Mercedes-Benz cars in India (22)

autocar.india

•3d

Yes, a brand-new 2025-manufactured Audi A6 Technology at Rs 56 lakh on-road (BH) is a good deal, but try knocking off a couple more lakhs. The A6 is a well-rounded luxury sedan in the segment, offering a refined petrol engine, excellent ride comfort and a genuinely premium cabin experience. At this price, you are getting a significant discount over the usual on-road price, which makes it a strong value proposition.Your usage pattern of 10,000 km a year with 70-80% highway driving with a family of four suits the A6 very well. The car is comfortable, stable at speed and has enough space for long family trips. The fact that it is a 2025-manufactured, unregistered car means you are not compromising on age or warranty either.Alternatives at a similar price point would belong to a lower segment, such as the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, neither is likely to be available at this level of discount.Overall, at Rs 56 lakh on-road, the A6 Technology is a strong buy.

Audi A6

BMW 3 Series

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

autocar.india

•5d

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.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

autocar.india

•1w

Yes, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is exactly that - a combination of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor with a battery that can be charged from an external source. The idea is that you can use the electric-only mode for short local trips, and then the car seamlessly switches to the petrol engine for longer journeys, so you never have to worry about range.In India, however, the options are quite limited. You have the Mercedes S 450e at the top end as the only plug-in hybrid available at the moment. However, JSW MG is launching the MG Hector Tomahawk later this week, a plug-in hybrid, and next year you will get a Jetour T2-based SUV from JSW, also a plug-in hybrid. Other than these, there are no PHEV options for now.

MG Hector Tomahawk

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

JSW Motors Jetour T2

autocar.india

•1w

The Skoda Superb is a front-wheel-drive car globally, including in international markets. There is no rear-wheel-drive version of the Superb. The confusion may come from the fact that some premium sedans in the same segment, such as the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, are rear-wheel drive, but the Superb itself is not. The Superb is available in some markets with AWD (all-wheel drive), but that too is a front-biased system with the rear wheels driven only when needed.The difference between FWD and RWD is most noticeable in driving dynamics. In a front-wheel-drive car, the front wheels are responsible for both steering and putting power down, which can lead to understeer (the car does not turn as much as intended) and torque steer (the car pulls to one side on its own) when pushed hard. In a rear-wheel-drive car, the front wheels steer while the rear wheels deliver the power, which generally results in better balance and a more engaging driving experience, especially in performance driving.Weight distribution refers to how the car's mass is spread between the front and rear axles. A 50:50 weight distribution is often considered ideal because it helps the car remain balanced during cornering. This is not exclusive to rear-wheel-drive cars, but it is easier to achieve in RWD layouts because the drivetrain components are more evenly distributed along the length of the car.It is not correct to say that RWD is always better than FWD or AWD. Each layout has its own advantages. FWD is more space-efficient, cost-effective, and better in slippery conditions; RWD offers better driving dynamics; and AWD provides the best traction in all conditions.On the engine front, a 4-cylinder twin-turbo can produce impressive power and torque, and tends to be lighter, but an in-line 6 or V6 is inherently smoother and more refined. A larger-capacity engine tends to also be more effortless than a boosted low-capacity engine making the same power output. The choice between the two depends on the application: the 4-cylinder is lighter and more efficient, while the inline-6 offers a more premium and refined driving experience.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

BMW 5 Series LWB

Skoda Superb

autocar.india

•2w

Within a budget of Rs. 70 lakh, the BMW 3 Series is one of the best choices. However, if ground clearance is a concern, an SUV would be the more practical option. Equivalent SUVs such as the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC will require stretching the budget by another Rs. 10-15 lakh. Otherwise, the alternatives will have to come from a segment below.Since comfort is a priority, it would be worth waiting for the upcoming BMW X1 Long Wheelbase, which is set to launch on 21 August. As it will be assembled in India, pricing is expected to remain competitive and within your budget.The Audi Q3 and Q3 Sportback are also worth considering. They offer a refined petrol engine, smooth performance, and a high-quality cabin. Their only drawback is that they are not the most modern in terms of features. With the new-generation Q3 expected to arrive soon, attractive discounts on the current models are also likely.

BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series LWB

Audi Q3

Audi Q3 Sportback

Mercedes-Benz GLC