With electric cars gaining popularity and acceptance amongst the Indian consumers, the market is witnessing new launches from automakers at regular intervals. Not just mass market automakers like Tata Motors, Hyundai India, etc, but several luxury carmakers have also introduced electric cars. Luxury car manufacturers see this as a big opportunity and are introducing their EV offerings for the class above. Premium luxury vehicles are built keeping luxury, comfort, safety & range in mind. All luxury carmakers are also working on EV charging networks.
The Indian automobile market has recently witnessed more action in the EV segment than in the conventional car segment. And in the EV segment, the luxury EV space has seen more launches than the mass market EV segment.
With Tesla staying out of the Indian market due to import duty issues, rivals such as Mercedes, BMW & Volvo are seeing a bigger opportunity in the country and in assembling these cars locally. Taxes on locally assembled electric cars are 45% versus 110% on imported models, making them more affordable for consumers in India. Let’s have a look at the top ‘affordable luxury’ electric cars in India:
- Volvo XC40 Recharge
Volvo India priced its ‘XC40 Recharge’ electric car at Rs 55.90 lakh, making it a really affordable luxury electric car. The car is relatively cheaper than its luxury counterparts as its being assembled at Volvo’s plant located near Bangalore. The automaker offers an 8 year warranty on the battery and provides an EV charger of 11kW capacity with the car. The XC40 Recharge sports a 78kWh battery and offers a 335 km range. The car supports 150kW DC fast-charging which can charge the car from 10-80% in 33 mins. The Volvo XC40 Recharge electric SUV that is offered in India is exactly the same which is offered in global markets. Most luxury automakers sell slightly toned-down versions of their cars in India. The car comes with a 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electronic sunroof and automatic climate control.
- Mini Cooper SE
The Mini Cooper SE electric is a two-door hatchback which is available in a single, fully-loaded variant, priced at Rs 50.90 lakh. The luxury electric hatchback is powered by a 32.6kWh battery. The claimed range is 270 km and the top speed is 150 km/hr. An 11kW AC charger is included, which charges the battery from 0-80% in 2.5 hours. As far as features are concerned, the Mini Cooper SE has a 5.5-inch digital display behind the steering wheel, an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen and heated front seats.
- BMW i4
Being a luxury electric car, the BMW i4 offers the best specifications and the most advanced features at a very affordable price. This electric sedan hosts an 83.9kWh battery and is the longest-range electric car in India with a certified range of 590 km. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/hr in 5.7 seconds and the top speed is 200 km/hr. The car features a 12.3-inch curved driver’s display screen and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. A mega 17 speaker Harman Kardon music system is the top feature in this car.
The BMW i4 comes with an 8 year warranty on the car battery. The company also offers 24/7 roadside assistance till 5 years.
The i4 at Rs 69.90 lakh is comparatively cheaper than electric cars of other luxury brands such as Audi e-Tron, Jaguar i-Pace and Mercedes EQC in India, which are priced above Rs 1 crore. All these cars have similar specifications, but lesser range than the i4.
Scan the barcode and download the EVJoints app to find 6,000 EV charging stations across various networks.
Click & download the EVJoints app to find 6,000 charging stations.
- Kia EV6
Many people might disagree with a Kia product in a luxury car list, but you just can’t leave the Kia EV6 out. The 5-seater electric SUV is as luxurious as it gets. The EV6 comes with a 77.4kWh battery pack. Features include windscreen-embedded augmented reality display, wide sunroof, 12.3-inch curved touchscreen infotainment system, Meridian 14 speaker sound system and 8 airbags. Prices start from Rs 59.95 lakh. Kia has also installed a superfast EV charging network throughout its dealerships. Recently, MS Dhoni bought an EV6.
- Mercedes EQB
Electric Vehicle purists rate Mercedes offerings as some of the best electric cars in the market. A new luxurious, but somewhat affordable e-car from the German automaker is about to hit the Indian market. The Mercedes-Benz EQB is a soon-to-be-launched electric SUV. It is likely to be launched between December 2022 and January 2023. The expected price is Rs 60-70 lakh. It has a seating capacity of 7 people. The car sports a 66.5kWh battery and provides a certified range of 419 km. Using a 100kW charger, the EQB can be charged from 10-80% in 30 minutes.
The interiors are adorned by two 12.3-inch displays, one as the driver’s display and the other as a smart infotainment system. When launched, the EQB will be the most affordable electric car by Mercedes in India.
Pros & Cons At A Glance:
