This is a significant investment, and I want to make sure I ask the right questions and am well-prepared before making the decision
BHPian Red-boulevard recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Range Sport (3.0 HSE) vs BMW X5 (X-line, petrol) vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class (E450Hello fellow BHP-ian,
Iâm a newbie to this group and currently in the process of acquiring a luxury car. Ideal budget <1cr.
Key requirements
SUV body shape preferred due to GC (but still considering the E450), decent comfort drive in the city and a smile-inducing drive for the occasional highway touring. I would love a great music system and the general bells and whistles that modern tech brings (adaptive dampers, ADAS level 2 functions) and nice comfortable/adjustable/ventilated/massage seats.
Some background here
I have lived abroad for the past 10+ years and the last car I drove was a range rover sport. That car was an absolute delight and despite the RR’s infamous reputation, held up very well and was a delight to drive around. So that was the most obvious place to look – but given the pricing dynamics in India, a brand new Range Rover Sport is clearly beyond my current budget.
Options Considered
So after looking around, I have shortlisted the BMW X5 X-line, E450 and a potential used RRS. Following are the reasons
BMW X5
– Great behind the wheels, drives much better than the comparable GLE.
– For the price, the interiors and seats are underwhelming. This is the single biggest thing holding me back on this
Mercedes-Benz E-450
– Since the GLE300d was a 2.0L (and the GLE 450 out of budget), I tried out the new e-class. The GLE 300d was not fun to drive
– Comparatively, the E450 was a nicer punchier drive and handles much better than the GLE. Having driven SUVs for the best part of the last 15 years, it was a different feel driving a sedan
– the interiors and the seats are plush and comfortable. Back seats absolutely impressed the family and they like it the best!
Range Rover Sport
– Ok, this is where the heart is given my earlier ownership experience and hence trying to see if there is a way to make this work
– I am considering purchasing an older RRS (say 2022,2023) and wondering if it is advisable to dabble in the pre-owned market.
– Considering the price of the RRS currently on road in mumbai is 1.6-1.7cr and applying a 20%+15%+7.5% depreciation for 2.5 years should get it somewhere in around the 1cr. mark
– I would ideally add EW for 2.5-3L more for complete peace of mind.
– the cars I have seen so far in mumbai have been priced ridiculously and am trying to negotiate hard but looks like there is strong demand for defenders/RRS.
Would love to hear from those who have already taken the plunge. This is a significant investment, and I want to make sure I ask the right questions and am well-prepared before making the decision.
Some of the key points Iâm curious about include:
⢠How has your ownership experience been overall? (Performance, reliability, comfort)
⢠What are the maintenance and running costs like here in India?
⢠How is the availability of service centers and spare parts?
⢠Have you faced any common issues or major repairs?
⢠How does it handle Indian road conditions, traffic, and weather?
⢠Any advice on which specific variants or trims are best suited for India?
⢠Financing and insurance tips worth considering
⢠Tips on negotiating the best deal or dealerships to approach
Additionally, I am going through some tips on the forums to understand how to evaluate a used car to make sure I don’t pick up a lemon. Abroad, if i had the VIN / chassis number – I could easily get full history of the car and a basic check at the dealership would make the process smooth.
Looking forward to hearing your advice and stories to help make an informed decision.
Thanks in advance!
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Here’s what GTOÂ said regarding the matter:
The Range Rover Sport to get is the current gen, but for <1 crore, you will only get the previous-gen car which frankly is nowhere as interesting or exciting. Either increase your budget, be open to a used Defender for 1 crore or look at other brands.
The X5 is unbeatable as an SUV; lots of fun to drive, great reliability and an all-round product (except for rear seat experience). Equally, the E450 is among the best sedans on sale at that price point, especially for someone who loves to drive.
Whether SUV or Sedan, only you can make that decision for yourself. Take an extended test-drive of the X5 and E450, then proceed with whatever makes you smile more. A 1-crore purchase is driven by the heart and it’s important for you to feel “this is the right car for me” when you drive it.
Another car worthy of a test-drive is the M340i. A legendary machine, although nowhere as practical as an X5 for Indian usage.
Meanwhile, BHPian Axe77 added this to the discussion:
I vote for either of the X5 40i or the E450, depending on which one you prefer individually. The X5 will be more versatile while the E will provide another level of comfort altogether. Which body style suits your use case better is up to you (also depends on what other cars this may share garage space with).
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
