Upcoming Land Rover cars in India (2)

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Go for the Range Rover Sport petrol in 2027 - it will make your city days enjoyable and your long trips with kids and the dog easier. The air suspension glides over broken roads and can lower the car, so the dog hops in without drama, and the cabin stays very quiet, which matters with children on board. It also feels like a true upgrade from your 5 Series - far more special to sit in and arrive in, not just a taller BMW.The BMW X5 will likely be sharper to drive and lighter on its feet, and BMW’s service reach is wider. If you love the 5 Series’ tight, sporty feel, the X5 will feel familiar. But for family comfort first, the Range Rover Sport’s ride and seat comfort win.One honest catch: JLR ownership can be fussier than BMW - higher running costs and occasionally patchy service. Also expect the petrol to be thirsty in town. If that worries you, keep an eye on the X5 reveal in 2027, but if you want the most soothing daily drive and the best road-trip experience for kids and dog, the Range Rover Sport edges it.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

BMW X5

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At this budget and with these options, there are many directions you could go, all of which have some distinct advantage. The easiest one is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which offers maximum space for your money, including a third row of seats. It offers the choice of smooth six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and Mercedes has the widest sales and service network of all these brands, so you're in good hands. Do note that, of these SUVs, this is the most common, and its large size can make it cumbersome to drive around town.The Land Rover Defender could be seen as the best value for money, and the one that offers the most variety, including four- and six- cylinder engines, and various body styles and seating configurations. With a slight stretch in budget, you can even get a supercharged V8 engine, which is incredibly characterful. However, quality in the Defender isn't quite as good as the rest, including its own sibling, the Range Rover Sport.The Sport will push your budget, and even then, it offers a 6-cylinder petrol or diesel in a single HSE trim. However, it is the most rounded offering, mixing sumptuous luxury with good dynamics and characterful engines, not to mention excellent badge value. If you can stretch your budget slightly, this is the one to get.The Porsche Cayenne is the one to choose only if you put driving above all else on your priority list. It is exciting from behind the wheel and is a high-quality, solidly engineered product that also has great badge value. However, its performance focus means it's not as comfortable or easy to drive at low speeds, and many seemingly basic features are optional extras, which means it too will push the limits of your budget.Overall, the Range Rover Sport is the best bet for you, or if you want a bit more space, the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Land Rover Defender

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Porsche Cayenne

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Most SUVs in this category are based on their sedan counterparts and thus will feel very car-like from behind the wheel. They all offer a higher seating position, AWD and a more practical liftback boot when compared to the sedans, however, which is enough for most buyers. If you want a tougher feeling SUV in this price range, check out the Land Rover Discovery Sport. It's a bit older than the rest now, but in true Land Rover style, it delivers a solid and commanding feel from the driver's seat. It also offers the flexibility of a third row of seats, and should you ever venture off the tarmac, it has the best AWD system and off-road traction control system in the segment. Recent updates have also brought in JLR's latest Pivi Pro infotainment system, which helps mask the SUV's age well, and both its engines - petrol and diesel - are quite strong. Most of all, it's relatively more affordable than the rest, too.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

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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 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. The Cayenne 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.

Mercedes-Benz GLS

BMW X7

Porsche Cayenne

Land Rover Range Rover

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The two luxury SUVs belong to slightly different segments, with a roughly Rs 30 lakh price difference. That said, of the two, we would lean towards the Audi Q8 for long-run peace of mind in India. The Q8 tends to have fewer small issues as the years add up, its electronics feel better sorted, and the engine-gearbox feels very smooth even in slow traffic and in our heat. Audi also has a wider service reach in most cities, and parts supply is usually quicker, which matters when you want the car back on the road fast after a service or repair. Besides, you get a more powerful 6-cylinder engine and far more interior space.There are trade-offs. The Q8 costs a fair bit more and it is a large car to park in tight spaces. Running costs will be higher than the Velar, especially if most of your use is in the city. The Range Rover Velar is more of a style statement, inside and out, and while you miss out on a six-cylinder engine, what you do get is a diesel engine option.

Audi Q8

Land Rover Range Rover Velar