[ChiragM]

BMW 3-Series

What you'll like:

• Just the right size for a luxury sedan for India
• Punchy rev-happy engine & well-tuned gearbox deliver superb performance
• Great combination of ride and handling; just how a 3-Series should be
• Big step up in interior quality & design (from the F30)
• Loaded with tech, new style speedometer & more. iDrive 7 is nice to use

What you won't:

• Sad boot space with the spare wheel underneath
• Features like keyless entry, HUD, Adaptive LEDs are expected at this price
• 330i's 42 - 49 lakh price is stiff, although fat dealer discounts are available
• Fake engine noise piped in; tad too fake for my tastes

Link to Official Review

Mercedes C-Class

What you'll like:

• C300d's powerful engine with a 0 - 100 time of ~6 seconds
• Lovely 9-speed gearbox
• AMG Line body kit looks hot; beautiful interiors as well
• Good feature set (e.g. panoramic sunroof)

What you won't:

• Limited rear seat space
• Firm ride quality
• Very expensive

Link to Ownership Reviews (1, 2)

Jaguar XE

What you'll like:

• Sporty styling & sharp looks
• Excellent suspension setup. Easily the best in the segment
• Updated driver cockpit area
• Loads of new tech

What you won't:

• More cramped interiors than its rivals
• Gearbox tuning is pretty sad
• Boot is the smallest in the segment @ 410 liters
• Jaguar's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss

Link to Official Review

Skoda Octavia RS 245

What you'll like:

• Explosive performance from the turbo-petrol. Fast DSG too
• Sharp handling, solid stability & strong brakes
• Top quality interior with enough space, sporty seats & a cavernous boot
• Loaded with features & tech
• 5 star NCAP rating
• Sportiness & practicality in one package. Work on weekdays, play on weekends

What you won't:

• Overpriced. Plus, the BMW 330i isn't too far away
• Ride quality is noticeably firmer than the regular Octavia's
• Powerful engine guzzles fuel in the city. Also, runs best on pricey high-octane petrol
• Steering feel from the EPS is missing (it's precise though)
• Unusually tall floor hump makes things uncomfortable for the 5th occupant
• Concerns about long-term reliability & Skoda’s ill-famed service network

Skoda Superb

What you'll like:

• Well-priced for all it offers
• Timeless, elegant styling. Fit, finish & build quality are top notch
• Amazing rear seat comfort. Beats luxury cars costing twice as much
• Classy cabin is practical & user-friendly. Cavernous 625 liter boot!
• Terrific petrol engine mated to a fast gearbox
• Loaded with features & technology. Equipment list runs pages long
• 5 star safety rating & kit - 8 airbags, ESP, TC, ABS + EBD, EDL and lots more

What you won't:

• Diesel is gone! No clue when VW-Skoda will bring their BS6 diesels here
• DSG is known for breakdowns. Old Superb's long-term reliability was overall poor
• Skoda's scary after-sales service. Dealer network doesn't understand customer service
• Starting to show its age now. Feels bland compared to newer competition

Link to Facelift Thread & Official Review

Toyota Camry Hybrid

What you'll like:

• An extremely well-rounded luxury sedan. Lots of road presence due to its sheer size too
• Spacious, comfortable & well-equipped cabin. Ideal for self-driven or chauffeured owners alike
• High-tech and environment-friendly hybrid powertrain mated to a butter-smooth CVT automatic
• Terrific fuel efficiency! 15 km/l or more in the city
• Compliant ride quality with sorted road manners
• Loaded with kit (amazing sound system, ventilated front seats, reclinable rear seats, head-up display)
• Top-notch safety ratings. Equipment includes 9 airbags, ESP & more
• Toyota’s bullet-proof reliability and superb after-sales service. Camrys age very well

What you won't:

• Weird front styling isn't to everyone's taste. You'll either love it or hate it
• Expensive! The VW Passat & Skoda Superb are both priced noticeably lower
• Not as much fun to drive as its German competitors (although it's no longer boring either)
• A couple of missing essentials (rpm counter, folding rear seat...)
• Back seat is better suited to 2 adults, rather than 3
• Just a single trim. No choice of variants at all

Link to Official Review

[GTO]

Gosh, this is one of those rare polls where every option is spectacular...you can't go wrong with any of the 6 cars listed above.

My top choice would be the 330i for the driving pleasure, excellent suspension & BMW's reliability. Second choice would be the Octavia RS 245 for its deadly performance & handling.

As a family car, I'd get the new Camry which is surprisingly fine to drive too! Heck, it's more of a Lexus with a "T" badge than the other way around. I'd buy this car over the Superb.

The Jaguar XE would never find a place in my garage because of its poorly tuned Automatic gearbox. I just found its behaviour terribly annoying. Ever since I've become an AT-convert, a properly-tuned AT is a must-have for me. A shame, because the Jaguar looks awesome and has a fantastic suspension.

The C300d is very tempting, but as a driver's car, the 330i owns it.

[reignofchaos]

This is a simple one - the 330i anyday. The rest are flawed products in some way or the other.

The C is nice looking but a bit long in the tooth now. Also there's no punchy petrol on offer.

[chiefpk]

My pick would be the Jaguar XE any day. The styling suspension premiumness is on another level when compared to its competition. I can live with the slightly cramped back seat and I don't think a bit inferior automatic would back me to spend 5 million on this beauty.

[itwasntme]

Possibly a hint of bias so voted for the 330i :-).

Personally, it ticks all my boxes as a regular weekday self driven commuter but also an enormously enjoyable highway drive over the weekends.

[extreme_torque]

Since all the European/British competition is almost as reliable as one another, I will have the left field choice that is the XE especially after the recent updates to styling and most importantly the interiors. If I was spending my own money, I would take the Camry eyes closed especially in India. It is a Lexus ES on a budget and will still be going when the Europeans have been reduced to iron dust. I am not fond of recent BMW's and C-Class is ripe for an update. Otherwise I quite like the C-Class as well.

P.S. The poll should be multiple choice. I voted for the Camry though.

[nimishlalwani]

I have spent time only with the previous generations of the 3 series but those drives are etched in my memory. Hands down the 3 series for me.

The Mercedes looks the best in my opinion, but for sheer comfort, the Camry takes the cake for me. The hybrid powertrain with a big heart feels effortless in the city and has more than enough grunt for highways. A truly relaxing driving experience.

For me, the car has to do its primary role really well—FTD for the 3 series and comfort for Camry, the rest of the options are in between.

[CEF_Beasts]

The current-gen Toyota Camry has improved a lot. When reliability and comfort come together coupled with a fantastic hybrid motor giving proper 200bhp+ performance with Alto rivalling mileage of 14kmpl+ at the same time, what is there to miss? The Camry is a proper luxury, fast, reliable, safe, fuel efficient car; not many are able to do the same even a segment above!

Second option would be a sparingly used 530d or E350d for their 6 cylinder engines and followed by the 3 series (330i).

[Sreesh1009]

Oh man! This is a tough one. For me it would be the 330i>>Camry>>RS>>C Class>>Superb.

The 330i and Camry would be an amazing combo to have in the garage though.

[DicKy]

Haven't driven any of them so far, only sat in the C class and Camry, still...

If money isn't an issue.
C300d all the way!!!

Otherwise can't beat the 3 series. Especially the base Sports variant.

Though have to say, when the time comes to plonk in money, would chicken out and buy the Camry. (with my current mindset), so the vote goes to the Camry.

[kamilharis]

Few things first up - Reliability, Service, Spare Cost, Space management etc. are somewhat same for all the listed cars (except for the mighty T). So I am not going to consider those factors while picking one from the list.

I wanted to go with the C as 3-pointed star is my all time favorite. And the new 3 is far better than the previous version especially in the design department. But if this is going to be my only luxury car then I would love to have some exclusivity!

So as an overall package I would pick the hot looking Jaguar XE in red shade. I can live with the particular gearbox as I am not a F-A-S-T driver. Meantime I will be enjoying the suspension and exclusivity.

Hey, can any one match my looks ? The JAG asks.

[RajeevMD]

My vote goes to the C Class !
Its a bit on the older side but has aged very very well and in the 300d guise has exceptional performance for a diesel sedan. In fact this must be the best performing diesel sedan for sale right now in India (closely followed by the 530d). Rear space isn't great but overall an all round perfect package for someone with a family.

[1.2TSI7DSG]

Highly dependent on whether you have a driver or not.
Superb if you have, 3 if you dont

[kunalsingh]

It was a tough call between the 3-series and the Camry for me as I'm a fan of Japanese reliability but also love cars that are fun to drive and evoke a passion in you. However, after seeing that the price gap between the two is just 2-3 lakhs (even less if you factor in the dealer discounts offered on big 3 round the year), the BMW 330i Sport base variant would be my number one choice.
No matter how good the Camry is, I would still take a chance with the 330i and enjoy the pure driving pleasure + exclusivity of having a Beemer (not that I can afford either one for the next few years )!

Here's a look at the 330i Sport (base variant) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p57wDRokto

[ajmat]

For me, the BMW 330i is perfect but it is bit too boring, I wouldn't chuck in out of my garage though! My problem is Rs 65L in Bangalore. Would hold out for an M340i!.

The Octavia 245vRS would merit a look but is now obsolete (although I like it better than the new version!) and worth Rs 10 Lakhs lesser

Camry - I drove the Lexus ES and not this, it was enjoyable, would please me 80% of the time but the CVT would bore me

Superb- nice but bland, something acceptable if it was a company car

Mercedes C class - they are nice and comfortable but I dont exactly desire them

and we come to the Jag - I have a family of 3 so size is not a big issue till I become a grandfather! I was impressed with the delicacy of the steering at an "Art of Performance" drive - to the extent of making a fellow passenger sick. The ICE screens may be iffy but it works. The gearbox tuning could be over-ridden with paddle shifters.

Above all, its a car, not a machine! It communicates with you, it entices you! I've always loved this pussy cat!