Hi Autocar, I am planning to purchase our family's first luxury car this year in the Rs. 50 Lakh ball park. We stay in Mumbai and currently own a Nexon EV Max for our daily commute. Our running isn't extremely high (it is around 6000 kms in a year) with 80% driving in the city and rest on 2-3 long road trips a year.
I want a car that should be a looker! If you don't turn around every time you park your car to get that last glimpse, then it's not the right car. The interiors should feel luxurious and premium. My main preference is for physical knobs with tactile feel. The car should be spacious enough to carry four people comfortably over long journeys. It should be able to glide over bad roads so that it saves our backs from the off roading experience on Mumbai roads. I'm a huge driving enthusiast so I definitely want as much power as possible under the hood with great cornering ability and a feel some steering. It should be reasonably well specced. Electronically adjustable seats with memory, seat ventilation, 3 zone climate control, 360 degree camera, ADAS Level 2 (that can be turned off), Head Up Display, Panaromic Sunroof, etc are all great to have, but these are not deal-breakers. I would also appreciate a spacious boot for long road trips. Also, my dad loves hybrids. Based on all these requirements, I have shortlisted following cars:
Skoda Kodiaq:
It still looks good from the front but the side profile and rear are a downgrade from last gen. The alloys are hideous but its lounge version start at Rs.37 lakh (ex-showroom) that makes it the cheapest amongst the competition and really good value at that price. The interiors are just perfect as I expect how modern interiors should be. It is also well specced, spacious, comfortable and has a massive boot. My biggest worry is that it is too big and manoeuvring it in Mumbai traffic will be a huge pain and for a family of 3-4, taking up so much space on the road seems unnecessary.
VW Tiguan:
This car looks amazing especially in nightshade blue. It is perfectly spacious for 4 people with a great sized boot. Arguably the best to drive in this list especially with DCC Pro but the lack of physical knobs and buttons is a turnoff. And I've heard about the badly calibrated ADAS in it. It's also very weirdly specced for the price with manual seat adjust. I think this too can be considered a great VFM price post huge discounts.
Audi A4:
I love its classy look as its interiors look premium. My family loves the seating comfort of sedans and I've heard amazing things about the ride comfort of A4. It doesn't have Quattro which is disappointing but my main worry is the rear seat space/comfort. Also, it requires more maintenance than other brands in this list. In terms of specs, A4 has been updated with a lot of expected things at this price.
Q3:
It has a weaker engine than A4 and its looks do not appeal to me. Interiors also don't look as premium. Its specs are also not that great to me. I am also worried about legroom and space in the rear. The main advantages are Quattro and higher ground clearance.
X1:
This looks way better than a lot of BMW cars these days. It has a good looking interior but has no physical buttons. Overall, it is a well specced, spacious and comfortable car. BMW has been a dream for both me and my dad but the severely underpowered engine is disappointing. My Nexon EV Max makes more power and torque and it is quicker from 0-100 than the X1.
Toyota Camry:
I love the new look especially in cement grey colours. Its interior is also nice. Its rear seat is the most comfortable among the list. Toyota's guaranteed reliability and added savings through hybrid efficiency make it appealing. I am mainly worried about the low ground clearance and length of the car as manouvering it around town might not be easy.
I've owned a Honda, Hyundai and Tata in the past so far so, all the above brands will be a new experience for us. I am looking forward to hearing Autocar expert opinion on this, especially from those who have owned these cars or have driven them.
Of that comprehensive list, and given your requirements, we'd pick the Audi A4 40 TFSI. It looks the part outside and in, rides beautifully on Mumbai’s broken roads, and its turbo-petrol has the shove and smoothness to keep an enthusiast smiling. The cabin has the all-important physical knobs and feels properly premium, and yes, space and comfort for adults is more than sufficient. It's a very tidy handler, and you won't miss Quattro, and ground clearance is sufficient too; it doesn't have a very long wheelbase so it can clear most speed breakers with ease. Maintenance is comparable to any other luxury brand and there are good deals available on A4s with some dealers. As it's an older model, however, you will miss out some features, like ADAS for example. Next in line, is the Kodiaq, which even in the top L&K spec is the ultimate value for money offering and delivers just about everything you've asked for. More space and comfort than the A4, the same smooth engine, classy physical controls yet more modern features, including ADAS, seat ventilation and a panoramic sunroof. Yes, it's a bit larger, but it's still great to drive, and the sheer amount it packs in might make that worthwhile. The Tiguan is a bit smaller, but not by much, and the Kodiaq - or even the VW Tayron - represent better value.The X1 and Q3, compared to the rest, simply don't feel like they'll have enough space for four and their luggage on long trips, and as you've pointed out, aren't as powerful either. The Camry is the ultimate sleeper car that delivers an unexpectedly good luxury experience, but it isn't a fun or enthusiastic drive, and if anything its ground clearance is even more of a concern than the A4's. Another good option you could consider, if you find a car available at a dealer, is the Skoda Octavia RS, which will scratch your enthusiast itch while still being practical enough.Overall, however, we think it should be between the Audi A4, which is the classier driver's car, or the Kodiaq, which is the VFM all-rounder.
