Mumbai

•14w

We are planning to buy a luxury SUV and had initially shortlisted the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7. However, after noticing that the Porsche Cayenne is available at a similar price point, we have become quite confused about which option to choose. Could you please advise which package would be better overall?

•12w

The Rs 1.3 crore-1.4 crore segment is interesting because it offers up two very different kinds of SUVs. On one hand, the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7, which are larger and more spacious, and on the other, the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport, which, though not as practical, have more emotional appeal and arguably stronger badge value.

Both have their place, and the larger X7 and GLS are not short on luxury and tech. They both offer petrol and diesel engine options, and a lot of features, and there's the advantage of both brands' wider service network around the country. Between the two, the BMW has a slight edge on space, comfort and driver enjoyment, whereas the Mercedes-Benz car feels a bit more luxurious and tech-laden. If practicality is the primary focus, one of these should be your choice.

However, as you're considering a Porsche Cayenne, it suggests you're okay with five seats. This Porsche car is perhaps the best driving SUV of this size, and even with the entry-level 3.0 V6 engine, it is incredibly engaging, and of course, the Porsche badge carries a lot of value. Quality is similar to what you'll find in the others, with a far greater focus on sportiness in design.

Some things to note are that many of the features standard on the other cars are optional on the Cayenne and will drive up the price, and a consequence of its sporty setup is a firmer ride quality and heavier steering, which might become tiresome in everyday use.

Also consider the Range Rover Sport, which delivers the best of both worlds. It's engaging to drive while being comfortable, it's got a more luxurious edge than all the rest, and it's loaded up with features too.

Explore cars mentioned

Mercedes-Benz

GLS

from ₹1.53 Crore

BMW

from ₹1.59 Crore

Porsche

Cayenne

from ₹1.81 Crore

Land Rover

Range Rover

from ₹2.92 Crore

•12w

best 7 seater X7 and best 5 seater cayenne.

•12w

I agree with this 👍

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•6d

I currently own a 2016 Mercedes E250 CDI Edition E. The car is soon to complete 10 years, and we are looking for an upgrade. We are interested in buying the GLS. The car will run in a city and on a highway mix. We are not interested in the petrol engine, considering the low mileage. So the 450D becomes the natural option for us. But does it make sense to spend 1.6 crore on a diesel engine car in 2026, considering future conditions and also the possibility of a significant decrease in resale value if govt brings out some stringent policies on diesel cars?

•2d

The Mercedes-Benz GLS 450d is a superb upgrade from your E250 CDI, offering a significant step up in space, comfort and luxury. Given your city and highway mix, the diesel engine is actually the right choice – it delivers strong torque, effortless cruising and better efficiency than the petrol, especially in a large SUV like the GLS.The bigger question is the long-term outlook for diesel. The 10-year rule applies only to Delhi-NCR, and there is currently no nationwide policy restricting diesel ownership or resale. The GLS 450d uses Mercedes’ latest diesel technology, which is Euro 6 compliant and among the cleanest diesel engines available. It is unlikely that the government will suddenly ban or heavily penalise such modern, clean diesels.That said, diesel is not completely risk-free. Policy direction can change, and diesel cars generally depreciate faster than petrol or hybrid equivalents. At Rs 1.6 crore, that is a significant consideration.If you are planning to keep the car for 7-10 years, the GLS 450d still makes sense. You will get the full benefit of the car’s capabilities, and depreciation becomes less of a concern over a longer ownership period. If you typically change cars every 3-5 years, the potential for faster depreciation is a bigger factor.The GLS 450d is the right car for your usage, but be realistic about depreciation and ownership period.

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