[ChiragM]

Volvo S60

What you'll like:

• Astonishingly handsome styling! The Volvo S60 looks absolutely fabulous
• Solid build quality is very satisfying
• Sweet-looking cabin that’s loaded to the gills with features. Has sufficient room too
• Spectacular Harman Kardon sound system. Easily the best ICE in the segment
• Smooth & peppy 2.0L turbo-petrol engine mated to a competent 8-speed AT
• Sorted ride & handling. The S60's high speed stability is excellent too
• Euro NCAP's 5-star safety rating & loads of tech like adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, lane-keeping aid, collision mitigation support (front) etc.
• Depth of engineering that is as good as the best from Germany

What you won't:

• A FWD car in a segment where RWD is the norm
• Power & torque figures are lower than the competition
• No diesel engine on offer with the Volvo S60. Those with high running will look elsewhere
• The rear seat is placed too low, under-thigh support is poor and the floor hump is too big
• The S60 is missing some features like paddle shifters, 360-degree camera, cooled seats...
• Volvo's thin dealer network in India
• To many people, the Volvo brand doesn't have the badge cachet of the German marques
• Not as exhilarating to drive as the BMW 330i which is the segment benchmark

Link to Official Review

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:

• Admit it, the lure of the 3-pointed star is something else
• Stylish design (baby S looks) that you can stare at & admire all day
• Solid build quality & 5-star safety rating
• Classy cabin with top quality materials
• Fantastic range of diesel & petrol engines. Fast, with good driveability
• Smooth, competent & quick AT gearboxes (9G-Tronic is fabulous)
• C300d's 0-100 km/h time is 5.9 seconds, that's 530d territory
• Enjoyable RWD road manners, very stable at high speeds & nice steering. Strong brakes too
• Loads of technology & features (including a panoramic sunroof, auto-parking...)
• A model that's currently on sale. We also feel this generation will age very well

What you won't:

• Limited rear seat space. Outdone by cars costing 1/3rd the money
• Boot space is small, especially with that spare wheel on the floor!
• Firm ride quality. Bad roads will bother you
• Long-term reliability is patchy (although no longer a deal breaker)
• Some later models are powered by a small 1.5L petrol with hybrid tech
• You need a good independent mechanic to maintain one (authorised workshops are too pricey)
• Expensive spare parts, as is the case with all luxury cars
• Pricey! Some examples hold their value well

Link to Ownership Reviews (1, 2)

Audi A4

Link to Launch Thread

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 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]

Among the luxury marques, my first choice would be the 330i for that lovely engine, snappy gearbox, perfect ride & handling balance and BMW's reliability. It's at the top of the game right now. Don't be surprised with this, but I'd pick the S60 over the C-Class (too old), A4 (simply outclassed by the others) and XE (sexy car but dimwitted AT). The Volvo S60 was like a breath of fresh air - handsome looks, safe build, nice cabin and a likeable engine + gearbox. It's a FWD so it won't match the 330i, yet as far as FWDs go, it was damn competent.

[JTM]

Voted for the Toyota Camry Hybrid. I'd much rather have a comfortable, reliable and fuel efficient car over a fast and thrilling car that doesn't enrapture me in comfort for all the money that I'm spending. My family believes in buying cars that serve a specific purpose and not in those cars that try being everything at once. If I had the finances to buy a Camry (which I don't ), I'd buy a used 997 911 Carrera for the same, or even less money than the Camry, and live content with the fact that I didn't have to sacrifice on comfort and peace of mind and still have a brilliant driver's car for all those special days.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by JTM

Voted for the Toyota Camry Hybrid. I'd much rather have a comfortable, reliable and fuel efficient car over a fast and thrilling car that doesn't enrapture me in comfort for all the money that I'm spending.

Drive the new Camry and you will end up with a different opinion. The current-gen Camry is the best ever built, and is in fact reasonably good to drive too. It is no longer "boring". In terms of driving + the luxury quotient, Toyota has taken it up two levels. I see the current Camry as a Lexus with a "T" badge (earlier, the ES was seen as a Camry with an "L" badge). That's how much it has improved.

[Turbohead]

Voted for others: VW Passat 2.0 TSI

I know it's not even launched but having an understated and not so flashy car gives me the goosebumps! I'm a sucker for low attention! Superb seems more flashy. The Camry with it's wide plastic grill is a turn off.

With the way traffic is increasing on our roads, I'd prefer a nice cruiser rather than an outright performer. If the roads were all mine with sparse traffic, it'll be the 330i any day!

Tough poll honestly. The heart vs mind battles are crazy.

[JTM]

Originally Posted by GTO

The current-gen Camry is the best ever built, and is in fact reasonably good to drive too. It is no longer "boring". In terms of driving + the luxury quotient, Toyota has taken it up two levels.

Wow, didn't realise that it was that huge of a leap ahead. Thank you for your words of wisdom, Sir
My uncle owns a W205 C220d, and I like it, but I've never fallen head over heels for it. But my cousin's G30 530d M-Sport, that really is from another planet. I was blown away by it in every single way possible, and if I were shopping from that segment, it'd definitely be the one for me. If only it weren't so cramped in the back

[Scorpio80]

Voted for Superb, as I recently went through this comparison and ended up buying a Superb (MY2020 version which was 2L cheaper than the rate mentioned in the comparison here)

I agree with all the positives mentioned. The negative that can be concerning is the service horrors and maintenance costs, which only time will tell.

[Abhi5868]

Voted for the Skoda Superb, because it's E-class space with C-class performance for the cost of an A-class.
Recently an acquaintance of ours booked it after much deliberation over a Pre owned 3-series and he was particularly glad to see the model do well in the past month. Nothing beats the 3-series in terms of driving pleasure but for everything else I'll pick up the Superb, the only thing it lacks is the snob value.

[Annibaddh]

Voted for the Camry. The more I read about it, and my test drive has me convinced that's the car to go for. Add the Toyota reliability and mileage from that hybrid and it becomes a comfortable cruiser for a long time to come. I love my highway drives. And love keeping my family in tow! And love carrying the house around too!

Superb / Passat would have been close contenders if the diesels were around. Since I typically keep one car in both my houses, can't keep a 330i which is just to impractical for family purposes. It can only be a plaything if I decide to and have the finances for 2.

[Marshall]

Voted for the Superb, the easy ingress and egress makes the case for me. My 1st choice of car if I were to get one now.

[Kashi053]

Folks who prefer practicality, comfort, vfm can go for Superb. That 2L TSI with 190ps/320nm with DQ381 box is perfect combination. However 330i sport is 14L away from superb without considering discounts on both. People who prioritise fun factor over everything else is where BMW triumph.

[Sudarshan42]

Love the look of the new S60 and the Jaguar XE, but hard to beat that stunning 258 BHP mill from BMW. That seems to be the distinguishing element in this class, above all the other intangible benefits offered by the rest.

That said, the S60's safety features seem to be a cut above the rest. I'd still go for the 3 though.

[DonHyd]

Voted for the c class just for the 3 pointed star brand value. However in reality, if I have the budget for E350, then I'll buy that otherwise, I will just buy the upcoming octavia top trim and invest the rest of the money in appreciating assets. If the S60 was priced a little lower, it might have attracted many buyers.

[sachin2612]

“They say money can’t buy happiness but i would rather cry in a bmw”

Quoted from some “insert weird name” Instagram troll page

All these vehicles are good for what they offer but 90% of them are not value for money except superb (still the interior are so minimalistic for the price)

But if the money is out of subject i would happily go for BMW 330i with M sport kit and be happy till i have money to upgrade to 530d.

[vb-saan]

Voted for the 3-series!
My choice is in this mix will be the 330i Sport – it’s pretty much is only one car you need!
My immediate second choice is the Superb, the current gen looks like someone who has gone on a diet and reduced all the bulk – it’s a big but now doesn’t have that stretched limo feel.

The S60 is good one, but not that good to dethrone the BMW in my rankings