If I were to put my money on the crossovers in this poll, it would be a toss between the Tucson (diesel) and Kodiaq (petrol).
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BMW X1
What you’ll like:
- Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out. Looks smart too
- Modern and well-appointed interior feels good
- Refined and competent diesel engine mated to a smooth, responsive 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
- Excellent high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling and precise steering. Mature ride quality at speed
- Accommodating 476-litre boot and multiple storage spaces in the cabin
- Loaded with features such as adaptive headlamps, electric front seats with extendable seat bases and massage function, 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, sliding & reclining rear seats, handsfree tailgate, panoramic sunroof, driving modes, etc.
- 5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit and some ADAS features
- BMW’s relatively strong reliability record along with decent after-sales service and maintenance packages
What you won’t:
- Expensive! On-road price ranges between 55 – 63 lakhs
- 18-inch wheels give the ride a firm edge on bad roads at low speeds. It’s totally liveable though
- The 3-cylinder 134 BHP petrol engine is a misfit in this segment
- Diesel motor offers just 148 BHP, which is even less than the older car. At this price, 190 – 200 BHP is a must! Furthermore, Diesel is available just in the M Sport variant (no AWD)
- No physical buttons for the climate control and idling start/stop systems is a useability failure
- Aggressively tuned idling start/stop system. Even if you slow down and stop at a traffic junction for a second, the engine switches off
- The back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
- Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), 360-degree camera, rear sunshade etc.
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Mercedes-Benz GLA
Karan561’s Drive Report
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 is 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.
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Mini Countryman
AdiSinghV12’s Ownership Review
Volkswagen Tiguan
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Review link – 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. The boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
- Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking…)
- AWD is 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 couple of lakhs cheaper
- Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
- The 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, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)
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Review Link – The 2022 Facelift
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 is now available without the AWD as well, thereby making it more accessible for urban dwellers (Compass Diesel AT is only available with AWD, 5-lakhs more OTR)
What you won’t:
- Cabin has limited width, and 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. The same 2.0L diesel is available in SUVs from a segment below
- No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrol 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, and 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
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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, hands-free 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
Review Link
Review Link – 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 ~44 lakhs on the 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
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Here’s what GTO had to say on the matter:
The German luxury marques offer good products, but they are all overpriced. I am unable to digest the fact that an X1, GLA & Q3 can touch 60-lakhs OTR for the top variants. Of the 3, I’d probably pick the Q3 as it’s very well-rounded, looks clean, has a great engine + transmission, AWD & discounts.
If I were to put my money on the crossovers in this poll, it would be a toss between the Tucson (diesel) and Kodiaq (petrol). The Tucson looks all modern & futuristic, but the Kodiaq does show its age now. It’s 6 years old in India, while the design was unveiled 7 years ago.
Here’s what BHPian Hobbes had to say on the matter:
I have been looking at this segment myself for a while now. Test drove the ones listed above. In the diesel, it was the X1 that I liked and in petrol, it was the countryman that I liked best. The countryman was great to drive. Real punchy engine and a well-put-together interior with a good amount of space inside ( that was a surprise). Why doesn’t it sell more is a mystery to me.
Even though the Q3 was great to drive, I found the interiors to be fairly ordinary and at places not of great quality. Sit in the A4 after sitting in the Q3 and you will immediately notice the difference in quality of the materials used.
Here’s what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:
Have been eyeing this segment for a while now to get a companion to the Tiguan TDi at home.
For me, it’s a toss-up between the X1 & the Tucson Diesel – the Tucson being practical, the X1 being more luxurious in terms of look and feel. However, with discounts as they are – a Q5 makes a lot more sense!
But as a super happy owner of the Tiguan, there could be a moment of regret so I’ve chosen to wait it out as 2024 promises to bring a lot more spice into this segment – Tiguan & Kodiaq replacements, new Fortuner, new Q3 replacement, maybe a CRV re-launch, etc.
Here’s what BHPian vb-saan had to say on the matter:
Voted for the X1. Yes, the versions sold in India are underpowered, and the high price tag is hard to justify, but still, it is a good-looking car with great interiors and quality fittings. The GLA somehow feels too small, and the Q3 is really a senior citizen of the bunch.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
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