MG Comet EV

The MG Comet EV is one of the smallest cars you can buy in India, built for one job: squeezing through choked city streets and slotting into parking spots nothing else fits. At under three metres long, it seats four, runs purely on electricity and targets buyers who want a clean, cheap-to-run second car. It won't cross states comfortably, but for daily urban hops it makes a genuinely different case from every conventional hatchback.

Climb in and the Comet immediately feels unlike anything else on Indian roads. The boxy, upright body liberates surprising headroom and front legroom, and the tall glasshouse plus light steering make it absurdly easy to thread through traffic and U-turns. The dual 10.25-inch screens look premium for the price, and the cabin design is genuinely cheerful. But space is strictly for four, and even then rear knee room is tight for taller adults.

On the move, the 41 bhp motor is brisk enough up to about 50 kmph, which covers most city driving. Past that, acceleration tapers and overtaking on faster roads needs planning. The ride is firm over sharp bumps thanks to the short wheelbase and small wheels, and crosswinds on highways can unsettle the tall body. This is unapologetically a city car, and it behaves like one.

The 17.3 kWh battery delivers a claimed 230 km, which realistically translates to roughly 150-180 km in mixed city use. There's no fast charging on offer, so you rely on the home/AC charger, meaning a near-empty-to-full top-up takes several hours overnight. For a household with a parking spot and a daily commute under 60 km, that's perfectly workable; for anyone without home charging, it's a real limitation.

Practical compromises pile up: boot space is almost nonexistent with all seats up, there's no spare wheel as standard, and safety kit is modest with just two airbags and no NCAP rating to lean on. What you get in return is rock-bottom running costs, easy parking and a chic, distinctive design that draws attention everywhere.