Mercedes on Tuesday launched the M Class in India. Here's a look at the popular luxury SUVs in India.
The M Class: Mercedes launched the new M Class in India on Tuesday. The vehicle, first launched in 1997, has seen two major generation upgrades, with the second generation running from 2005 to 2011, and the third generation being launched in 2012. The car is available with three engine options: the ML250 Bluetec, which is a 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, the ML350 Bluetec, which is a quicker version of the first one, and the ML350 BlueEfficiency, a petrol version. Priced at an aggressive Rs 57 lakh, the vehicle is 15% cheaper than its previous edition, and boasts of improved fuel efficiency of up to 20 per cent compared with its predecessor.
Audi Q7: The Q7 is a full-size crossover SUV that was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007. It is available in India in three variants. These include a 3-litre diesel, a 3.6-litre petrol and a 4.2-litre petrol. The diesel variant is priced at Rs 52 lakh, whereas the petrol models come with a price tag of Rs 55 lakh (3.6-litre) and Rs 66 lakh (4.2 litre).
Audi Q5: The Q5 is a compact crossover and was launched in 2009, two years after its full-size cousin hit the roads. The car comes with three engine variants—one petrol and two diesel. The 2-litre petrol variant costs upwards of Rs 42 lakh, while the diesel versions, a 2-litre and a 3-litre Quattro, cost around Rs 42 lakh and Rs 47 lakh, respectively.
BMW X5: The X5 was first launched in India in 2007. The luxury crossover SUV, which BMW prefers to call a ‘Sport Activity Vehicle', comes with two engine variants. The 4-litre petrol version costs close to Rs 72 lakh, while the 3-litre diesel costs much less, at Rs 56 lakh.
BMW X3: This compact crossover is the smaller cousin of the X5, much like what the Audi Q5 is to the Q7. The most popular versions of the vehicle are the 2-litre and 3-litre diesel engines. While the former costs close to Rs 42 lakh, the latter will set you back by nearly Rs 48 lakh.
Volkswagen Touareg: The Touareg, a mid-size crossover, comes in only a 3-litre diesel version in India. The vehicle holds the world record for the heaviest load towed by a passenger car—it has pulled a Boeing 747 as part of an advertising campaign. The car costs Rs 52.3 lakh.
Volvo XC60: The compact crossover was introduced in 2008 and has been Volvo's best-selling car since 2009. In India, only three automatic diesel versions are available, which cost upwards of Rs 35 lakh.
