A lot of people who want to buy electric cars but are worried about the higher cost of buying them prefer to opt for Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS). For those who may not be aware, with the BaaS program, buyers do not have to pay the upfront cost of the battery while buying an EV, and this is slowly changing the way people buy electric cars in India. Recently, Hyundai India also launched the Creta Electric with the BaaS program, with prices starting at Rs 10.99 lakh. Now, as a result of this pricing, people are curious to know how it stacks up against the MG Windsor EV, which is priced at Rs 9.99 lakh and was the first vehicle in India to offer BaaS.
The biggest advantage of BaaS, as mentioned above, is the lower purchase price. The Hyundai Creta Electric now starts at Rs 10.99 lakh, while the MG Windsor EV starts at Rs 9.99 lakh under this scheme. However, buyers have to remember that this is not the final cost of ownership. Both cars require buyers to pay separately for battery usage.
Hyundai has announced that it will charge Rs 3.90 per kilometre for the battery. Meanwhile, MG charges Rs 3.90 per kilometre for its standard 38 kWh variants and Rs 4.50 per kilometre for the larger 52.9 kWh Pro variants of the Windsor EV. Basically, the battery cost has been shifted from the purchase price to a recurring payment. This, in turn, makes the car more affordable at the time of purchase.
The Hyundai Creta Electric offers two battery options. The standard version gets a 42 kWh battery with a claimed range of 420 km. Meanwhile, the larger 51.4 kWh battery offers a claimed range of 510 km. In real-world conditions, buyers can expect around 280 to 310 km from the smaller battery and around 350 to 380 km from the larger one.
The MG Windsor EV also comes with two battery options. The standard 38 kWh battery offers a claimed range of 331 km. On the other hand, the larger 52.9 kWh Pro battery increases the claimed range to 449 km. Its real-world range is also expected to be around 260 km and 360 km, respectively.
As for the performance, it is very similar in the base variants. The Creta Electric produces 135 bhp, and the Windsor EV makes 134 bhp. However, the long-range Creta Electric is more powerful, with 171 bhp, making it the quicker car between the two.
This is one area where the Creta Electric has a clear advantage. It supports up to 100 kW DC fast charging. This allows the battery to charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 39 minutes. It also supports a 7.4 kW AC wall box charger, which takes around six hours for a full charge.
The MG Windsor EV also supports up to 45 kW DC charging with the standard battery and 60 kW with the larger Pro battery. It can charge from 20 to 80 percent in around 45 to 50 minutes. AC charging takes between 7.5 and 9.5 hours, but it depends on the battery pack. So, for buyers who regularly travel long distances, the faster charging speed of the Creta Electric will offer them an advantage.
Although both are electric vehicles, they have very different personalities. The Hyundai Creta Electric follows the traditional SUV approach. It gets a dual-screen layout, physical buttons for climate control, ventilated seats, Digital Key, Level 2 ADAS, i-Pedal single-pedal driving, and a familiar dashboard layout that most buyers will find easy to use.
The MG Windsor EV, on the other hand, focuses much more on passenger comfort. It gets a huge 15.6-inch touchscreen, a minimalist dashboard, a panoramic glass roof, and its biggest highlight is the 135-degree reclining Aero Lounge rear seats. It also offers Level 2 ADAS and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality. However, its biggest downside is that almost every function, including air-conditioning controls, is controlled through the touchscreen, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
The Creta Electric offers an excellent suspension setup. It feels stable on highways, absorbs bad roads well, and offers greater confidence at higher speeds. With 200 mm of ground clearance, it is also better suited for rough roads.
Meanwhile, the Windsor EV has been designed mainly for city driving. Its suspension is softer and prioritises passenger comfort over sporty handling. As for the other area where the Windsor EV shines, it is space. Thanks to its dedicated EV platform and 2,700 mm wheelbase, it offers much better rear-seat space and a much larger boot than the Creta Electric.
Hyundai has one of the largest service networks in India. This gives the Creta Electric an advantage, especially for buyers living in smaller cities. Meanwhile, MG’s service network has improved a lot over the last few years, but it still remains smaller than Hyundai’s.
So, before choosing either car under the BaaS scheme, buyers should also carefully understand the battery agreement. Important details such as minimum monthly running commitments, battery ownership, warranty coverage, resale conditions, foreclosure charges, and battery replacement policies can affect the overall ownership cost.
If you frequently drive on highways, want a longer driving range, faster charging, and a more traditional SUV experience, and you also want the reassurance of Hyundai’s extensive service network, the Creta Electric is the better choice.
On the other hand, if your driving is mostly within the city and you value cabin space and rear-seat comfort, also want a larger boot and a more futuristic interior, the MG Windsor EV should be your pick.
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