The new BMW X3 rivals the likes of Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus NX, Volvo XC60 and Jaguar F-Pace. Which one would you pick among these luxury SUVs?
BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
BMW X3
What you’ll like:
⢠A good-looking SUV with solid build quality
⢠Comfy interiors with supportive seats and good cabin space
⢠Competent and efficient petrol / diesel engines on offer. 8-speed ZF transmission is quick & smooth
⢠Mature ride quality is great for Indian roads. Adaptive suspension and tubeless tyres are big contributors
⢠Long feature list includes 15-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, selfie camera, head-up display, ventilated seats, parking assistant, NFC card-style digital key, 3-zone climate control, augmented view navigation, etc.
⢠8 airbags, dynamic stability control and a slew of safety features, as is expected from a luxury car
What you won’t:
⢠188 BHP petrol engine in a car that costs over 90 lakhs on-road is underwhelming
⢠Quality of some interior plastics is mediocre and not something youâd expect in a luxury car
⢠Not the most user-friendly touchscreen interface. Also, controls like HVAC and drive modes are integrated into the touchscreen, which isnât ideal
⢠Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
⢠Missing features like Level 2 ADAS (gets some L1 features), electric adjustment for the steering wheel, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), etc.
Mercedes-Benz GLC
What you’ll like:
⢠Great looks matched to solid build quality
⢠Premium quality interiors, supportive seats, filled with technology
⢠Adequate interior space and 620 litres of luggage-carrying capacity
⢠Fast and competent petrol and diesel powerplants
⢠The Mercedes 9-speed AT gearbox is now very good! And smooth too
⢠Well-damped suspension offers mature ride quality
⢠Fun to drive (unlike the last-gen GLC)! Very good handling, well-calibrated steering & excellent high-speed manners
⢠Loaded with features such as seat kinetics, latest-gen MBUX, transparent bonnet & lots more
⢠Impressive 15-speaker Burmester audio system
⢠5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit & a suite of electronic aids to keep you safe
What you won’t:
⢠Expected to be even more expensive than the outgoing model! Old GLC 220d was priced between 82 â 85 lakhs on-road
⢠More powerful 300d tune is sadly not offered on the new GLC. Period. We hope it is introduced at a later stage
⢠Touch-type controls can take time to get used to. Physical buttons are gone! Even ORVM adjustment is touch-based & non-user-friendly
⢠Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
⢠Missing features such as cooled seats, passive keyless entry, head-up display, Level 2 ADAS, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre) etc.
⢠Small ORVMs with limited adjustment range. Clearly, form over function here
⢠Heavier adults will find the front seats too snug
⢠Suspension has a firm edge to it. That & the 19-inch wheels make potholes felt at low speeds
Mercedes GLC 300 Ownership Review
Audi Q5
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
What you’ll like:
⢠Butch styling with loads of character and B-I-G SUV presence
⢠Robust build quality. Feels solid, just as a premium Jeep should
⢠270 BHP turbo-petrol engine is refined & smooth. 8-speed ZF AT is quick-shifting too
⢠Jeepâs Quadra-Trac I 4WD system should help you get out of most tricky situations
⢠Lots of premium features like heated & ventilated front seats, IRVM camera, front passenger touchscreen, etc.
⢠Loaded with safety equipment (8 airbags, ESP, ADAS, rain brake support & more)
What you won’t:
⢠No diesel engine option for heavy users. 2.0 turbo-petrol is a thirsty motor
⢠Interiors just donât feel premium enough for the 90-lakh OTR price
⢠Big size, wide turning radius and weighty steering make it cumbersome to drive in the city
⢠Turbo-petrol just about gets the job done. Not an outright performer
⢠Backseat isnât as spacious as you would expect in an SUV of this size. Seatbase is short too
⢠Misses out on hardcore offroad kit like a locking diff, low-range, hill descent controlâ¦
Lax NI
What you’ll like:
⢠Looks handsome from most angles – more European than Japanese
⢠A lot of technology and equipment are standard, even on the base model. Many features from a segment higher
⢠Brisk performance, linear power delivery and good fuel economy
⢠Suspension provides a great combination of ride and handling
⢠Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and a long list of safety features
⢠Epitome of reliability. Will almost certainly trump its European rivals
⢠Audiophile-grade Mark Levinson sound system
What you won’t:
⢠Only one powertrain option available. No Plug-In Hybrid for India
⢠20″ wheels with run flat tyres and no spare. Can be a problem given our road conditions
⢠Missing features such as massaging seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, etc.
⢠Four-seater at best. Five adults will find the interior space tight
⢠Long overhangs limit rough-road capability
⢠Limited sales and service points. Only seven dealers across India at present
Volvo XC60
Jaguar F-Pace
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