BMW X1 vs Audi Q3 vs Mercedes GLA comparison

When we drove the new-generation BMW X1 earlier this year, we were really impressed by it. The new look, the spacious cabin, the punchy engine, the engaging handling and the improved ride quality just made it feel so much more rounded than the original. The overall feeling was that the X1 had evolved to offer everything a compact luxury SUV buyer could want. The best compact luxury SUV? There was a high chance it was the one.

To put lingering doubts to rest, we’ve brought together the new X1 and its closest rivals from Germany – the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA. The competent Q3 has been on sale the longest but Audi has done its bit to keep it fresh over the years. In fact, the Q3 received its last facelift in 2015 and looks all the better for it. Meanwhile, Merc’s swanky GLA brings a different flavour to the contest.

Worth noting is that while the BMW and Audi are available in front-wheel-drive form too, it’s their all-wheel-drive avatars we’ve considered for this comparison.

And this makes the front-wheel drive GLA the odd one out because Mercedes doesn’t sell the standard GLA with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive hardware in India. However, the Merc is the cheapest of this trio with the GLA 200 d Sport priced at Rs 35.93 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). BMW’s X1, in nicely specced xLine trim, costs Rs 36.9 lakh though for Rs 4 lakh more, you can get the M Sport version with sportier body kit and a few more features. The Audi Q3 Technology retails for Rs 39.8 lakh.

With introductions out of the way, let’s get to the big fight among the small SUVs.

Talk of the town

It’s a mid-day start to the battleground, which is the photo shoot location, on the outskirts of Mumbai. What that means is we have to battle through the metropolis’ notoriously bad traffic and potholed roads. We’d like to fast forward and get to the good stuff but the truth is that these are the sort of conditions this trio of SUVs will have to deal with for a large part of their lives. So, we start making notes early in the journey.

I start behind the wheel of the X1 and quickly take a liking to it. The X1 uses BMW’s new 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 190hp, the most powerful of this lot. Straight off, I can tell the engine is a lot quieter than the old X1’s and performance in town is pleasant too. However, engine responses seem too sharp in Sport mode and too dull in Eco Pro. Comfort mode offers the best compromise for the drive though I do wish the driving mode switch worked the dampers too, something none of these cars offer. Bump absorption is good on the X1 but at higher city speeds, the suspension seems a touch soft and there’s some amount of vertical movement over long wave undulations. At the same time, there’s a hint of firmness on expansion joints and the like and that’s probably down to the X1’s use of relatively hard sidewall run-flat tyres.

I switch to the Audi Q3 and within the first few minutes of the drive, can conclude that it’s got the better ride quality. The Q3 not only drives flatter at speed but also comfortably manages to take sharper edges in its stride. It’s got the lighter steering too which feels that little bit easier to twirl in town. The Q3’s 177hp, 2.0-litre diesel engine is also running quieter than the X1’s. Refinement at low speeds is really good but I do hear a bit of that characteristic mid-range drone from this Volkswagen Group engine. What’s also easy to tell is that the Q3 has a wider powerband. There’s a steady dose of power upwards of 1,500rpm or so and this means the Audi feels that little bit more alert than the X1 in town. Like the X1 though, I realise it’s best to leave the Q3 operating in Comfort mode in town.

Time to hop into the Merc. The GLA’s 2.1-litre diesel engine is the largest here but it actually makes the least power – 136hp to be precise. But performance, at least in city conditions, is not the problem. In fact, the GLA’s engine has a nice bottom-end and there’s plenty of poke in the mid-range as well. The actual issue is the engine’s refinement. Sure, the engine behaves itself at mild throttle inputs but get the revs up and it becomes loud. The engine also clatters at idle and feels leagues down on the competitors’ motors in this area. Where the GLA also trails the other two is in ride quality. The GLA doesn’t have sufficient wheel travel and tends to crash through larger potholes, and just feels a tad too stiffly set up for its own good. As we park the cars for a quick lunch, I also find out the hard way that it’s got the heaviest steering too.
 

Run to the hill

We’re finally out of city limits, so we can properly open up the cars now. The road we’re on has its set of straights and corners and is just the place to experience these cars’ sportier side. I make a beeline for the X1. It is the most dynamic handler of the lot after all. Or is it? Unlike the last X1 that was built on a rear-wheel-drive platform, the new one is built on BMW’s new, UKL front-wheel-drive platform. But before you shout sacrilege, know that thanks to clever packaging, the X1 still boasts 50:50 front to rear weight distribution. The new X1 does offer a different experience in the corners, but an entertaining one nonetheless. The Bimmer is quick to turn in, there’s great balance and even a good sense of connection offered from the electric steering. The all-wheel-drive system that constantly shuffles power between the front and rear axles does its bit to lend the X1 very neutral steering. Adding to the excitement is the powertrain. The engine does bunch its power post 2,000rpm but it is quick to rev thereon, right up to 5,000rpm. Switching the traction control off in Sport mode also allows me to hold gear at 5,400rpm! But the Aisin eight-speed gearbox doesn’t work with the same fluidity as the ZF unit on the rear-wheel drive BMWs. It’s quick to respond to manual inputs but press down hard in automatic mode and you’ll notice a slight delay at times.

Driving the Q3 on these free-flowing roads just reacquaints me with how good the Audi really is. Its engine is beautifully free-revving, the seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox is super quick in both manual and auto modes and there’s power where and when you want it. The Q3 clearly has a fun-loving side too. It also feels grippier than the X1 on the same roads and is nearly as quick to change direction. Where the Q3 falters, like most modern Audis, is in its steering. It doesn’t weight up sufficiently and just feels a bit remote and artificial. And that’s a shame.

Stiff and heavy as the GLA felt a few hours ago, it’s come into its own on the twisty roads we’re on. Body control is good and there’s plenty of grip on offer too. The front-wheel-drive GLA does run wide when I go hell for leather around a sweeping bend but an average owner is unlikely to push it so hard. Sadly though, there’s no escaping the GLA’s lack of horses in this environment. The Merc engine sounds overwhelmed at full throttle and the otherwise nice seven-speed dual clutch gearbox also feels a touch slow if you ask too much of it.

Put to the test, the GLA will do the 0-100kph dash in 9.51 seconds while the Q3 will do it in 8.35 seconds. The X1 is the only model here with launch control and uses the system to good effect to get to 100kph from a standstill in just 8.07 seconds.

With the sun dropping to the horizon, photographer Kuldeep signals he wants the cars at the shoot location. The venue is atop a hill but to get there, we need to drive up a path which, at this time of the year, is part gravel and part loose mud. I’m following the X1 and Q3 in the GLA and half expect the Merc to find the going tough. Well, it doesn’t. The 183mm ground clearance (the most here) comes handy and though there’s a bit of wheelspin on occasion, the GLA keeps up with the all-wheel-drive duo. But it’s not the car I’d want to be driving up this hill in once the rains start. The BMW and Audi’s all-wheel-drive systems can tackle slightly more hardcore off-road scenarios but neither SUV has the ground clearance or the tyres to take you too far into the wild.

Hey good lookin’

Once the cars are in position for photography, we get a chance to see them in the same frame and study their designs. Of course, styling is a matter of personal choice, so there’s no clear winner, though the broad consensus is that the GLA has the most star appeal. It carries the swoopy shape well and even drew the most eyeballs over the day. It’s just that the GLA doesn’t have the stance of a proper SUV. It’s about as high as a mid-size sedan and looks more jacked-up A-class than small SUV.

The new BMW X1, on the other hand, looks like a shrunken X5 and this is a big departure from the original X1’s station wagon-like appearance. The significantly higher roof, smaller bonnet and generally more upright and cab-forward stance are to thank for this. The X1 also has its nice details such as the well-defined belt line and functional twin tail-pipes, and the fluid skinning is fresh too.

The Audi looks the most business-like with its crisp details and sharp lines, and the single-piece grille à la  the new Q7 has added much personality to the design. Each of the SUVs have their distinct daytime running LED signature but the Q3 goes one up on the others with its unique LED indicators that ‘swipe’ outwards in the direction of the turn. It’s a really cool and distinctive touch.
 

Inside lines

Having spent the better part of the day in these SUVs, we also get down to comparing notes about their respective cabins. We all seem to agree; the BMW has the most inviting cabin. The new X1 may be shorter than its predecessor and may sit on a shorter wheelbase too, but the higher roofline and, crucially, the move to a transverse engine layout have helped free up lots of space in the cabin. And the best place to experience this is in the back seat. There’s more than ample leg- and headroom in here, and the substantial cabin width also makes the X1 the most convincing five-seater. Rear seat comfort is also good and the option to adjust the backrest angle only helps find the ideal seating position.

The X1’s dashboard sticks to BMW’s template but it is smartly turned-out and thanks to the low cowl, also allows for a great view out. This xLine version’s 6.5-inch screen isn’t the largest (the Q3 has a 7-inch unit) but the infotainment system itself is the easiest to use and has the best interface. BMW has also nailed the ambient lighting with the orange hue giving the cabin the look of a cockpit at night. But the X1’s interiors are not perfect. Some plastics low down feel scratchy, the gear lever looks old-school and is also a touch too high and the front seats aren’t all that generous in size.

Neat dashboard is typical BMW fare. Orange ambient lighting is very well executed.

The Q3 has the nicer front seats and also has the edge in overall cabin quality. And it must be said, last year’s update that added silver accents to the cabin has also worked to jazz up the Q3’s otherwise simple dashboard. You sit at a nice height in the Q3, visibility is good and there’s also a useful screen in the instruments binnacle that relays navigation instructions so you don’t have to look too far away from the road to get sat-nav directions. The central screen on the dash (it can be folded away) displays all the infotainment options you’ll need but unfortunately, today, the interface doesn’t appear all that modern.

The Q3’s rear seat has its positives and negatives too. Positives include the well-judged cushioning, the good all-round support and the more than adequate legroom. On the flip side, there’s no centre armrest (a sore point given the seat is best for two) and headroom can be tight for taller passengers too.

Q3’s rear seat is comfy but is best for two.

That said, it’s the GLA’s cabin that feels ‘cozier’ still. To be fair, the Merc’s cabin is actually not bad on space but the small windows and relatively low seating position make it appear deceptively small. Of note is the Sport trim’s black and beige interior theme that makes its cabin feel that crucial bit airier than that of the Style version pictured here. In either case, rear seat occupants will have to manoeuvre themselves around the rear wheel arches to get into the cabin and will also have to contend with a short seat base.

The seats up front are a whole lot better but what works against the GLA is that it doesn’t give the feel of sitting in an SUV. Right from the rake of the windscreen to the somewhat restricted view out, the experience in the GLA’s cabin is more akin to that of being in a sedan than of being in an imposing SUV. If that’s not a concern for you, there’s plenty to like in the GLA. Quality levels are really good with fine detailing such as the double stitching on the seats and the chunky rotary air-con vents that operate with a rich heft. The dash is modern and interesting in layout too but as you’ve probably read here before, in our books, the look is spoiled by the small, 5.7-inch central screen that looks like an aftermarket add-on. Sadly, the screen is just average on functionality and the graphics are low-res as well.

GLA's low driving position least SUV-like.

The three cars offer plenty of space for small items in the cabin but do vary in boot capacity. The GLA not only has the smallest boot but frustratingly, also comes with its space saver spare tyre placed on the boot floor which further restricts luggage room. The Q3 and X1 come with dedicated recesses under the boot floor for their spare wheels but talking purely of luggage room, it’s the X1 that offers the most space. Interestingly, the X1 is also the only model here with a 40:20:40 rear backrest split (the others split 60:40), electric rear seat fold and uniquely, even gives the option to slide the rear seat forward by 130mm to create more space. 

Load up

For the money their respective carmakers want for them, these cars had better be well equipped. Common to the three are paddle shifters, selectable drive modes, auto headlights and wipers, leather seats, electric front seat adjust and panoramic sunroofs. But when we compare the list of most wanted features, it’s the X1 xLine that offers the most. The Bimmer comes with launch control, push-button start and rear seat recline but shockingly, doesn’t feature a reverse camera. The X1 xLine doesn’t come with sat-nav either though you would get quite a few additional goodies if you can stretch your budget to the top-of-the-line M Sport (see table). The Audi is quite well equipped too but the Navigation package costs a substantial Rs 2.75 lakh and pushes the Q3’s price well beyond the Rs 40 lakh mark. On the other hand, the Merc misses out on rear air-con vents and also does without auto climate control, both essential features.

The verdict’s in

With the last of the photography done with, it’s time to head back home. And while at it, I think of the SUV I’d like to have in my driveway. So, here goes. It’s the GLA that gets voted out first. The Merc, for all its superstar looks and stylish cabin, doesn’t hit the spot as an everyday car. The ride is crashy, its engine is noisy and the cabin feels quite compact. That it’s also down on power, doesn’t get all-wheel drive and frankly doesn’t give the feel of an SUV only weakens its case further. To be honest, the GLA works best as an addition to the garage or perhaps even as a car reserved for special occasions.

If you want an SUV that is suited to the everyday commute and also game for some fun behind the wheel, the choice is really between the Q3 and the X1. Both drive well, both have some level of off-road ability and both have cabins that are user-friendly and easy to live with. Where the X1 edges past the Q3 as the more exciting car to drive, the Audi fights back with its better ride quality. It’s safe to say that you’ll be happy with either model.

But when you factor in the X1’s larger cabin, the balance starts to shift in the Bimmer’s favour. That crucial bit more space actually counts for a lot because it adds another facet to the X1. Thanks to the roomier cabin, it’s easy to think of the X1 as a chauffeur-driven car which is not something you can say about the Q3 that is meant to be and works best as an owner-driven car. And in the final analysis, it’s the extra practicality and versatility, crucial requirements for any SUV, that wins it for the X1. So, is the X1 the best compact luxury SUV you can buy? Yes, but just about.