Spec Comparison: BMW X1 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA vs Audi Q3

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The entry-level premium crossover market is the one that is generating most of the sales numbers for the luxury car makers. With the launch of the new BMW X1, the dynamics of this segment are set to change. We compare the three crossover SUVs spec by spec to find out how the new X1 fares with the competition – the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes GLA.

Dimensions

The BMW X1 is the tallest and the longest SUV here at 4439mm length and 1612mm height. The Audi Q3 is marginally smaller than the X1 but makes up by being the widest of them all at 1831mm. While the X1 and the Q3 look more like an SUV, the GLA looks more like a crossover hatchback with its height measuring just 1494mm. The GLA, though, has the maximum ground clearance at 183mm followed by the Q3 (170mm) and the X1 (165mm). The Audi Q3 also has the maximum boot space (460 litres).

Equipment

The BMW X1, the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA are all premium luxury cars and are expected to have most luxuries as standard with their top-spec variants. All the three get dual-zone automatic climate control with vents for the rear passengers, leather upholstery and electrically adjustable front seats with memory function. The Mercedes gets electrically adjustable headrests too. The BMW gets push-button start.

On the safety front, all three get twin front airbags along with curtain and side airbags. Driver aids like the electronic stability program, anti-lock braking system, tractions control, hill-hold function are available as standard across the variants for all three cars.

Engine

BMW has retained the same 2.0-litre inline four cylinder turbocharged diesel mill but it has been tweaked. The BMW X1 is the most powerful of them all producing 188bhp of power as against the 174bhp from a similar 2.0-litre engine in the Audi Q3. The Mercedes GLA produces only 136bhp from its 2143cc turbo-diesel and will not be an option if you are planning to buy the car in Delhi. The Mercedes also loses out on the all-wheel-drive option which was available only with the Audi Q3 and now has been introduced in the BMW X1 for the first time in India. All the three SUVs get automatic transmission. While the BMW boasts of an 8-speed box, the Mercedes gets paddle-shifters.

Price

The BMW X1 M Sport, the top spec car is priced at Rs 39.9 lakh ex-showroom, Delhi as compared to the similarly sized and similarly equipped Audi Q3 35TDI Premium Plus which you can get for Rs 2 lakh lesser. The Mercedes GLA 200CDI Sport, the top spec car, is another 3 lakh cheaper than the Audi but misses out on a four-wheel-drive and a true-blue SUV appeal.