Have 1.5 cr for a luxury SUV but spoilt for choice: What should I buy

He doesn't mind spending a little extra for zero/minimal headache.

BHPian shashi792 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

A very close extended family member wanted my advice on what could be the possible options for his luxury SUV upgrade. He is not interested in EVs for now.

Backstory:

Currently he drives a Hyundai Verna. He had resisted the upgrade itch for quite sometime now (10 Yrs) saying that I will upgrade to an luxury SUV whenever I do and not buy anything in the middle. He intends to keep his current Verna as a beater car.

The Guy:

Not a petrol head for sure. He doesn't mind spending a little extra for zero/minimal headache. E.g., He will ask the authorised service center to pick and drop his car for service and not look too much into the bills (this might change as Hyundai service cost was not exorbitant as any of these luxury brands).

Usage: Highway Use. Mostly on paved (Indian ) roads. Fill-Shut-Drive

Options:

1. Range Rover Velar.
2. X5 40i
3. GLE/C

I have a very less expertise in the product range/price he is looking around. I told me what I know about each of them.

RR Velar or RR as a brand apart from Defender has not been know much for reliability. X1 and X3 just got updated, so its the X5's turn now. GLE/GLC is good, but he did not like the styling compared to the Velar. According to the sales guy, the Velar autobiography is about to launch and he can opt that if he wishes to do so.

Questions.

1. RR reliability, particularly Velar ?
2. Cost of ownership (compared to others in the mix) ?
3. Any other brand which I should suggest him to try ?

Here's what GTO replied:

- Land Rover Defender - Ultimate style, feel-good factor, practical, comfy air suspension, acceptable reliability

- BMW X5: The favourite for driving, and everything else. Sole pain point is the rear seat space. But a top-class SUV with top-class reliability and the best engines / gearboxes in the segment. This generation is at the end of life though, and the all-new next-gen X5 is expected to launch in 2026.

Quote from BHPian saikishor:

I would like to suggest the Volvo XC90. The SUV has been updated recently as well. Volvo's exhibit a different level of class if you ask me, and I think Volvo owners have always been satisfied with their purchase.

Too old, too boring, the XC90's time has gone.

Here's what BHPian vattyboy replied:

In reliability Range Rover scores less than Mercedes and Bmw. And since you mentioned he had Hyundai verna earlier and he wants Fill-shut-drive than Choose between GLE and X5.

Now between GLE and X5, he can't go wrong with either. You know generally in this price range every car is good on paper and specifications. He should focus on how that particular car makes him feel.

So i suggest him to take a long test drive of both the cars. Both are reliable, and maintenance cost will be almost same and same goes with resale value.

Interior wise GLE is unbeatable and Driving wise X5 has little bit better handling ( say 10%).

Since you mentioned X5 40i means he is interested in petrol engine but recently GLE 450 petrol is discontinued. I just checked on Merc official site and Carwale.

Here's what BHPian IshaanIan replied:

Keeping this in mind, just tell him not to concern himself with style since if it were about style, there’s no denying the Velar is the best of the lot but is also the most unreliable of the bunch. Simply go for the Lexus RX at the end of the day it is a super jazzed up Toyota so it is extremely reliable

Here's what BHPian aseem23 replied:

Take a look at the Toyota Vellfire. I own the previous generation, and will upgrade to Vellfire only when I am looking for upgrades. Probably the most comfortable, reliable in the segment.

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