It’s a German showdown to conquer the top spot in the entry-level luxury SUV space as Mercedes, BMW and Audi battle it out. The BMW X1 and Audi Q3 have been in the market for quite some time. But Mercedes will soon introduce its product, the GLA, to challenge the two and to capture a share of the entry-level luxury SUV segment. So we decided to compare the diesel variants of these three SUVs to find out which product outdoes the others.
If you want to grab attention then the Mercedes ticks all the boxes for you. The design is fresh compared to the other two. Aggressively styled headlights, muscular design and huge 18-inch alloys make the GLA visually appealing, while the BMW looks more like a crossover and the Audi Q3 looks more like an SUV.
Here is how the three entry-level luxury SUVs look on paper:
| Model | Mercedes GLA 200 CDI | BMW X1 sDrive20d | Audi Q3 2.0 TDI |
| Engine | |||
| Capacity | 2,143cc | 1,995cc | 1,968cc |
| Power | 135 bhp | 184 bhp | 174 hp |
| Torque | 300Nm | 380Nm | 380NM |
| Transmission | 7G-DCT 7-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic transmission Steptronic | 7-speed tronic transmission |
| Performance | |||
| Acceleration (0-100 kph) claimed | 9.9 Seconds | 7.9 Seconds | 8.2 Seconds |
| Top Speed (claimed) | 205 kph | 218 kph | 212 kph |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length x Width x Height | 4417mm x 1804mm x 1494mm | 4453mm x 1796mm x 1544mm | 4385mm x 2019mm x 1608mm |
| Wheelbase | 2699mm | 2760mm | 2603mm |
| Boot Capacity | 421 litres | 420 litres | 460 litres |
| Price | |||
| Ex-Showroom Delhi | Rs 32.75 lakh | Rs 36 lakh | Rs 32.54 lakh |
In terms of power, although the Mercedes-Benz GLA has the largest engine at 2,143cc, it creates the least horsepower. The most powerful car between the three is the BMW X1 at 184hp of power and 380Nm of torque with Audi Q3 taking the second spot at 174hp of power and 380Nm of torque. The Mercedes GLA comes last at 135hp of power and 300Nm of torque. With an upper hand in the power department, the BMW X1 is the quickest among the three to hit the ton mark in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 218kph which is marginally more than the other two SUVs. While the Audi Q3 is slightly quicker to 100kph mark than the Mercedes GLA, the latter takes the third spot in terms of top speed.
The competition in the entry-level luxury segment is about to get stiffer with the Mercedes GLA scheduled to hit the showrooms on September 30. So which car is it going to be for you – the new Mercedes-Benz GLA Class or the BMW X1 or the Audi Q3? Tell us what you think through comments below.
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