What are the best electric SUVs under ₹25 lakhs by range in 2026?

Detailed Answer

Who This Guide Is For

If you are looking to spend under ₹25 lakhs on an electric SUV and range is your primary filter, this article covers every major option currently available in India. All figures include verified ARAI range claims, confirmed ex-showroom pricing, and real-world range estimates sourced from published test drives by Autocar India and CarDekho. Prices are ex-showroom unless stated otherwise. No manufacturer has paid for placement in this guide.

Quick Comparison Table

Model	Battery	ARAI Range	Real-World Range	Starting Price
Maruti e Vitara	49 kWh	440 km	~340–360 km	₹15.99 lakh
Maruti e Vitara	61 kWh	543 km	~400–430 km	₹17.49 lakh
Tata Curvv EV	45 kWh	430 km	~310–330 km	₹17.49 lakh
Tata Curvv EV	55 kWh	502 km	~350–380 km	₹19.29 lakh
Hyundai Creta Electric	42 kWh	390 km	~310–330 km	₹18.02 lakh
Hyundai Creta Electric	51.4 kWh	473 km	~370–400 km	~₹20.02 lakh
VinFast VF 6	59.6 kWh	468 km	~360–390 km	₹16.49 lakh
MG ZS EV	50.3 kWh	461 km	~300–350 km	₹17.99 lakh

Real-world estimates reflect 70–80% of ARAI under mixed Indian driving with AC, based on Autocar India and CarDekho road test data.

A note on BaaS pricing: Maruti and MG offer a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model that separates vehicle and battery costs. The e Vitara BaaS entry price of ₹10.99 lakh excludes the battery, which is rented at ₹3.99/km. At 1,000 km/month that adds ₹3,990/month indefinitely. Full ownership prices start at ₹15.99 lakh. Both figures are valid; ensure you are comparing like with like.

Model-by-Model Breakdown

Maruti e Vitara

Maruti Suzuki's first electric car for India arrived in February 2026 under the NEXA brand. Two battery options are available: 49 kWh (ARAI: 440 km, 144 HP) and 61 kWh (ARAI: 543 km, 174 HP), with full ownership prices running from ₹15.99 lakh to ₹19.79 lakh. CarDekho's early drive data puts real-world range at approximately 350 km for the smaller battery and 420 km for the larger one under typical conditions with AC.

The service network is the e Vitara's trump card. Over 3,000 NEXA touchpoints give it a reach no other EV on this list can match, which matters if you live outside a tier-1 city. It also carries a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash rating, and higher variants get Level 2 ADAS. The platform (HEARTECT-e) is shared globally with Toyota's Urban Cruiser Ebella.

On the other hand, boot space at 310 litres is tight for the segment. There is no AWD option for India. Rear seat comfort has drawn mixed responses in early reviews, and the 61 kWh variant crosses ₹22 lakh on-road in most cities. Buyers who lean heavily on service accessibility and resale predictability will find the e Vitara hard to beat here.

Tata Curvv EV

The Curvv EV has been on sale since August 2024 with a 45 kWh (ARAI: 430 km) and 55 kWh (ARAI: 502 km) battery, priced from ₹17.49 lakh to ₹22.24 lakh. In Autocar India's first drive of the 55 kWh version, it returned 359 km of real-world range on a mixed route (241 km driven, 100% to 33% battery). CarDekho long-term data aligns at 345–365 km.

What sets the Curvv EV apart is its feature density. A 500-litre boot plus 11.6-litre frunk, vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging, 70 kW DC fast charging (10–80% in ~40 min), and a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. For the price, nothing in this list packs more technology per rupee.

The coupe roofline does cost you rear headroom, a complaint that comes up consistently across reviews. The 45 kWh variant's real-world range of about 320 km may not justify the premium over base competitors, and some owner reports flag fit-and-finish inconsistencies. If you are willing to live with the sloping roof, the 55 kWh Curvv EV offers a strong balance of fast charging, range, and features.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Launched January 2025, the Creta Electric quickly became one of India's top-selling EVs through much of that year. It comes with 42 kWh (ARAI: 390 km) and 51.4 kWh (ARAI: 473 km) batteries, priced from ₹18.02 lakh to ₹23.82 lakh.

The range numbers are where it gets interesting. Autocar India's long-range test of the 51.4 kWh variant returned 432 km in city conditions at 9.45 km/kWh, and 7.36 km/kWh on the highway. That city figure represents a higher real-world-to-ARAI ratio than any competitor here, which makes it a particularly strong choice for commuters. The 11 kW onboard AC charger is also the fastest standard unit in this group, cutting a full overnight charge to about 5.5 hours. Hyundai assembles the battery pack locally (a first for them in India), and after-sales support is well-established.

The Creta Electric is not a born-EV platform, and some packaging decisions reveal its ICE origins. The base 42 kWh variant's 390 km ARAI range is the lowest in this comparison. Top variants approach ₹24 lakh. Still, for buyers who want a known ownership experience, consistent ride quality, and strong efficiency numbers, this is the closest thing to a safe default in the segment.

VinFast VF 6

VinFast launched the VF 6 in India in September 2025, and the pricing raised eyebrows: ₹16.49 lakh to ₹18.29 lakh for a 59.6 kWh battery across all variants (ARAI: 468 km). Power output ranges from 176 to 203 PS depending on variant. DC fast charge from 10–70% takes approximately 25 minutes.

On paper, the value proposition is hard to argue with. The VF 6 carries the largest battery of any sub-₹20 lakh option here, the fastest DC charging rate at approximately 80 kW, Level 2 ADAS as standard, and a wheelbase of 2,730 mm that is longer than both the Creta Electric and Curvv EV.

The catch is that VinFast is new to India. No independent Indian long-term test data is available yet; the 360–390 km real-world range estimate applies a standard 78–80% efficiency ratio to the ARAI claim. The service network is limited and a legitimate concern outside major cities. There is no frunk, boot space is the smallest in this comparison, and resale value is entirely unknown. Urban buyers in cities where VinFast has centres and who prioritise battery capacity per rupee will find this worth a serious look, but go in with open eyes about the unknowns.

MG ZS EV

On sale since 2020, the ZS EV has been around longer than any other model here. It carries a single 50.3 kWh battery (ARAI: 461 km), with prices revised downward in June 2025 to ₹17.99 lakh–₹20.50 lakh.

That longevity is both its strength and its limitation. Real-world range from CarWale owner reports consistently lands at 300–350 km in mixed conditions, a wider gap from the ARAI number than newer rivals manage. The older, less aerodynamically optimised platform partly explains the lower efficiency. Infotainment responsiveness has been criticised in recent reviews, and there is no frunk.

What the ZS EV does offer is something no newcomer can: years of owner data. Reliability trends, common issues, long-distance comfort, real service costs, all of it is documented across forums and owner groups. The ride quality is praised for highway comfort, a BaaS plan is available, and the confirmed MG S5 EV successor may push prices down further. For buyers who value a thoroughly known quantity over bleeding-edge specs, the ZS EV still has a role to play.

What Actually Affects Real-World Range

ARAI figures are measured under controlled test cycle conditions. In Indian real-world use, expect 70–80% of the claimed figure. Several variables account for the gap.

Air conditioning is the biggest single drain in Indian conditions, typically cutting 10–15% of range in stop-go traffic where the compressor runs continuously. Speed matters too: most EVs in this segment are optimised for 60–80 km/h, and sustained highway driving above 100 km/h can drop efficiency by 15–20% versus the ARAI number.

Battery thermal management becomes important in peak Indian summer above 40°C. Cars with active liquid cooling, such as the Creta Electric and Curvv EV, maintain more consistent range than simpler systems. Driving mode selection also makes a measurable difference. Eco mode on the Curvv EV returned 6.54 km/kWh in Autocar India testing, a solid figure for its battery size.

Charging: The Practical Numbers

Model	AC Full Charge	DC Fast Charge (10–80%)	Max DC Rate
Maruti e Vitara 61 kWh	~8.5 hrs (7.2 kW)	~55 min	50 kW
Tata Curvv EV 55 kWh	~7.9 hrs (7.2 kW)	~40 min	70 kW
Hyundai Creta Electric 51.4 kWh	~5.5 hrs (11 kW)	~45 min	50 kW
VinFast VF 6	Not confirmed	~25 min (10–70%)	~80 kW
MG ZS EV	~8–9 hrs (7.4 kW)	~45 min	50 kW

The Creta Electric's 11 kW onboard charger cuts overnight charging time significantly compared to the 7.2 kW units in most rivals. For DC fast charging, the VF 6 and Curvv EV lead on speed.