I also drove the Audi Q3 which has left me totally confused.
BHPian biplab3110 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
I booked the GLA 220d 4M two weeks back, after extensive test drives of the GLA 220d, GLA 220d 4M, BMW18d and the Volvo XC40. I couldn’t drive the Q3 as I did not get any response to my request for a test drive and the nearest Audi dealership is almost 40 km from my place in Thane.
Audi suddenly woke up from slumber this week and I ended up taking a test drive of the Q3 yesterday. I really liked the drive. The car is very engaging and can be driven hard, and the Quattro system is fantastic. However, it misses out on some very basic features of modern cars (Though new to India, the model is actually five years old).
Just for the heck of it, I ended up driving the Tiguan today. Apart from a very complicated user interface and lack of physical buttons for the AC, it is more feature-loaded than the Q3 and drives just as well. I am not sure if Quattro and 4Motion are the same, but I did not feel any difference in the drive.
I am now totally confused and would appreciate some dose of sense from the more experienced BHPians.
What, in your opinion, is a sensible buy?
- The GLA 220d 4M at Rs 62.3L OTR with 3 + 3 years extended warranty. The uncertainty around Diesel vehicles is also looming large on my mind. But my heart keeps tugging at the GLA!!
- The Audi Q3 Technology. Though I have not received a quote yet, I expect it to be between Rs 55L to Rs 57L OTR with a 2+3 years extended warranty and a 5-year comprehensive service package.
- The VW Tiguan at Rs 43L OTR with 4+2 years Extended Warranty, and a 5 years comprehensive service package.
Kindly advise!
Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
Most of the cars in the 35 – 50 lakh price range punch well above their weight. Whether it’s the Tiguan, Hycross, Camry, Tucson or Ioniq 5.
The GLA isn’t my kind of car. If you have a budget of 60 lakhs, check on discounts for the Q5. A childhood friend bought one earlier in 2023 for Rs 63 lakhs OTR.
If I were in your shoes, my top choices would be the Q5 & Kia EV6 or at a lower price band, the Ioniq 5 & Kodiaq. The Tiguan is also a wonderful SUV if you can live with its firmer ride, but I love the Kodiaq more due to its adaptive suspension. A true luxury car feature.
Here’s what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:
Given that the usage is primarily office commute, take a look at EVs from Hyundai and Kia just to see how they fare compared to your shortlist. They may lack the badge value but certainty not lacking in the wow factor and exclusivity. Driving an EV for office commute would be fantastic – you will not go back to ICE cars again. Give it a shot before rejecting this option.
I would say drop VW from your list – the combination of below-average reliability and lousy customer service is not something you would want to deal with at this budget.
Mercedes offers an 8-year warranty on the drivetrain. Everything is a tad more expensive but overall sales experience will be better compared to other luxury brands. This would be a safe bet if you want to keep it simple.
Q3 should be a good choice as well but nobody starts with Q3 as their first choice.
Here’s what BHPian Maverick1977 had to say on the matter:
My immediate family was in the same situation. Here is my simple analysis:
Having a minimum budget of 60+L OTR, the X1 and GLA diesel is the best option. I felt the X1 diesel drove better on Mumbai roads, compared to the Mercedes. Both the test drives were on Western Express Highway (both sides) so we got an experience of driving in traffic and in a little less traffic. Drove on SV road to understand how it tracked potholes and my SIL and I both preferred the X1 over the GLA.
However, if you are on a tight budget and want a hefty discount, the Q3 is your best choice. A discount of 11+L from Audi South tilted the balance in its favour. The Quattro was another thing that went in its favour.
We also liked the Tiguan and considered the Kodiaq, but both don’t have the same badge value.
If budget is not an issue the battle is between the Mercedes and BMW. Hope you find your winner!!
Here’s what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:
Don’t bother with the Tiguan or Q3. VW’s 2.0 TSi engine is not E20 rated. They are very fine cars otherwise, but the petrol compatibility issue is a deal breaker. Your heart is anyway set on the Mercedes.
Here’s what BHPian CarsAndDrives had to say on the matter:
I can quite relate to your situation. Have driven all these cars and here are my thoughts – Both Tiguan and Q3 are old models and are due for a refresh – in a year or so. Was not sure if it was worth putting money on an end-of-life model. But both from a driver’s car perspective tick all the right boxes. Tiguan more so given the space and relatively low pricing.
X1 – was good, but not appealing – especially cannot get my head around 62 lakh for a 136 bhp engine. In addition, the driver display is much smaller compared to others.
XC40 was a great looker and drives fine but not premium enough inside.
Coming to the last one – GLA is probably the best of the lot. The diesel was amazing and for the pricing, it offers much more – both luxury and performance. But the boot I felt was quite small and overall the vehicle does not have a good road presence from a style perspective – from some angles, it looked like a larger hatchback. And again there is the question about the long-term diesel vehicle future. Petol GLA is pretty dull again.
Given this conundrum, I have decided to wait it out until next year and revisit it.
Keyword: Dilemma: Buy entry-level Mercedes GLA or fully-loaded Volkswagen Tiguan