BMW Cars in India (24)

autocar.india

•3m

With 1,500-2,000 km a month, the E 220d is financially justified, but in NCR the 10-year diesel rule is a deal-breaker. Even if you drive enough to make diesel “paisa vasool”, the car is effectively worthless after 10 years, and that wipes out any savings. DPF is less of a concern at your running, but the NCR rule is the bigger problem.The E 200 petrol is the safer choice. It gives you the same luxury experience, is extremely comfortable in the rear, and is still enjoyable to drive. The BMW 5 Series is the driver’s car of the three, but the E-Class is the better all-round luxury car, especially if you spend time in the back.If you were outside NCR, the E 220d would make sense. In NCR, go for the E 200 petrol. It is the best balance of comfort, performance and long-term ownership. The 5 Series is the better driver’s car, but the E-Class is the better luxury car.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

BMW 5 Series LWB

autocar.india

•3h

Audi is offering some very tempting deals on the A6 and Q5, and for obvious reasons. Both models are now well into their lifecycles and feel dated next to newer rivals, so the only way Audi can move them out of showrooms is with substantial discounts. That said, if you're getting a good deal, both are well worth considering.Yes, the cabins have aged and the tech is no longer cutting edge. The infotainment systems are a couple of generations behind what you'll find in the latest BMWs and Mercedes, and the overall cabin ambience doesn't feel as fresh or as richly appointed. But if you can live with that, these Audis remain superbly engineered cars. The 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engines are smooth, refined and genuinely fantastic, and both cars drive beautifully. Ride quality, in particular, is excellent, and better than what the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW 3 Series offer.Within your Rs 65 lakh budget, our pick would be the A6. It's a segment above the 3 Series, and with current discounts it slips comfortably into your price range, which makes it exceptional value. It rides with a suppleness the Germans rarely match at this price, is impressively quiet and relaxed, and drives very well indeed. The GLC and 3 Series are better equipped and have plusher, more modern cabins, but they don't drive with the same polish or offer the same space and comfort. As a first luxury car, the A6 at a discount is hard to beat.

Audi A6

Audi Q5

BMW 3 Series

Mercedes-Benz GLC

autocar.india

•4d

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

•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

The new i5 LWB is expected to be a thorough revision of the current model based on the CLAR platform, with Neue Klasse-inspired styling and perhaps battery and motor updates, rather than an outright shift to the Neue Klasse platform of the i3. This is similar to what was done with the BMW i7, which also shares the CLAR platform, as both are only halfway through their life cycles. Besides, that is still some time away, and the only i5 you can buy now is the sporty (and low-slung) M60. You're right about rapidly advancing EV tech, but whether you choose today's i5 or the incoming LCI or LWB, you'll still have a luxurious, comfortable, refined and powerful EV.As for the Lexus, if you're choosing the hybrid, know that it is about half the price of what the i5 LWB will likely cost. There is also the ES Electric, which is closer in price and concept to the i5. Either way, the ES seems like the better choice for you if you plan to purchase today, since as you mentioned, it is presently the more contemporary option. That said, depending on which camp you fall into, a hybrid may already be behind in terms of relevance compared to any EV, so it really comes down to the nature of your usage. For now, in India, pound for pound, a hybrid makes more sense than an EV, so if you're keen on the new ES hybrid, you should go for it.

BMW i7

BMW i5 LWB

Lexus ES Electric