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40-50 lakh crossover shootout: Audi Q3 vs BMW X1 vs others

The customer sure is spoilt for choice in the 40 - 50 lakh crossover space, and we're not even including indirect competitors like the Fortuner, Carnival, Hycross etc.

Audi Q3

What you'll like:

  • Evolved sporty styling, matched with solid build quality
  • Increased cabin space, practicality and boot capacity (530 litres)
  • Incredibly fun-to-drive 2.0L turbo-petrol with a quick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
  • Quattro all-wheel drive provides loads of grip & will help you get out of tricky situations (sand, mud etc.)
  • Good road manners with sorted ride quality
  • Well-equipped (panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, virtual cockpit & more)
  • 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and equipment

What you won't:

  • Efficient & punchy 2.0 turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
  • Same 187 horses as the Kodiaq & Tiguan. We would've preferred a higher state of tune on a more expensive Audi
  • Pricey! The Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan are ~10-15 lakhs cheaper on-road
  • Just two variants. No cheaper FWD entry-level variant available. Period
  • Should’ve gotten adaptive dampers, at least on the top-end 'Technology' variant
  • Cabin is best suited for 4 adults, not 5
  • Missing features like a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, driving assist tech, auto-hold, connected car gizmos etc.

Link to Official Review

BMW X1

Link to Chethan B G's Ownership Review

Link to Nurni76's Ownership Review

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Link to Karan561's Review

Volvo XC40

What you'll like:

  • A sharply styled SUV. Volvo’s new designs sure are head-turners!
  • Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out
  • Sweet looking cabin that’s loaded to the gills with features
  • 9” responsive touchscreen & Harman Kardon sound system are awesome
  • Excellent high speed stability coupled with sorted handling
  • Volvo's 5-star safety rating & equipment

What you won't:

  • Rear seat comfort levels are mediocre. It’s best for just 2 & ingress / egress are tricky too
  • Firm low speed ride. Liveable, but not plush in the city
  • Small dealership and service network isn't a patch on its competitors2.0L petrol is the only engine on offer. No diesel option
  • Lacks the badge value of the German marques

Link to Official Review

Link to Gismosin's Ownership Review

Mini Countryman

Link to Launch Thread

Volkswagen Tiguan

Link to Official Review

Link to Official Review - The 2021 Facelift

Skoda Kodiaq

What you'll like:

  • The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
  • Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
  • Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
  • Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
  • Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
  • 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
  • Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
  • Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
  • AWD available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
  • 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

What you won't:

  • Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
  • Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
  • Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a few lakhs cheaper
  • Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
  • Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
  • Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
  • We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
  • Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
  • Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
  • Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removeable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Link to Official Review

Jeep Meridian

What you'll like:

  • Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
  • Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
  • Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
  • Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
  • Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
  • Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
  • Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
  • Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags
  • Diesel AT now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)

What you won't:

  • Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
  • 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
  • Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
  • No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
  • 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
  • We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
  • At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
  • Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited
  • Just the higher Limited & Limited (O) variants at launch. Not sure when lesser variants will follow

Link to Review

Citroen C5 Aircross

What you'll like:

  • A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
  • Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
  • Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
  • 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
  • Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
  • Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
  • Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
  • Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
  • 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

What you won't:

  • Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
  • Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
  • No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
  • Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
  • Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
  • The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
  • Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
  • Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
  • Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Link to Official Review

Link to Official Review - The 2022 Facelift

Hyundai Tucson

What you'll like:

  • A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
  • Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
  • 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
  • 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
  • ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
  • Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
  • 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

What you won't:

  • Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
  • At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
  • Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
  • Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
  • Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
  • Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
  • Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Link to Official Review

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The customer sure is spoilt for choice in the 40 - 50 lakh crossover space, and we're not even including indirect competitors like the Fortuner, Carnival, Hycross etc.

My choices would be the Kodiaq (a truly premium SUV with AWD, adjustable suspension, great turbo-petrol & DSG), Tucson (a thorough all-rounder) and believe it or not, the Innova Hycross. Despite it being an MPV, I'd actually buy the Hycross over a lot of entry-luxury crossovers like the GLA, X1 & gang which just aren't my kind of vehicles.

From the luxury marques, I'd pick the new Audi Q3 over the German competitors.

Here's what BHPian AYP had to say on the matter:

My vote goes to the GLA for its fast diesel, premium interiors and the Mercedes badge. The X1 is a close second and if the poll is repeated after the next gen X1 is launched, I may vote for it.

Here's what BHPian PrideRed had to say on the matter:

The next gen X1 is around the corner and looks good to me. I strongly believe its worth the wait, especially most cars have waiting period. Among cars listed, Tuscon and Kodiaq looks good value. The GLA diesel is a good improvement over predecessor, however personally find the looks of the car underwhelming.

Here's what BHPian HighRevving had to say on the matter:

I had voted for Tucson in COTY this year owing to the fantastic package of torquey diesel + automatic, space, futuristic looks and features, plus the hassle free after sales service by Hyundai. Still preferred to vote for Kodiaq on this poll - great all-rounder for the price Mercedes, BMW & Audi offer bare-bones; the love for European build and quality still makes me prefer Kodiaq over a Tucson.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

 
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