Need a car under 50 lakh for the long-term: BMW X1 or Mercedes-Benz GLA

I'm not considering the Audi Q2 because it's going to be discontinued soon & as of now, there's no info regarding the launch of the Q3.

BHPian write2sourav recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Friends,

I am looking to purchase a luxury car (SUV only and Petrol option) and have a budget of around 50L. Need some suggestions from the experts on this.

Background

• Currently, I have a 2014 model Grand i10 which is my primary car. I am planning to continue with this car in future too.
• I have a 2 member family. The new car usage will be on the lower side. Typically, it will run between 5k-6k km per year and mostly on highways for long trips.

Queries

• My primary choice is between BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA. I have discounted Audi Q2 considering the fact that it is going to be discontinued in India soon. As of today while writing the post, I don't have any information regarding the launch of Audi Q3. What do you feel as to which car will be a better choice between Merc and BMW?
• My choice will be dependent on the: a) Pleasure of driving. b) Safety/Security and driver assistance features. c) Less costly to maintain in the longer run. I am planning to keep this new car for at least 10 years.
• What kind of service and warranty packages should I look for while purchasing? I am a little worried about long-term maintenance costs, especially the damage/accidental repair charges. I plan to go for zero-dep insurance and hope that will cover the damage/accidental repair charges.
• With regards to financing, will it be cost-saving to go for traditional bank loans rather than financing schemes from the automobile makers?
• As I am based out of Delhi-NCR, what kind of discounts dealers are offering at the moment (on the petrol model) in this region? Is it advisable to complete the purchase during festive seasons like Dussehra/Diwali?

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

The current generation X1 is too long in the tooth, while the GLA is best bought with the diesel. Since you have a 50-lakh budget, I would recommend the new C-Class (will have to stretch the budget a bit) & 3-Series to you. Both are vastly superior cars and will serve you well for 10 years, without either of them feeling outdated or outclassed (the baby crossovers will though).

Here's what BHPian NarediAni7518 had to say about the matter:

The X1’s new generation is just around the corner and there’s a possibility that it’ll be launched either in Q1 2023 or Q4 2022. The GLA is a freshly-baked product but the petrol engine is a joke for a Mercedes Benz, especially when they offered a much better petrol engine earlier. Also, I feel the quality of the cabin is not up to Benz’s standards, it has been cheapened out in comparison to the earlier car. I would personally like to stay away from the GLA because it’s a little overpriced for what it offers and for its puny 1.3 petrol engine.

Wild card entry: Why not consider a Volvo XC40? It’s a great overall package, has much better safety features and looks unique. Do check it out once for sure.

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

Out of those two, I'd go with the GLA. The X1 is about to be replaced very soon.

With your requirement for petrol, however, the GLA200 has a lacklustre engine. If you don't mind a slight stretch, you can ask if they have any GLA35 AMGs in stock, maybe you could get a decent price for that.

In terms of discounts, Mercedes dealers now are not authorised to offer discounts anymore as under the new model you deal with Mercedes India directly. Don't expect any dealer discounts, maybe MB India would throw up some new 'offers' during the festive period, but that remains to be seen.

For financing, if you have a relationship with your bank/manager, I'd assume that would end up being cheaper for the purchase of your car, as they'd try to match or offer you better interest rates due to your relationship with them. But it doesn't hurt to take both quotes and share what you're offered by both.

Here's what BHPian vb-san had to say about the matter:

The new X1 will be out in the international markets later this year (and maybe early next year in India?). From the pictures/videos, it looks much better than the current version.

As GTO suggested, the new C will be a great option to look at, and if you want to stay in the Crossover space, the Volvo XC40 will be another credible option.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.