With both the vehicles being launched recently, it is but natural that there would be a tussle ahead as to which is the better automobile out there. However, going off-path from our usual comparisons wherein we usually compare vehicles extensively, this time around, we have got just about the basics and details to help make a quick comparison. So, here’s presenting the 2011 Audi Q5 in India and the 2011 BMW X3 in India.
For starters, external looks is what would matter to someone who has actually got the moolah to buy anyone of this cars. As for the external looks, both the cars cannot be called as beauty pageant winners. However, peer closely and the Q5 starts to make more sense in the looks rather than the X3. The X3, somehow, doesn’t look as spacious as the Q5. This inspite of the X3 being some mm more than that of the Q5. The build quality is something which one cannot question from both these marquees.
If it’s the weirdly shaped thing which excites you, then the X3 makes sense while if its the more sensible design, then the Q5 is the one for you.
Inside the cars, the presence of many features inside the cabin is what would excite the buyers in this class. Both the cars boast of having high levels of safety kit as also creature comforts. Panoramic sunroofs, electrically controlled everything and also multimedia systems on both the vehicles ensure that their owners as also passengers would be treated to the highest levels of comfort. The Q5 gets a rear bench which is more comfortable than the X3 while the latter boasts of having a better head room. Cargo space for both is similar. The only feature which the X3 can triumphantly say that it has and the Q5 doesn’t is the start stop system.
The X3 with its dark interiors wins this round while the Audi is just a wee bit behind. Attention to detail in both the vehicles is very good though.
In the Dynamics department, the X3 is one hell of a tough fighter. Featuring all wheel drive configuration, this Bimmer definitely can teach a tale or two to the all wheel drive configured Audi. The X3 is easily the more chuckable option here while the Q5 feels a bit lazy. As for the ride quality, the 2011 BMW X3 in India does away with the stiff ride quality of its predecessor and brings in a somewhat pliant ride quality. Infact the Q5 is the one which doesn’t take a liking to the Indian roads.
The BMW is the one to prefer with its new configuration and chassis development.
Both the SUVs in this segment boast of having petrol and diesel engines under their hood. A choice of 3.0 liter and 2.0 liter motors is what both offer with the Q5 boasting of having a turbo petrol as well. The diesel variants would sell the more, given the current scenario in fuel prices and we felt that the 2.0 liter diesel in the 2011 BMW X3 is the one which gets the job done better than the 2.0 liter unit in the 2011 Audi Q5. In the meanwhile, the turbo petrol in the Audi Q5 is far better than the twinscroll one in the BMW. More or less, both these cars should give an average of about 10 kmpl on a liter of crude or even diesel. Pricewise, there is a difference of a couple of lakhs between both these SUVs. The 2011 BMW X3 price in India starts from Rs 42 lakhs while the 2011 Audi Q5 price in India starts from a lowly Rs 37 lakhs. All these prices are ex-show room, Mumbai.
In the end, for the sporty image and also the addition of driving pleasure, we would prefer the 2011 BMW X3 and that is only if a couple of lakhs don’t matter much.
