Confused between the BMW 330i, Volvo S60 & Mercedes GLA 220d

Some of my requirements include a good automatic transmission, comfortable ride quality, cabin space and as many safety features as possible.

BHPian sgautam31 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Let me quickly introduce myself. I am based in Hyderabad, originally from Himachal, avid road traveler and enjoy long drives, have covered half of the country and the most recent trip was a 7000 km long round trip.

Now, I am in search of my new car and need some help from the community to make the right decision.

Brief history with cars

My first car was a Volkswagen Polo TDI which I owned from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016. This was a manual. After moving to Bangalore from Hyderabad, I realized that I desperately need an auto transmission and bought Honda City VX CVT in Nov 2016 and I am very happy with the driving experience. I have driven across the country with family (wife & small dog).

My requirements

• A good reliable automatic gearbox with an overall good performance with no lag.
• Should be loaded with safety features.
• Apt for cruising on highways to cover 700+ km/day at times (Adaptive cruise control is good to have, but not the only deciding factor).
• Spacious and comfortable ride quality.
• Good suspension as at times we travel to the unfamiliar territory (potholes, broken roads, dirt roads) being a wildlife enthusiast, this will be around 2-3% of overall road travel.
• Should handle ghat roads (hill roads) well, as we are originally from Himachal and keep on traveling home from Hyderabad.

Vehicles under consideration

BMW 330i

Took a test drive of 330 Ld and really enjoyed the drive, with the focus on the driver, had an overall good experience with ride quality as well. Unfortunately, they did not have 330i available for the test drive and the test drive was in a long-wheel diesel variant, but the salesperson mentioned that ride quality and comfort won’t be much different, however, 330i will be high performing vehicle. My only apprehension was that the boot space is very shallow and it missed out on some features at this price range (like - Keyless entry, Adaptive cruise control, Auto Braking, etc.)

Volvo S60

I have looked at the car and am taking the test drive tomorrow, but the looks and features are mindboggling, really liked the build quality and the tech features, especially the safety features and adaptive cruise control. Super excited about the test drive to compare it with the BMW. My apprehension for Volvo is its brand appeal and post-sales support as the dealership is very thin in comparison to German brands. Also, not too sure how will this car handle rough roads and unfamiliar territories.

GLA 220d

Initially, when I started my search I was trying to limit myself only to SUVs or Crossovers but decided to expand my search to sedans since there are limited options available considering Q3 is yet to be launched and X1 did not leave us with a great impression.

I really liked the test drive, the engine was responsive and the cabin is very comfortable and gives a rich feeling. Also, like some tech features, though it misses out on adaptive cruise control. But overall left me with a good impression. My apprehensions with Mercedes is that after reading a lot of discussions I understood that maintenance could be high and the parts are very expensive in comparison to competitors.

I would appreciate the suggestions and any other vehicle that I can consider apart from the ones I have shortlisted.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

The S60 is a very, very impressive car. You should read our Official Review - the Volvo really left an impression on me. It is easily a match to the 3-Series, and much superior to the A4 & ageing C-Class in my opinion.

Drop the GLA. It isn't even close to the S60 or 330i.

Go for the BMW if you want strong reliability, a proven package & absolute driving pleasure (RWD, sweet turbo-petrol, the best AT gearbox). On the other hand, if you are open to trying a different flavour, pick the S60. My only two apprehensions would be on the Volvo's long-term reliability and after-sales support. Have heard good as well as bad stories; it really varies from dealer to dealer and city to city, unlike BMW & Mercedes which offer a more consistent ownership experience.

You should search within the forum and see what Hyderabad Volvo owners are saying about the dealer support.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say about the matter:

If you like Volvo test drives, it will be worth considering. XC40 can also be considered. I would rate Volvo cars above the CKD Germans when it comes to interior cabin feel (materials, NVH, etc.) They also look great from the outside - probably the best LED light designs. The only downside is that they are not exciting when it comes to driving. Support/service is also limited but should not be a problem in Hyderabad which sells a lot of Volvo cars (never understood why).

Mercedes and BMW will cost about the same to own if you can get a warranty and zero depreciation insurance. Even otherwise also I don't think one should avoid Mercedes due to ownership costs compared to BMW. The real-world difference would be within 5-10% max which doesn't make a case for dropping a Mercedes car that you may have otherwise liked.

I am surprised you liked Honda City after owning Polo - this is where I am confused about what might be your preferences. If you enjoyed Honda City, you should certainly look at Camry Hybrid. Test drive it even if it's just for window shopping.

BMW is the be-all-end-all choice for anyone who loves a spirited drive at these price points.

Sedan vs SUV is a personal decision. Personally, I believe one need not get an SUV just for those 1-2% situations with bad patches of roads. Too much needless premium to pay for an SUV and it's inferior 90%+ of the time. Just my opinion.

Here's what BHPian akash_v12 had to say about the matter:

A quick check on the Volvo website shows that their network isn't as sparse as it was a couple of years ago. A lot of dealers/service centres have come up throughout the country and it shouldn't be much of a bother anymore.

Since the previous cars you've owned have served you well throughout your road trips, I don't think GC should be a big deciding factor. Sedans are the way to go forward for long road trips - nothing matches the driving dynamics and comfort of them. As Androdev mentioned, there is absolutely no justification to spend the additional money for an SUV for those rare situations (especially in your case where a City has taken everything that you've thrown at it).

The S60 is a great car. Rather spacious and one that can spoil you with the goodies. However, like most other Volvos it's not the most exciting to drive. It's set-up slightly softer than the Bimmers but not as much as the Mercedes. In terms of rear legroom, for anyone more than 5'7" the underthing support will be lacking and you might be sat in a knees-up position, which makes it slightly uncomfortable. The 3 Series also makes sense in your case, but do note that the legroom in the back isn't a lot in SWB Form. If you're looking at LWB, then you should be good on that front. The 330i is a hoot to drive though and is probably one of the most dynamically sorted cars in the segment.

Two more options I'd like to add in are the Audi A4 & the Skoda Superb. The former may not be the best on any front, but it's surely a combination of both. Much better to drive than the S60 (in my brother's opinion) and a tad bit comfier than it too. Also, IIRC there were mouthwatering discounts on the A4. The Superb is something you cannot ignore at this price point. It may be down on the feature list to the Germans but if you're not badge-conscious, it might as well be one of the best options to go for.

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