Every mass market EV real world range tested

Every EV homologated by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) gets an MIDC range figure. However, very rarely do electric cars achieve the ARAI-rated number – or even Tata’s C75 number – in the real world. Here, we list out the real-world range of every mass-market EV tested under Autocar India’s stringent and methodical tests, which ensure accurate results.

Tata Tiago EV

24kWh: 187km

Tata Motors’ smallest and most affordable EV comes with two battery pack options: 19.2kWh and 24kWh. The larger 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

17.3kWh: 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 7.36 lakh and Rs 9.86 lakh, though those who opt for MG Motor’s BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) programme would pay between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.50 lakh, with an additional Rs 2 per km for the battery rental.

Citroen eC3

29.2kWh: 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 between Rs 12.9 lakh and Rs 13.53 lakh. Citroen is offering discounts of up to Rs 70,000 this month on the e-hatchback.

Tata Punch EV

35kWh: 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-14.44 lakh range.

Mahindra XUV400

39.4kWh: 251km

Mahindra’s answer to the Tata Nexon EV now comes only with the 39.4kWh battery; there was a 34.5kWh option available earlier. 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 significantly higher at 456km. This makes its real-world range of 251km seem much smaller in comparison. The Rs 17.49 lakh Mahindra XUV400 secured a 5-star BNCAP crash-test rating in November last year.

MG Windsor EV

38kWh: 308km

MG’s latest model arrived in September last year and recently received a larger battery version with a Pro suffix. The standard Windsor is powered by a 38kWh battery, which has an ARAI range of 332km (Pro variants get a 52.9kWh unit with up to 449km of ARAI range), 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 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 10 lakh for the entry-level variant with the BaaS ownership programme, MG Windsor prices start at Rs 14 lakh without opting for the battery rental service.

MG ZS EV

50.3kWh: 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 lakh and going up to Rs 15.51 lakh. However, buying the EV without the battery rental plan will drive up the entry-level variant’s price to Rs 17.99 lakh, and the top-spec ZS EV’s price goes up to Rs 20.50 lakh.

Tata Nexon EV

45kWh: 350km

While the Nexon EV was available for sale with 30kWh, 40.5kWh and 45kWh battery pack options – with ARAI ranges of 275km, 390km and 489km, respectively – Tata discontinued the 40.5kWh version, which was among the models we had tested. Called the Nexon EV LR, it came with a 145hp, 215Nm electric motor, and its 20.5kWh battery went 273km, posting an efficiency of 6.8km/kWh.

We have also tested the Nexon EV 45, which is powered by a 150hp, 215Nm motor. Our real-world tests showed the 45kWh battery can go 350km on a single charge, recording an average efficiency of 7.79km/kWh. The Tata’s electric compact SUV is currently priced from Rs 12.49 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh.

Tata Curvv EV

55kWh: 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 battery 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.

Mahindra BE 6

79kWh: 449km

The first of Mahindra’s born EVs, the BE 6 is available with a 59kWh battery and a 79kWh option. While the ARAI-certified range is 682km, our real-world test of the top-spec BE 6 Pack Three – which is only available with the larger 79kWh battery – showed the Hyundai Creta Electric rival averaging 449km of range on a single charge. The Mahindra BE 6’s 79kWh battery delivers an efficiency figure of 5.68km/kWh, the lowest among the EVs tested so far, and that’s due to the powerful 286hp, 300Nm motor, and portly 2,115kg kerb weight. Prices for the BE 6 start at Rs 18.90 lakh and go up to Rs 26.90 lakh, though these prices do not include a fast charger option or installation costs. 

Mahindra XEV 9e

79kWh: 456km

Interestingly, the larger and heavier Mahindra XEV 9e Pack Three (2,201kg) – which gets the same 79kWh battery and 286hp, 300Nm motor  as the BE 6 – was more efficient and has a longer range than its smaller sibling. While the range-topping variant of the coupe-SUV has an ARAI range of 656km, our XEV 9e real world tests showed it achieve a combined range of 456km, posting an efficiency figure of 5.78km/kWh. Mahindra’s Tata Harrier EV rival is currently priced from Rs 21.90 lakh to Rs 30.50 lakh.

All prices, ex-showroom, India 

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