[KI07]

I believe I am the only voter for Isuzu, I like for my car to stand out of the crowd, and I have been in an MUX. I like the fact that it is so old school, you instantly feel you are 10 years in the past.

Barebones, functional tech, good engine.

[Deamon0508]

Would go for none of them whatsoever, would probably pick Kodiaq if there was a gun to my head though.
If I really had a need for a 7-seater, I'd probably buy an Carens/Ertiga for those one-off occasions and buy a lovely pre-loved Sedan (Octavia or a Superb) for handling the majority of my driving.
Put a bigger gun to my head to buy a single car with the same ballpark budget as the options, would probably go for pre-owned Carnival.

My rationale is clear, albeit subjective though

• Skoda Kodiaq - The optimum choice amongst the options, but driving a 7-seater gas guzzler would have me drive around with unmanageable guilt of taking up so much urban space and consuming so much fuel for my own pleasures.
• Toyota Fortuner - Don't like it, never have, never will. No matter how well the car ages, such a big brawny BOF vehicle would simply not have any space in my garage
• MG Gloster - As good as it is, somehow I feel this to be too vanilla
• Nissan X-Trail - Doesn't bring anything to the table, doesn't excel in anything, doesn't fail at anything. Plus, the longevity of the platform in India would forever be questionable in my mind
• Jeep Meridian - strictly meh in my books, would rather go for a top of the line Compass and enjoy the drive. Plus reading the Stellantis service horrors have left a mark on me
• Isuzu MU-X - Never in the list of contenders
• Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line - Seems overpriced for what it offers
• Mercedes-Benz GLA - Not touching it with a bargepole. GLC or GLE, sure, not the GLA though
• BMW X1 - Similar to MB, would rather go for a mid-tier BMW, but stray far from the entry level ones
• Audi Q3 - The newer Audis somehow don't have the pull of the Audis from the 2000's, I can't even put a finger on why, but that's just how I feel. Barring the A4, none of the Audis feature in my wishlist

[charanreddy]

Voted for the Audi Q3.

If I am spending close to 60 big ones on road , then it better scream premium and have the right badge.

I currently drive the BMW X1, 2.0 with about 180 BHP in the UK and this would have been a no brainer had the option existed. Audi Q3 comes the closest to my current ride with decent power on Tap and is hence my choice.

With a small family and in a city like Bangalore, lugging around a Fortuner is a pain and hence a slightly more compact car is preferred

[abaliga]

Kodiaq for sure!

I dont care for the rear looks (earlier generation was better), However, the new Kodiaq is a thoroughly modern, luxurious, feature laden, comfortable and a fast car, a diesel option would have been welcome for high mileage users. In my opinion it offers maximum value for money as compared to any of the other cars listed, just wish it was cheaper by 4-5 lakhs.

[Nikhilvm4]

Voted for the Tiguan R line simply for the engine gearbox combo. Have driven neither Kodiaq nor Tiguan R line but i believe the Tiguan would definitely be more fun to drive considering its comparatively compact size.

[Tutenkhamen]

Likely none. Although Meridian is an absolute VFM compared to others and new Kodiaq, Tiguan twins look purposeful and nice, I'hd probably bump the budget by another 15% and bring home a heavily discounted Grand Cherokee.
Segment above. Spacious 2bhk on wheels. Nice road presence owing to its exclusivity.
Engine, albeit a 4 pot, is not bad either. Drove one in Chandigarh and it had pull. A lot of pull!

[itwasntme]

Voted for the Q3. Second choice would have been the Kodiaq with the Tiguan a very distant third.

Why the Q?

• Just the right size and more crossover than SUV.
• More than enough power and will in all probability get the same Kodiaq/Tiguan tune soon.
• Quattro!
• An Audi is an Audi. Superior in fit and finish. Anecdotally better engineered and higher quality than a VW or Skoda.

Why not the Q?

• Pricey, BUT Audi dealers (even in South) sometimes offer tantalizing discounts if one is not too fussy about the colour or trim.
• No DCC!

Why the Kodiaq?

• New launch with 200 bhp power
• Race Blue Sportline looks yummy!

Why not the Kodiaq?

• Looking more like a station wagon on stilts now
• Neither the tan or the black/grey combo interiors were really eye-catching to me at least.
• Hideous chrome C pillar - needs to be wrapped on day one
• No DCC!
• Third row almost useless. This is an important factor for me, in the sense that if I am buying a so-called 3 row crossover, it should be a functional one and not compromised. . An usable third row would have been a superb upside.
• Skoda's long term reliability (5++ years) always a bit suspect.

[Sheel]

Forced to vote for others, I am picking only diesel SUV's in my choice as my annual running for the larger SUV is decent, anything between 15K to 20K per year.

Ideally, would prefer to pick the upcoming Fortuner or Endeavour. But, since there is uncertainty related to their launch, I would prefer to get either the Tucson AWD or the ScorpioN 4Xplore. Have driven both, so would be difficult picking either.

[peddagunda]

Fortuner has Toyota reliability and can pretty much go anywhere you want it to (if you get the 4X4 ones) and in my book a car must have AWD as bare minimum to be considered as a SUV. Kodiaq & Tiguan R-Line looks nice and premium, but they can't go where Fortuner can. Hence, voted for Fortuner.

[aseem23]

5-seater Diesel: Hyundai Tucson, as it is probably the best premium 5-seater in the market. Cost of ownership is a big factor over the Jeep Compass.

5-seater Petrol: Again, Hyundai Tucson

7-seater Diesel: Toyota Fortuner

7-seater Petrol: Innova Hycross

[Xpresstrainfast]

As a newbie, I do not have the privilege to vote here. Otherwise I would have voted for Skoda Kodiaq. Let me explain:

#1 The Toyota Fortuner is too outdated by 2025 standards, and lacks a Gasoline 4x4. The MG Gloster, Citroen C5 Aircross and Jeep Meridian lack a Gasoline variant.

#2 Similar to the Fortuner, the Hyundai Tuscon and Mercedes Benz GLA lack a gasoline 4x4/AWD and their gas engines are not enough for the price we pay for them.

#3 The BMW X1 is overpriced + No AWD in any trim.

#4 Even the Toyota Hilux lacks a gas engine, but it is not the same category as these cars.

#5 I do not like 'poser cars', i.e cars that carry styling elements or badging that they do not deserve. If the India-spec Tiguan is R-Line branded with sporty design elements, then where is the performance that should come with this badge. A car that does not brag and makes 201 BHP, fine. One that has a sporty tag and makes 201 BHP, no.

#6 This now leaves me with the Audi Q3 and Skoda Kodiaq. Between the two, its an easy pick: The Kodiaq offers slightly more power + a much larger car + an extra row of seats + A much newer model + negligible price difference between the Kodiaq Sportline and the base Audi Q3. The Audi brand is not that aspiration anymore either.

#7 The less I speak about the Nissan X-Trail, the better.

Within the Kodiaq lineup, it would be tough pick, but I would settle for the L&K, since this is still a 3-row SUV afterall. If this was a Superb, or Octavia, or even with the Kodiaq, if the sportline wasn't a mere cosmetic job (like the RS), I would still settle with more luxurious one.

[heydj]

Why is Tucson not on this list? If it was it would have got my vote as its the only reliable car with a wonderful diesel engine, awd and all the features that make it fun to drive. My first choice and I own this so have put my money behind my vote.

Other wise next best option is Fortuner but its look and feel is just not to my liking, looks quite crude and in need of a refresh.

If reliability was not my concern then Tiguan is so good to drive, will age like fine wine, petrol so will give more years of happiness. Best part looks sporty. My second choice.

Rest all petrol options are average at best with Kodiaq looking more like a station wagon of central Europe.

[Amrit@wheels]

I had the fortune of driving a new Kodiaq last week for around 70 kms in a suburban area in Nainital. My word! what a classy SUV! It has the finesse of Germans while still feeling like a go-anywhere 4x4 SUV. I absolutely loved everything, from the cabin to the suspension. From the list given here, I have driven the Fortuner, Gloster, Meridian, and MUX and the Kodiaq is the clear winner in my book.

[SR-71]

Voted for 'Other'. If Meridian is in the list, I strongly believe the Tucson should be here too. And my vote would be for the Tucson. It has a stonker of a diesel engine and comes with all the bells and whistles and still costs a good 15L OTR lesser, compared to the Kodiaq L&K. I would have voted for the Kodiaq with its older pricing (or) if the current pricing included features like ADAS.

[adityaNview]

I have voted for Toyota Fortuner.
I agree that it is not a perfect car but it is one of the best in the lot. The only qualm that I have with it is that it is too bulky.
Even though I love the 2.0 TSI engine from the VW-Skoda group, for people like me who travel 100 kms daily, the mileage does not make sense.
I like the Merc GLA 200d AWD too. It has the best of all worlds. It’s diesel, has AWD, and is chuckable. I don’t like the too many electronics bit much. However I am not sure how will it age once I cross 2 Lakhs Kms mark in 3/4 years.
I would love to try though.
Is there anyone who can suggest, comment or has experienced Merc with high odometer?