We rank electric cars and SUVs based on their claimed range figures as per the WLTP cycle.
Published On Apr 12, 2023 08:00:00 AM
17,577 Views
Follow us on
Share - 
It’s safe to say that the EV scene in India is no longer in its nascency. Charging infrastructure has been growing steadily, EVs themselves have become a lot more affordable and accessible, and there’s growing acceptance among car buyers too – thanks to rising fuel prices and green credentials associated with electric mobility. However, range anxiety continues to stop many buyers from opting for EVs.
There are quite a few EVs in India now which provide sufficient range on a single charge, enough even for highway runs. We compile a list of 10 electric cars and SUVs that boast the longest claimed range on a single charge. Do note that this list has been ranked based on cars tested on the stringent WLTP cycle, and not ARAI, which is a more relaxed testing cycle. So naturally, the list focuses on the premium end of the EV range in India.
Price - Rs 88.00 lakh
.jpg&c=0)
The Mercedes-Benz EQB is based on the GLB SUV, which means it's not a born-electric vehicle, but an ICE conversion. Importantly, it’s the only three-row EV that you can currently buy in India, and while space in the third-row is limited, it makes for a practical buy for a large family. The EQB comes to India in the 350 guise, which, equipped with a 66.5kWh battery pack, offers a range of up to 423km on the WLTP cycle. It gets an all-wheel drive layout with dual electric motors – one on each axle – and puts out 292hp and 520Nm.
Even though the EQB is designed as a family EV, it’s quite fun to drive, more about which you can read here or watch our video review here. It’s, however, quite pricey for what it is.
Price - Rs 1.21 crore
The iX was the BMW Group's first all-electric vehicle in India. It’s based on a born-electric platform that’s an evolution of BMW’s CLAR architecture, serves as the brand’s flagship EV, and comes to India as a CBU. Offered in a single xDrive 40 guise, the iX gets a 76.6kWh battery pack and has a claimed driving range of up to 425km on the WLTP cycle. It gets a dual electric motor set-up with one motor on each axle, giving it all-wheel drive, and produces 326hp of power and 630Nm of peak torque.
Despite being an EV, the iX drives like a BMW should, and also gets the quirks of a born-EV platform. You can read more about our first impression here, or watch the video review here.
Price - Rs 1.20 crore-Rs 1.24 crore
The i-Pace is currently the only EV in JLR’s portfolio in India. Jaguar’s first EV is built on a completely bespoke platform, is more a coupe-crossover than an SUV as Jaguar would like you to believe, and feels unlike any other Jaguar that has come before it. As for the numbers, the i-Pace makes 400hp and 696Nm from its dual motors on each axle, draws power from a 90kWh battery pack and has a WLTP range of 470km. It's available in three trims in India – S, SE and HSE.
The i-Pace is not the most spacious or luxurious even in its own segment, but it’s the driving experience that defines its character – it's really a hoot to drive, and you can read about it here or watch our video here.
Price - Rs 44.95 lakh
Just like the i-Pace is like no other Jag, the Ioniq 5 is like no other Hyundai. It's quirky and futuristic, has fantastic road presence and, quite possibly, is the best Hyundai ever. It even bagged the 2022 World Car of the Year honour. What makes it a particularly great proposition in India is its killer price, thanks to it being locally assembled. In India, the Ioniq 5 is powered by a 72.6kWh battery, is available only in rear-wheel-drive configuration, and its electric motor produces 217hp and 350Nm. In this configuration, the Ioniq 5 has a WLTP range of 481km. It’s worth mentioning that it has even been tested by ARAI, where it has a claimed range of 631km.
The Ioniq 5 also takes the inherent advantages of a born-EV platform to an all-new level with its space and packaging, and is surprisingly fun to drive too. You can read about it here, or watch our video here.
Audi e-tron price - Rs 1.02 crore-Rs 1.26 crore
The sixth position is a tie between the Audi e-tron SUV and the Porsche Taycan as both models have a maximum claimed range of 484km on the WLTP cycle.
The e-tron comes in SUV and Sportback body styles, and in two variants: the 50, which gets two electric motors that produce a combined 313hp and 540Nm; and the 55, which also has a dual-motor layout with more power – 408hp and 664Nm. The 50 comes with a 71kWh battery pack that has a range of 264-379km (WLTP combined), while the more powerful 55 comes with a bigger 95kWh battery pack and a WLTP range between 359-484km.
You can read our comprehensive review of the e-tron here, or watch the video here.
Porsche Taycan price – Rs 1.53 crore-Rs 2.34 crore
The Taycan also comes in two body styles – the Taycan sedan and the Taycan Cross Turismo estate – and has seven variants in total. The standard rear-wheel-drive Taycan makes 408hp, while the top-spec Taycan Turbo S generates up to 761hp and 1,050Nm of peak torque, which makes it among the most powerful EVs on sale in India. Claiming the same maximum WLTP range figures as the e-tron, the lower variants of the Taycan pack a 79.2kWh battery as standard, while the larger 93.4kWh battery pack is optional. The higher-spec Turbo and Turbo S variants are available solely with the 93.4kWh unit.
The Taycan was, in fact, Autocar India’s choice of wheels for the epic K2K drive where we travelled across the length of the country in an EV. This really goes on to show that you can indeed use EVs for long-distance journeys, albeit with careful planning with regard to your charging stops. Read about it here, or watch the video here.
Price - Rs 1.70 crore-Rs 1.94 crore
Built on the same born-EV platform as the Taycan, the Audi e-tron GT comes in two variants in India. The standard model produces a combined 475hp and 630Nm of torque, with the boost mode taking the power up to 530hp. There’s also the performance-oriented RS version that makes 646hp; it uses a 2-speed transmission with a short first gear for acceleration and a long-ratio second gear for efficiency. Both models get a 93kWh battery pack, for which Audi claims a range of up to 500km for the standard e-tron GT and 481km for the RS e-tron GT, as per the WLTP cycle.
The Audi e-tron GT’s stunning design, quick performance and keen handling are some of its highlights. You can check out our review here, and for our review of the RS e-tron GT, click here.
Price - Rs 60.95 lakh-Rs 65.95 lakh
.jpg&c=0)
Kia’s first electric model in India is also the carmaker's flagship EV. The EV6 is based on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform, which means it is a sibling to the Ioniq 5. However, both models have slightly different specifications and unlike the Hyundai, the EV6 comes to India as a full import, which is why it is pricier. Packing in a sole 77.4kWh battery pack, it is available in a single-motor, rear- wheel-drive guise making 229hp and 350Nm of torque, and in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive guise making 325hp and 605Nm. The maximum range for the EV6 is 528km on the WLTP cycle.
The EV6 is a premium crossover that looks like nothing else on the road, and is quite a performer too. You can read our review of the Kia EV6 here, or watch our video here.
Price - Rs 73.90 lakh-Rs 77.50 lakh
The i4 was BMW’s second EV for India, however, unlike the iX, it’s not a born EV – it’s an all-electric derivative of the 4 Series Gran Coupe (not sold in India), which itself is a four-door coupe based on the 3 Series we’re familiar with. India gets the i4 in eDrive40 guise with a rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels. The motor produces 340hp and 430Nm, drawing power from an 83.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack that allows for a WLTP range of 590km.
The biggest pull comes courtesy of a tempting price tag. The i4 is in the same price band as the sporty M340i and larger 5 Series, and you still get a rewarding driving experience with a fantastic range that’s not being offered by any other luxury EV maker at this price. You can read our review of the i4 here, or watch our video review here.
Price - Rs 1.95 crore
The i7 is an all-electric derivative of the 7 Series, where the only visual differentiators are subtle blue accents on the exterior, and an “i” badge on the gargantuan front grille. Even the interior is identical on both models. Based on a modified CLAR architecture that’s shared with the regular 7 Series, BMW says, “The electric i7 is a 7 Series regardless of the drivetrain.”
Speaking of which, the i7 comes to India in an xDrive 60 variant that produces 544hp and 745Nm from its two electric motors, mounted on each axle. It packs a 101.7kWh lithium-ion battery that has a range between 591km-625km on the WLTP cycle.
The new i7 has everything that it takes to be among the best, most luxurious cars in the world, right alongside its ICE sibling. Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to drive the magnificent 7 in California, and you can read about it here or watch the video here.
Price - Rs 1.55 crore-Rs 2.45 crore
Speaking of best cars in the world, we have arrived at the electric alternative of the Mercedes S-Class, the EQS. The sporty electric four-door ‘coupe’ is available in two variants in India – the imported, AMG-spec EQS 53, and the locally assembled, regular EQS 580. It’s the latter that has a WLTP range of 677km, therefore topping our list, while the EQS 53 has a WLTP range of 586km.
Both models are powered by a 107.8kWh battery with a dual motor set-up – the EQS 53 produces 761hp of max power and 1,020Nm of torque, while the 580 produces 523hp and 855Nm.
It’s also worth mentioning that the EQS 580 has an even higher ARAI-claimed range of a massive 857km, while the EQS 53 is the most expensive EV on sale in India. You can read more about the EQS 53’s driving experience here, or the EQS 580’s driving experience here.
All prices ex-showroom, India.
Also See:
Mercedes AMG GT 63 S E Performance first look: 843hp hybrid missile
Tech Talk: The brilliance of regen braking
Feature: Polar Precision – Porsche Ice Driving School
Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.
Maruti Suzuki plans to use the Boosterjet engine in more models. Which one would you like to see it in?
Detect my Current Location
Comments
Member Login
Personal Details
No comments yet. Be the first to comment.