, an air purifier, six airbags, an electronic stability program, hill start assist, Isofix anchors, a tire pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors, front power windows, and different drive modes (City and Sport). Features like ventilated front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, a blind spot monitor, leatherette seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are reserved for the higher trims.
- Price Range: ₹9.99 lakh to ₹14.44 lakh
