[krishnadevjs]

Background

Back in 2017, we decided to upgrade from our 3 year old Honda City Diesel.
After much research, plenty of test drives and comparison (Audi A3, Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla were the other cars in the ring), we finally ended up choosing the Octavia 1.8L L&K model.


Our Octavia after a nice, detailed wash

The Octavia was definitely an upgrade from our previous car, in all parameters - driving dynamics, driving feel, comfort, dimensions, features, safety, road presence, space, practicality, looks, almost everything!
It was simply too good a car at that price point - almost 27 lacs. At double of what we paid for the City, it sure felt twice as good as the City.

Till date, I've done 50k km in 4.5 years, despite 2 years of the pandemic.
This includes 4 round trip drives from Mumbai to my hometown, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and many other road trips within Maharashtra. Never has the Octy failed to bring a smile to my face.
There hasn't been a single day when I don't look back at the Octy after parking her and walking away.

Despite the threat of the DQ200 gearbox hanging over us, we've been quite fortunate to have a fuss-free ownership experience.
Even in terms of service, we were pretty happy - except for one bad experiences in JMD Skoda, the Mumbai service center. In fact, the Trivandrum Service center, Malayalam Skoda where we did 2 years worth of service, was truly amazing!

In these 4.5 years, except for one instance of noise coming from the steering column and another where a suspension bush had to be tightened, there has been ZERO trouble with the car so far, apart from regular maintenance.

My wife says I look after my car better than I look after my daughter. She may be right, cos the Octy does not look like she's 5 years old. She's in an immaculately maintained condition, with no signs of wear either on the exterior or on the interior.
Every colleague/friend of mine who gets into my car, has commented that I maintain my car really well.
The above photo, in fact, was taken last week.

All in all, I have no reason to change my car.
1. I love my Octy too much even now.
2. It serves all my requirements very well.
3. It's such a good car that upgrading from it is such a challenge.

Being a car fanatic, right from childhood, I've always looked up to luxury brands - especially a Mercedes Benz or a BMW or an Audi. Over the last few months, there have been some changes in my life, both from a personal and a professional POV, which have put these aspirational brands within reach.
While I was sure I'd own one of these brands at some point in my life, the temptation of having one right now simply proves too strong to ignore.
While the heart says I should plunge right in and get my first luxury car, the mind says I could possibly wait a couple of years, especially given how good the Octy drives/looks/feels.

But then, looking never hurt anyone. So, I decided to step into the car market once again, after a gap of 5 years, and at least evaluate a worthy successor to the mighty Octavia.

Criteria

Now that I decided to evaluate options, I noted down stuff that mattered to me:

1. Only Sedans:

For me, a car needs to have a certain shape and proportion. It needs to have a hood, a cabin and a boot. It needs to look like a sedan.
That they have superior handling characteristics is the cherry on the icing.
I did try out an SUV, and while I did like the high seat position as well as the fact that the bottom never scraped, I did not like the comfort of it; neither did I like the proportions or the way it looked.

2. Driving Experience

I'm the kind of guy who doesn't hand over his car to even a valet for parking. I always prefer driving myself and cannot even fathom having a chauffeur. Hence, this new car too would be 100% self driven.
Having driven a 170 BHP Turbocharged Petrol Engine with the super-slick 7 speed Dry Clutch DSG, I'd like to believe my standards on drive quality are pretty high.
Our upgrade would need to satisfy my need for a fulfilling drive. This means a quick throttle response, very nimble and precise steering control, exciting engine sound, super quick imperceptible gear changes, the option to do manual shifts (esp with paddle shifters), quick acceleration (the kind that pins you to your seat) and great handling characteristics.
It is juvenile, but I still like being the first one off the line from traffic lights. The Octavia served very well for that requirement - the new car too needs to be extremely good to drive.

3. Feature Rich & Plushness

Given this is supposed to be an upgrade over an already feature rich car, the expectation is that the new car would be loaded to the hilt with the latest gizmos, driving aids, safety aids and creature comforts.
The Octavia already came with a sunroof, auto-parking, keyless entry and go, ambient lights etc. So, the replacement should justify the premium. While the Octy was worth 2X the price of the City, the replacement (which would likely be 2X the price of the Octy) needed to atleast be 60-70% better.
Further, how good the car interiors look and feel would be a key criteria for selection.

4. Safety

We do quite a lot of highway drives, and safety is a non-negotiable requirement. In addition to passive safety features, I would be looking forward to having more new-age active features.

5. Comfort/Space

We'd soon be a family of 4 - with 2 car seats. So, the new car absolutely needs to be comfortable with a good amount of space inside the cabin. Since we also do quite a few road trips, it should have a nice amount of space in the boot. We've been quite spoilt for boot space, courtesy the cavernous 590L boot space in the Octavia.

6. Brand Value

As mentioned earlier, I really don't need an upgrade right now, as our Octavia is absolutely perfect in terms of satisfying our needs. It's more of satisfying my itch for an aspirational car that the new one is for. And one of those perks that comes with such a car is the snob value that comes with it. This is something that would probably tilt the scales in favour of a luxury brand over a more logical choice like a Volvo.

Cars Considered so far

1. BMW 330i M Sport / 330 Li M Sport


The BMW 330i M Sport


The BMW 330Li M Sport

For as long as I can remember, this has been a DREAM car. I've always wanted to buy a BMW 330i when I had the opportunity.
While I've read so much about this car and watched so may reviews of it, I had a strong preference for this option.

And so I took a test drive of not just the 330i, but also the long wheelbase version - the 330 Li.

PROS

1. Amazing Drive: The way the 330i drove was just BRILLIANT! As I pressed down on the organ type accelerator, the car just leaped forward, pushing me back into the driver's seat. The steering was super precise and the car just went the way I pointed the steering at. The 330 Li was not very behind in terms of performance, and even it felt like a significant upgrade in the drive department.

2. Space: While the 330i felt like a reasonable upgrade from the Octavia, the 330 Li hit it out of the ballpark in this department. Although there was a big transmission hump in the rear-mid seat, the cabin was wide enough to comfortably sit three mid sized adults.

3. Looks: Both the BMW models looked extremely beautiful! From the power bulges on the hood to the sleek LED lights to those huge, beautiful rims - everything screamed attention. This was no ordinary car for sure.

CONS

1. Comfort: Although the SA did say that the tyre pressures are messed up, and that could be a reason for the stiff ride, he did acknowledge that BMW rides are generally stiffer. I too have read and seen reviews where the stiff ride of the BMW has been called out. However, my problem was that I couldn't perceive any improvement in ride comfort over the Octavia. Sure - there were better seats, more lumbar support, a plusher cabin etc, but the suspension setup was just too stiff. Even on the Li, which is supposed to have a plusher feel, I didn't find the ride quality magical, or even better than the Octavia.

2. Features: The global semiconductor shortage seems to have been taken as an excuse by even luxury brands to shamelessly cut features on Indian models, without a commensurate reduction in price. It truly feels like cartelization, with prices increasing so much, and features getting cut down so much! No keyless entry, no front camera, no 360 camera view, no rear sunblind, no rear passenger sunblinds, no gest2ure control, no HUD, no electrical closing of boot, no ventilated seats - I'm appalled at how many features have been given a miss at this price point! There were only a handful of features over the Octavia, which I really appreciated - such as the full auto parking (rather than just steering control), auto start stop etc.

3. Plushness: Sure, it was a BMW from the outside. But from the inside, the cabin didn't feel very superior to the Octavia. Even the material used were not that much of an upgrade - artificial leather on the dashboard top layer was pretty much the only difference. I did not find the cabin of the BMW a special place. Even in terms of tech, it did not feel like a significant upgrade.


Hence, despite it being the favourite in this race, AND the car I really thought I'd end up owning sometime, the 330i / 330Li did not meet the requirement. Hence, we dropped it from the list, with a very very heavy heart.

2. Mercedes Benz C220D / C300D


The C220D


The C300D

Mercedes was the epitome of luxury, for kids of my generation. While BMWs and Audis sprung up later, Mercedes was the true symbol that you had arrived. "Benz caril vanniranguka" (Coming out from a Benz car) was a huge aspiration, not just for my generation, but even for my parents!

And hence, there was huge excitement about these cars in my family. We were literally questioning ourselves as to whether we could really think of owning a Mercedes Benz!

After making sure we weren't dreaming, we took a test drive of the C220D.
With Mercedes, we were okay with going with a diesel car, as we'd read so much about how silent and smooth even their diesel cars were. Further, a Mercedes diesel is supposedly less polluting that a petrol car from peers.

PROS

1. Plushness: The car screamed luxury! One look inside the cabin and I was like ! This is by far, the most beautiful interior of a car I've seen. The virtual cockpit, the massive central screen, the beautiful AC vents, the floating armrests, the brilliant dashboard pattern, the quirky headrests - everything was eons above what I've ever experienced! While I had experienced Ambient lighting on the Octavia, this was at a whole different level - the interiors of the C class truly felt special.

2. Comfort: While driving the C220D, I really felt it to be much better on NVH as well as ride quality in comparison to both the BMWs and the Octavia. Despite being a diesel car, the car was silent, and had very little vibrations. The integrated starter alternator did a very good job of making the Auto Start stop function imperceptible. The ride was so comfortable that my daughter actually dozed off in the back seat during the TD!

3. Tech: Now, this car actually felt like it was an upgrade. There was so much tech everywhere! And while the BMW also had some of these functions like Auto Hold and electronic parking brake, everything felt so much better in the Mercedes. The driving aids came in at the right time, the entertainment system was so much better, there was even a fingerprint sensor to personalize the car! Add to it the fact that this was a mild hybrid with a 20 HP and 200Nm boost function, the Merdeces definitely felt like a proper tech upgrade. I also loved the tiny things - the ambient light around the AC vent going red if I increased temperature and green if I decreased it, the seatbelt pulling you ever so lightly as it pre-tensed to adjust to your body, the gear selector on the steering column, making my left hand completely free, the ability to make the headrest come forward and support your head, and so many others.

4. Looks: Like the BMW, the Merc too looked amazing. While I had seen the 220D, and was enamoured even with that, the 300D is supposedly better looking - with the AMG body kit and wide 18 inch alloy wheels. The car looked very gentlemanly and had a very elegant presence. I absolutely love the new headlight and taillight treatment the Mercedes family has. While it does make the entire family look the same, I think this works to the C class's advantage.

CONS

1. Drive: Having driven the 220D, I felt the drive wasn't something very special. Even though the figures on paper seemed better than the Octavia, I felt like I was driving around a tank - I felt slow throttle response and not very exhilarating acceleration. The steering however was precise and driving the car was super easy - the proportions didn't seem very large. The SA was super-confident in claiming the 300D drove much better. Though both models came with the same engine, the state of tune was quite different. The 300D came with an additional 65HP and 110 Nm, as well as a claimed 0-100kmph of 5.7 against the 220D's 7.3 and the BMW 3 Series' 5.8s.

2. Features: The semiconductor shortage had eaten its way through even the C Class. Notable features which were absent were: Ventilated Seats, Front Parking Camera, 360 Camera, Active Cruise Control, Keyless entry etc. To not have even basic stuff like keyless entry at this price point seemed criminal to me!
However, the Merc did fare better than the BMW, as it came with electric steering adjustment (and a neat feature of steering going up and seats going back to facilitate easy egress once the car was stopped), fully electrically adjustable seats (including lumbar support), a much better entertainment system (especially the 13 speaker Burmeister system in the 300D), and the MBUX interface system.

3. Ground Clearance: Having opted for a sedan, GC was bound to be an issue, but the Merc took it one step ahead. Even in the small bumps around the place I live, the bottom scraped. And this was attributed to the extended wheelbase along with the comfort setting of suspension. Despite driving as slowly as I could, the underbelly did scrape. Given the absolute lack of education or common sense among the officials who plan our Indian roads, this would be a major challenge if I bought this car.

So, overall the Merc did fare much better than the BMW, and I could see this car as a reasonable upgrade to the Octavia. Coming in at around 2.3X the price (courtesy BH registration), the 300D seemed to, at least on paper, be a solid drive as well as a comfortable, plush ride.
However, the fact that the Indian C300D had so many features removed from the international version, even basic ones like keyless entry, has me in a fix.

Should I look at other options - Audi? Volvo? Anything else?
Would an Audi feel too similar to the Octavia, given they share the MQB platform and even parts? Besides, it's a FWD with not much to speak of in the drive department.
Would a Volvo be able to tick off all my requirements or would I find myself yearning for a luxury brand again in another 3 years?
Should I even buy a car now? Should I wait for the semiconductor shortage to end, thereby bringing in more features and prices down?

The heart tells me to go for the C300D now, the mind tells me to wait it out or look at other more VFM options. Any suggestions people?

[GForceEnjoyer]

Originally Posted by krishnadevjs

The heart tells me to go for the C300D now, the mind tells me to wait it out or look at other more VFM options. Any suggestions people?

I don't really see prices coming down anytime soon, but features may return. However, it would be too long a wait in my opinion, since prices would certainly have increased by then. My tentative suggestion would be to listen to your heart and purchase a car sometime soon.

I think you should try to test drive the C300D just to be fully informed about its driving characteristics. However, in your case, the 330Li should only be considered if you find the handling so vastly superior in comparison that you can live with the missing features. Otherwise, for your use case, the C300D pretty much has you completely covered. I think you can fulfill your dreams of stepping out of a Benz, and reminisce of the fantastic drive you had just prior to stepping out.

Since you're upgrading from an Octavia, the A4 might leave you underwhelmed with the driving experience despite the interior quality being up by a notch. The Audi A4 and the Volvo S60 certainly won't match up to the handling of the C300D or 330Li due to them being FWD, but a test drive won't hurt. Good luck.

[AJ56]

If you're willing to go upto 70L for a C300, might as well get the 530i M sport, the 5/E/A6 class will have better space at the rear for a family of 4 as they're midsized sedans vs the compact 3/C class.

Reason I’d avoid the ES is you want an engaging drive and the Lexus is anything but (great for cruising still), XF is too old as is the S90. So I’d say pick between the E LWB and 530i, the latter is not as engaging to drive but it’s interior is leagues ahead of the 5, but the 5 is quicker and handles better. Test drive both.

[Shreyans_Jain]

The 3 and C are barely an upgrade over an Octavia. They are only marginally better in most areas and significantly worse in a few (cabin and boot space) but the asking price is more than double. You’ll be spending just for the badge. The A4 is basically an Octavia wearing different clothes.

If you truly want an upgrade, you need to a segment higher, to the 5, E and A6. Do check out the A6 in particular, it offers excellent value compared to its peers.

Note that all these cars have limited boot space, further compromised by the space saver tyre placed inside the boot area. None of them can be loaded up in any way like your Skoda. Octavia is an excellent car, very difficult to upgrade from. You’ll end up spending 3 times it’s price to find something substantially better. Law of diminishing returns catches up very fast in this end of the market.

It is very clear that this is a purchase from the heart. My suggestion would be to go big and get a 530d or an E350d. Even if you have to delay it by an year or two.

[sunikkat]

Welcome to the club. I own a 2016 Octavia TDI with 70k kms run. In 2020, with this itch, I was actively looking for an upgrade and my budget was up to 50 to 55 lakhs. Tried every car (A4, 3 and C previous) and nothing did really feel a real upgrade to Octavia. 330i was definitely a great car and best upgrade, but on practicality (say boot space) and the additional money commanded, I really did not feel like parting from Octavia which was so well maintained and totally trouble free. Being a salaried, I was also taking a big hit on depreciation if I upgraded then. Finally I spent around 4 to 5 lakhs and did many mods - remap, Bilstein B6, 17inch wheels, android auto etc. And boy, I am all over in love with Octavia again. Now have no plans to sell for another couple of years minimum. This drives like a dream and with remap is faster than almost everything on road.
Being a hardcore BMW fan, I am sure my next upgrade will mostly be 330i. But not yet.

In your case I would suggest to hold on to Octavia and explore the full potential with some mods. But then, YOLO, suggest go for 330i or 300D if you really have to.

[shankar.balan]

@krishnadevjs

Keep your Octavia.

You wont get one more like it. If you do sell it you’ll simply be full of regret because none of the other cars you’ve listed will be really comparable to it. It actually contains features which the bigger luxury/ prestige marques only give in their cars from a segment above.

And as you said, you really dont need a change right now. So do your pocket, the environment and your own passion for the Octavia, a favour and hang on to it. These Skodas are superb cars at those prices at which you got them.

[androdev]

You should definitely buy a car from this category if finances look healthy simply because you will not have the josh later on in life. As you get into higher categories, price doesn't correlate with value linearly - be ready to be guided by your emotions :-) Octavia is a very good car and you won't find 50-60% OVERALL improvement in your next upgrade - but you will find justifiable improvement in very specific areas.

Mercedes cabin ambience and comfort will be that area if you go with MB.

It would be highway driving pleasure in the case of BMW.

These are real standout features that an Octavia owner can't miss.

It seems like most of your usage is within city which probably warrants an MB but their prices and ownership costs will be a tad higher than BMW.

Most of us on this forum enjoy long Highway drives, value reliability and savings and hence have a soft corner for BMW. My personal favourite is 5 series - it has its flaws but it scores high in things that are important to me: great looks, street cred, outstanding drivetrain options (2L diesel for bullet proof reliability for those looking for very long term ownership, 2L petrol for fun, 3L for some serious power) and 5 series has proven to be very reliable in this category.

The only used car that is relatively safe to buy in this segment would be a BMW and this is a good source:

https://www.bmwusedcars.in/buy-used-cars

If you have better use for your money, keeping the Octy would be a wise decision. I would still say do the car scene when you are young instead of postponing for later if finances look good.

[krishnadevjs]

Originally Posted by GForceEnjoyer

I don't really see prices coming down anytime soon, but features may return. However, it would be too long a wait in my opinion, since prices would certainly have increased by then. My tentative suggestion would be to listen to your heart and purchase a car sometime soon.

Prices going up again, and even these cars going beyond reach is a very distinct possibility if you look at price trends from pre-pandemic to now. But, economics also dictates that as supply of components improves, prices should come down - if not in the form of ex-showroom price revisions, it could be in the form of higher discounts.

Couldn't agree more on the A4!

Originally Posted by AJ56

If you're willing to go upto 70L for a C300, might as well get the 530i M sport, the 5/E/A6 class will have better space at the rear for a family of 4 as they're midsized sedans vs the compact 3/C class.

Reason I’d avoid the ES is you want an engaging drive and the Lexus is anything but (great for cruising still), XF is too old as is the S90. So I’d say pick between the E LWB and 530i, the latter is not as engaging to drive but it’s interior is leagues ahead of the 5, but the 5 is quicker and handles better. Test drive both.

The 300D comes home at around 62L OTR, courtesy BH registration (one of the very few car owner -friendly policies by the GoI.). I've heard this about Lexus, and I've honestly never even seen one up close. But yes - if the drive isn't engaging, it's not even worth exploring.

The E in India is one generation older than the international model. Maybe when the international model comes (and hopefully, MB India doesn't butcher all the features out of it), that could be a worthy upgrade, albeit at a slightly higher price.

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

If you truly want an upgrade, you need to a segment higher, to the 5, E and A6. Do check out the A6 in particular, it offers excellent value compared to its peers.

It is very clear that this is a purchase from the heart. My suggestion would be to go big and get a 530d or an E350d. Even if you have to delay it by an year or two.

I did test drive an A6 a few months back, and while it felt decent in terms of comfort, I didn't think it was as technologically advanced as the C class. Plus the FWD was a bummer. The A6 also felt very similar to the Octavia in terms of layout, switchgear quality and overall architecture - maybe cos they're both built on the same MQB platform. A Superb would be a better choice than an A6, TBH.

The 5 series, while richer in features, still isn't as plush as the Mercedes interior. While it is very much in reach (The 530i should cost 65-66 OTR with BH registration; so 2-3 lacs over the C300D), I am not convinced of it.
The E could be a very good choice when the international model arrives in a few months. But it would be more expensive as well. Maybe that after a year or 2 does make more sense!

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Octavia is an excellent car, very difficult to upgrade from. You’ll end up spending 3 times it’s price to find something substantially better. Law of diminishing returns catches up very fast in this end of the market.

Originally Posted by sunikkat

I really did not feel like parting from Octavia which was so well maintained and totally trouble free. Being a salaried, I was also taking a big hit on depreciation if I upgraded then.
In your case I would suggest to hold on to Octavia and explore the full potential with some mods.

Absolutely agree with both of you! The Octavia is too good a car to upgrade from! And yes, being salaried, we get no benefits on purchase of a new car, not to mention the massive depreciation hit. There couldn't be a worse investment for our ~40% taxed money, from a financial prudence POV. But then, if financial prudence was the only metric, I'd probably be Ubering instead of owning a car.
Mods are a good option, but unfortunately, they are not really my thing. I like to keep my cars stock. Even as a stock model, I think the Octy has aged pretty well. It still looks elegant and commanding, at the same time!

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

@krishnadevjs
Keep your Octy.
You wont get one more like it. If you do sell it you’ll simply be full of regret because none of the other cars youve listed will be really comparable to it.

Every single cell of grey matter in my body tells me the same thing @shankar.balan. Like I said, this is purely the heart telling me to go for a new car. I could probably retain the Octavia and still get a new car (disposing of my wife's pathetic excuse for a car - the Alto). However, the Octy probably wouldn't see much action if I did this - and it'd just lie there depreciating (I'd have two expensive depreciating assets on my hand).
My wife's car has done 10k Km in 7 years and has done more km on the back of a truck than on the road. I'm afraid the Octy would have a similar fate - I'd rather have somebody else enjoy driving her.

Originally Posted by androdev

You should definitely buy a car from this category if finances look healthy simply because you will not have the josh later on in life. As you get into higher categories, price doesn't correlate with value linearly - be ready to be guided by your emotions :-) Octavia is a very good car and you won't find 50-60% OVERALL improvement in your next upgrade - but you will find justifiable improvement in very specific areas.

Your assessment of MB vs BMW seems bang-on. Although the drive of the C300D seems to be comparable to the 330i on paper, I'm waiting for a test drive (MB India don't have C300D TD cars!) to make a proper judgement of this.
My drive is mixed. My daily commute is around 40km, but this is on the Eastern Express Highway in Mumbai, with a mix of slightly open roads and stretches of traffic. We do quite a bit of highway driving as well. I'd probably say it's 40% highway, 60% city. To me as well, the Merc seemed a better option.

I will try out the 5 series, given the high recommendations for it.

Not looking at the Used car market, despite that being a financially prudent thought. I'd rather stick to my Octavia (which is immaculately maintained and has no issues whatsoever) than spend money and get a generation older BMW (which probably is 10 - 20% better for a higher price, with a higher risk of something going wrong).

The age point is well taken. I turn 34 this year (although my wife says I'm too juvenile for my age), and YOLO. But I guess a year or two couldn't hurt if I can get a better package overall.

[Axe77]

Frankly, the Octavia is easily good for 8 - 10 years the way you’ve kept it. But assuming you do decide to trade on (YOLO and all of that) I feel your best upgrade is the petrol 3 series, either regular or long wheel base.

My two cents:

# In terms of pure driving pleasure, the 330i will feel like a proper upgrade. It doesn’t seem like your family structure necessarily warrants a 330Li but by all means that can be on the table too. One reason to pick an Li over the regular 3 could also be the better ground clearance of the LWB at a marginal compromise in the drive. I’d any day pick the LWB over the regular for multiple reasons (rear seat comfort, better GC being most) but you can assess which one suits you better.

# I simply wouldn’t trade the Octavia for a C class - its not worth it when it comes to the drive - its a class apart indeed when it comes to the interiors and wow factor. But you seem to be an engine guy more than a trim and interiors guy from what I felt from your post.

# The biggest reason to NOT upgrade in my mind is the space the entry Germans offer compared to the brilliantly packaged Skodas. As parents of two kids in car seat age group, road trips do tend to pile up luggage so that would be my biggest watch area if you decide to trade the Skoda for a 3 series.

[GreasyCarb55]

Originally Posted by krishnadevjs

Should I even buy a car now? Should I wait for the semiconductor shortage to end, thereby bringing in more features and prices down?

The heart tells me to go for the C300D now, the mind tells me to wait it out or look at other more VFM options. Any suggestions people?

With how prices are increasing these past few years, I'd pull the trigger now if you can.

Since you've considered the C300D as a possible candidate to replace your beloved Octy I'm assuming your budget is around 75lakh (on road Mumbai).

If you can get C300D I would also look at 2 more cars from Bavaria and those are the 530i (77.5L on-road Mumbai) and the M340i xDrive (79L for the standard model, 81.5L for the 50th anniversary edition).

To me the BMW sedans put the C300D in a weird place as for 5-6 Lakh more you can get a car that's a segment above with the 530i or something that is one another planet in terms of sheer speed and driving pleasure with the M340i xDrive.

None of the cars here come within 50 litres of the Octy's boot space (590L) with the M340i having 480L, C300D with 455L and the 530i with 530L.

The 530i being a segment above every other car here is the best in terms of comfort/space and is the perfect all rounder but the M340i is imo the best performance/driver oriented car you can buy for under 1 crore with that amazing 382hp B58 Inline 6.

Pick 530i for comfort or Pick M340i for the ultimate YOLO.

[sauravpat]

Originally Posted by krishnadevjs

The A6 also felt very similar to the Octavia in terms of layout, switchgear quality and overall architecture - maybe cos they're both built on the same MQB platform.

Would suggest you skip the A4 and regular 3 series since you value a spacious interior as much as the driving experience. The A4 is due for replacement soon and is the best buy in the 40 to 50L bracket. Your budget seems to be much higher.

When you move up to the A6/5 or E class you'll get the plushness and interior quality you so desire. I feel you have developed some bias against Audi due to it being a part of the VAG group.

The A4 and A6 are both not made on the MQB platform but on the MLB platform which even underpins the A8 and Porsche Macan. The MQB is shared by the Audi A1 and A3.

The A6 represents excellent value in this segment and with a BH reg you will get the A6 top end variant below 60L OTR Mumbai easily. I have also found the interior of the A6 to be better than the 5 series based on material quality.

If you are comfortable with 75L then you should definitely get the M340i which will mean you dont get bored with your car for the next 6-8 years at least. However since you value interior space and features equally the C300D will be a more rounded product for you.

All in all I still feel you should give the A6 a proper look since you will get a bigger car with more equipment compared to the C or 3 series. The 330Li will provide you the space upgrade without feeling like a big and bulky car and still drive really well.

To summarise, I feel your final 3 candidates should be the BMW 330Li, MB C300d and the A6 Technology. These will be a substantial upgrade over the Octavia and will cost around 60L OTR. Would suggest that don't get bogged down by a couple of features here and there since these cars are not just about those one or two features but equally about how they make you feel. It is only logical that we expect that a car costing upwards of 50L should have every feature present in a car costing 30L at least but these are strange times we live in. Would agree with the others who believe you should go ahead with your purchase since prices will keep rising and there is no certainty about if and when the deleted features will come back.

Happy hunting!

[animeshc]

Upgrading from an Octavia is really tough and something I went through (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/luxur...-vs-glc43.html (Choosing a car for a flickering mind | M340i vs S5 vs 530d vs GLC43)).

I can totally relate to your emotions with the Merc 220D and Bmw 3 series, my take away after test driving them were more or less the same.
I had reached the conclusion that the 530d is the only car that feels like a proper upgrade in terms of comfort/luxury as well as the driving pleasure.

I personally wanted something sportier and after a long debate, ended up with a S5. If you are up for a bit of impracticality (compromising some amount of luxury for a V6 petrol, louder exhaust, sportier looks and IMO more road presence) it might be a great choice too.

Of-course based on the reviews I have heard, the C300d will be a good candidate too.

[BHPjunkie]

The options you have mentioned are not really an upgrade to the Octavia. I would suggest wait it out and get a proper upgrade in the form of the E or 5. I somehow do not see Audi as an option, as the A6 is more or less the same similar to the Superb and shares the same engine, hence I would rather get the Superb than the A6.

In case you still firm on upgrading, I would really be interested in your Octavia. DM me if you are planning to sell.

Cheers!

[Caramba]

I can empathise. Unless you have to change, stick to the Octavia. Nothing compares to it . The biggest challenge we had choosing was the lack of space in the supposed upper segment. I mean clearly the 3 series is awesome to drive, but if this is meant to be a family sedan it does not measure up to the Octavia in space either inside or in the boot. The C apart from the badge did not offer anything.

The only option is for you to look at the next segment 5 series or A6 or if chauffeur driven the E. Also do consider the Kodiaq is it quite sedan like and for me the best option in the market to upgrade from the Octavia.

[Acharya]

I drive the same car as yours since 2018 in B'lore. I must say Octy 1.8 L&K is a difficult car to replace. 3/C/A4 would not feel like a proper upgrade a year down the line, when novelty factor dissipates.

If an upgrade is must at this point, I would look at 5 (preferably 530) or 340i (for it's engine). On the other hand, Octy is at such sweet point in it's life that you could enjoy another 2-3 years of low insurance/low maintenance with a broad smile every time you mesh the pedal.

Looking at atrocious price points of lux-barges, lack of respect for luxury vehicles by sundry city riders and regrettable conditions of city roads in the country, it's hard to muster courage and put hard earned money for this kind of upgrade.