I am planning to get a new car.
I absolutely love my current car, apart from the fact that I no longer find the driver's seat comfortable, the suspension could be better, and the 1.2L Hyundai lacks serious power.
The cars I am considering are:
- Mahindra BE 6 (P3)
- Verna 1.5 Turbo (HX10)
- Seltos 1.5 Turbo (variant still undecided)
Use case: I live in a rented apartment in Bengaluru and mostly ride or drive to work. I usually take the car out at least once a week at night for pleasure driving. I also try driving around Bengaluru once a month, with longer trips once a quarter. I have thoroughly enjoyed the freedom my car has given me so far. I am not a fan of riding long distances (though I have a Harley-Davidson X440, if that helps). I like to take my car anywhere and I like to drive fast, so I would prefer something that can handle it well.
Reasons for selecting these cars:
- I do not like having an ordinary car. I need some "oomph" factor; hence, the cars aren't necessarily from the same segment.
- I like all my choices from a looks perspective (it is important!).
- All of the cars felt comfortable (Seltos > Verna > BE 6 is the order in which I felt the most comfort).
Additional pointers from my test drives:
- High-speed stability was okay at best, honestly (I wish it were better).
- The Verna has the most premium cabin of the lot.
- The Verna’s stability at high speeds felt a bit off, given that it is a sedan.
- The headrest of the Seltos driver's seat is 🤌🏻.
- The suspension of the Seltos felt so nice, especially after my current car.
- I would have considered the Virtus over the Verna, but that interior is priced way too high for what it is. And the rattling of the door handles? That surely isn't going to cut it.
- The Duster is an all-rounder, but it just did not connect with me.
- XUV 7XO: I did not know it was that good, but I sat in the Seltos immediately after it and, man, it felt calm. The 7XO’s dashboard felt like an Indian household—with everything going on and nothing going on at the same time (I wish I could explain it better).
- Thar Roxx: I was considering getting it, but the XUV 7XO comes at the same price. The 7XO felt way more planted, so the idea of getting a "quirky" car took a backseat.
- BE 6: I have drooled over the BE 6 since the day it was announced, but I am not sure how I'll charge it given my current flat has a 3kW sanctioned load and I am unsure of the charging infrastructure. The Mahindra warranty also expects me to charge it to 25% on AC.
- I love the EV torque; there is no denying that.
- Backseat comfort: Seltos > Verna > BE 6.
- For the next few years, I do not see the backseat being used much. In my current car, there were only a few times the backseat was occupied by passengers in the last few years.
- The BE 6 does feel claustrophobic at the back