LEGACY GETS A NEW CHALLENGER

IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE MIDSIZE SUV SEGMENT IN INDIA IS THE MOST COMPETITIVE ONE.

- WORDS SANEET OSILVA

It has been for years. But now, the real fight isn't between petrols and diesels, or even mild-hybrids and CNGs. It's between their electrified versions. We've moved past the stage where EVs were either hatchbacks trying to be clever or global imports that didn't bother with the basics. The new EV war is happening right here in the middle, which brings us to today's contenders. On one side, Hyundai's bestselling SUV, the Creta, is now electrified. A household name with new-age ambitions. And on the other, Mahindra's BE.6: a born-electric nonconformist that's loud, wide, unapologetic and possibly radioactive. One is the legacy bestseller. The other is a disruptive challenger. So, which one gets it right?

Thunderbolt vs USB Stick

Let's start with the Mahindra. Or more accurately, The Statement. Because this looks like a mood board from the year 2071, it has more edges than a broken glass bottle and a face like a robot's revenge fantasy. If you parked one of these in a small village, the elders would probably ask if it's safe to touch. It also gets two spoilers, presumably because one wasn't expressive enough. The 19-inch aero wheels look sharp enough to julienne tomatoes. There's an unapologetic boldness to the entire thing. It doesn't particularly look premium. It looks like it could shoot lasers at you. And that, it seems, is very much the point.