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By Piyush P. Yadav

The Rs 16 lakh to Rs 25 lakh band is where India’s electric car market has become genuinely crowded. Two years ago a buyer with that budget had the Tata Nexon EV, the MG ZS EV and not much else. In September 2026 there are seven serious mid-size electric SUVs and crossovers competing for the same money: the Maruti e Vitara, Hyundai Creta Electric, Tata Curvv EV, Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq, MG Windsor EV Pro, MG Hector Tomahawk EV and the lower variants of the Tata Harrier EV. They differ far more than their prices suggest, in battery size, drivetrain, seating, warranty and the way you can pay for them. This guide compares all seven on current ex-showroom prices and real specifications, and then matches each one to the kind of buyer it suits. If your budget is lower, our companion guide to the best electric cars under Rs 15 lakh covers the Tiago EV to Syros EV range.

The seven contenders at a glance

Model Ex-showroom price (Sep 2026) Battery options Claimed range Power Drive Seats
Maruti e Vitara Rs 16.19 lakh to Rs 20.21 lakh 49 / 61 kWh 440 / 543 km 142 / 172 bhp FWD 5
Tata Curvv EV Rs 17.19 lakh to Rs 19.69 lakh 55 kWh 502 km (MIDC) 165 bhp FWD 5
MG Windsor EV Pro From Rs 17.49 lakh (introductory) 52.9 kWh 449 km (ARAI) 134 bhp FWD 5
Hyundai Creta Electric Rs 18.03 lakh to Rs 24.70 lakh 42 / 51.4 kWh 390 / 473 km (ARAI) 135 / 171 hp FWD 5
Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq Rs 19.45 lakh to Rs 26.95 lakh 59 / 79 kWh Up to 683 km (79 kWh claim) 286 bhp RWD 5
MG Hector Tomahawk EV From Rs 19.49 lakh Single pack 517 km Not disclosed FWD 7
Tata Harrier EV Rs 21.79 lakh to Rs 30.54 lakh 65 / 75 kWh 538 / 627 km 238 PS (65 kWh) RWD / QWD 5

Prices are ex-showroom and current as of early September 2026. Tata and Hyundai raised prices from 1 September, which we detailed in our report on the Tata and Hyundai EV price increases; the Curvv EV and Creta Electric figures above reflect the new pricing. The e Vitara took its first hike in June 2026, with the Zeta up Rs 30,000 and the Alpha up Rs 20,000, while the base Delta was unchanged.

Battery size and real-world range

Manufacturer range figures in India come from three different test standards (ARAI, MIDC and manufacturer claims), so they are not directly comparable. A more reliable guide is battery capacity, because real-world consumption for cars of this size clusters between 6 and 7.5 km per kWh in mixed driving with air-conditioning.

Model (largest pack) Usable battery Realistic mixed-use range (6 to 7 km/kWh) DC fast charge 10 to 80%
Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq 79 kWh 79 kWh 475 to 550 km About 20 minutes at 175 kW
Tata Harrier EV 75 kWh 75 kWh 450 to 525 km About 25 minutes (20 to 80%)
Tata Harrier EV 65 kWh 65 kWh 390 to 455 km About 25 minutes (20 to 80%)
Maruti e Vitara 61 kWh 61 kWh 365 to 425 km 45 minutes
Tata Curvv EV 55 kWh 55 kWh 330 to 385 km About 40 minutes at 70 kW
MG Windsor EV Pro 52.9 kWh 52.9 kWh 315 to 370 km About 50 minutes at 60 kW
Hyundai Creta Electric 51.4 kWh 51.4 kWh 310 to 360 km 39 minutes at about 100 kW

The e Vitara’s 543 km claim and the Creta Electric’s 473 km look close on paper, but the Maruti carries 10 kWh more battery, which in practice means an extra 60 to 70 km between charges. The Sporteq’s 79 kWh pack is the largest available below Rs 25 lakh and is the reason it is the only car here that can plausibly do Delhi to Jaipur and back without a charging stop. For everything in this table, plan around the realistic column, not the claim. Our guide to home charger installation and connector types explains why a 7.4 kW wallbox matters more than DC speed for daily use.

Three ways to pay: outright, BaaS, or with a buyback

This segment has become the testing ground for new ownership models, and the choice affects total cost as much as the sticker price does.

Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS)

Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra and MG all offer the car without its battery at a lower price, with the battery paid for per kilometre.

Model BaaS entry price Battery charge Annual battery cost at 12,000 km
Maruti e Vitara Rs 10.99 lakh Rs 3.99 per km Rs 47,880
Hyundai Creta Electric (42 kWh) Rs 10.99 lakh Rs 3.90 per km Rs 46,800
Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq Rs 11.45 lakh Rs 3.75 per km Rs 45,000
MG Windsor EV Pro Rs 12.50 lakh Rs 4.50 per km Rs 54,000

BaaS lowers the entry price by Rs 5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh but adds Rs 45,000 to Rs 54,000 a year at typical mileage, and more for high-mileage users. It also means you do not own the battery, which complicates resale. We ran the break-even maths in detail for the Mahindra plans in our analysis of whether Battery-as-a-Service really works out cheaper; the conclusion, that it suits drivers under about 12,000 km a year who plan to keep the car for the full term, applies to all four brands.

Assured buyback

Maruti offers up to 60 per cent assured buyback on the e Vitara after three years or 45,000 km, and 50 per cent after four years or 60,000 km. Hyundai matched it in August 2026 with 60 per cent for three years or 45,000 km on the Creta Electric. Tata and Mahindra do not offer a manufacturer buyback on the Curvv, Harrier or BE 6. Given how quickly used EV values have fallen, a subject we examined in our report on why used electric cars depreciate faster than petrol cars in India, a guaranteed 60 per cent floor is worth a great deal to anyone who expects to change cars within three years.

Space, seats and practicality

The Hector Tomahawk EV is the only seven-seater in the group and the only one with vehicle-to-home capability, which lets it power household appliances during an outage. That combination makes it the default choice for large families, as we noted at its Rs 19.49 lakh launch. The Windsor EV Pro is the roomiest five-seater, with reclining rear seats and a flat floor that make it popular with chauffeur-driven buyers. The Creta Electric and e Vitara are conventional five-seat SUVs with generous boots. The Curvv EV’s coupe roofline costs some rear headroom, and the BE 6 Sporteq is the least practical of the seven, with a low roof and a small boot; it is bought for how it drives, not for what it carries.

Warranty

Battery warranty terms vary widely and are worth reading before choosing. Mahindra offers a lifetime battery warranty to the first private owner on the BE 6. Tata offers lifetime cover on the Curvv EV and Harrier EV batteries for the first owner. Hyundai covers the Creta Electric battery for eight years or 1,60,000 km. Maruti covers the e Vitara battery for eight years or 1,60,000 km. MG offers a lifetime battery warranty on the Windsor for the first owner. The definitions of “lifetime” and the transfer conditions differ, and we compared them clause by clause in our guide to EV battery warranties across Indian brands.

Which one should you buy

  • Best all-rounder under Rs 20 lakh: Maruti e Vitara 61 kWh (Zeta or Alpha). The largest battery in its price band, a five-star Bharat NCAP rating, Level 2 ADAS, Maruti’s service network and a 60 per cent buyback. Slow 45-minute DC charging is the main compromise.
  • Best for a chauffeur-driven or comfort-first buyer: MG Windsor EV Pro. Unmatched rear-seat comfort and a lifetime battery warranty. Range and charging speed are mid-pack.
  • Best for families needing seven seats: MG Hector Tomahawk EV. The only three-row option, plus vehicle-to-home. Wait for detailed specifications before comparing range claims.
  • Best for driving enjoyment: Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq 79 kWh. 286 bhp, rear-wheel drive, the biggest battery and fastest charging in the group. Expect to sacrifice practicality.
  • Best brand network with a buyback: Hyundai Creta Electric. The safe choice for buyers who value Hyundai’s dealer coverage and the new 60 per cent buyback. Its batteries are the smallest here, so range is the trade-off.
  • Best value from Tata: Curvv EV. A 55 kWh pack under Rs 20 lakh with a lifetime battery warranty. If your budget stretches to Rs 22 lakh, the Harrier EV 65 kWh is a significantly larger, more capable car.

Sources & Further Reading

Frequently asked questions

Which electric SUV under Rs 20 lakh has the longest real-world range?

The Maruti e Vitara 61 kWh, with a 543 km claim and a realistic 365 to 425 km in mixed use. Among cars up to Rs 25 lakh, the Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq 79 kWh (Rs 22.95 lakh) goes furthest with 475 to 550 km realistic range.

Is Battery-as-a-Service a good idea for a mid-size electric SUV?

Only for low-mileage buyers. At 12,000 km a year the battery charge adds Rs 45,000 to Rs 54,000 annually across the e Vitara, Creta Electric, BE 6 Sporteq and Windsor Pro, and you never own the battery, which affects resale.

Which electric SUVs in this price band offer a buyback guarantee?

Maruti (e Vitara, up to 60 per cent at three years or 45,000 km) and Hyundai (Creta Electric, 60 per cent at three years or 45,000 km). Tata and Mahindra do not offer a manufacturer buyback.

Is there a seven-seat electric SUV under Rs 25 lakh?

Yes, the MG Hector Tomahawk EV, launched at Rs 19.49 lakh with seven seats, a 517 km claimed range and vehicle-to-home charging capability.