I am saving up for my first and maybe only luxury purchase in a couple of years. Confused between E220D, GLC300D, and 520D

Planning to buy a car under 25 lakh which should be an better option kia seltos or mahindra scorpion n

Hi Satish, a couple of months ago we were confused on similar options. We were considering E220d, 530Li or a Toyota/Lexus. Owning a Toyota for about 15 years we had enough confidence in the brand but the Camry and ES didn't speak the same luxury language as the Germans did. To begin with, experience at the BMW showroom was quite better than the Merc so we did incline more towards the 530Li (user experience matters). Design: I prefer the designs of earlier models of both the cars. But I have come at peace with the BMWs recent design language. I like the titanium accents that the have put in the 5 which goes well with the shades of blue. The long bonnet does take some time to get used to but looks really good. Ground clearance is an additional point for the 5 series, since I have scraped it twice I cant imagine what the damage would have been on a Merc as it rides considerably lower. Ride quality and handling: BMW has a softer suspension setup than the Merc and goes over bumps effortlessly. BMW being a more driver focused car could have had a firmer suspension but I am happy with the floaty ride on Indian roads. BMW also seems a tad bit quieter tbh. Interior: Both the cars have really good interiors and its a matter of preference. At our home we like driving ourselves to places, hence the rear seats are vacant 70% of the times. I also prefer physical buttons more than the touch screen and BMW has a lot more than the merc. I believe buttons are a cheap way to cut costs. I strongly dislike the extensive interior lighting in the Merc which feels gimmicky, BMW's simply seem more elegant by a mile. Engine: This is again a win for the BMW as the B48 petrol engine has around 250bhp which is about 25% more than the E Class. I does feel a lot quicker. Fuel economy in the city is around 9.8-10 km/l in the city and about 15kmpl on the highway. Not so sure about the Merc but since it is a diesel it would definitely be better. The petrol engine is very refined and quiet almost like an EV until floored. Cost: 530Li costs about 10% lesser than the E220d. The only things I find lacking in the 530Li are the blinds and rear seat functions. With all the additional stuff in the BMW it was an easy win for me. I was unable to wrap my head around the thought that these 2 things would cost 7-8 L and still be missing other benefits that BMW has. Overall, we ended up going for the 530Li.