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German war
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TESTDRIVE The BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4 are in India and each has it own special features. Which is the best? Read on to find out
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The BMW looks good, moves like a dream, has the best fuel efficiency and is the most powerful
The Mercedes C-class came to the Indian shores in 2001 and was given a facelift in 2004. Now a newer version of the car has been launched internationally but it won’t be here till 2008. German car manufacturers, Mercedes, BMW and Audi have been making what are probably the best cars in the world in a bid to outdo each other and as a result, we the consumers, get to experience their superb products. While Mercedes arrived in India in 2001, Audi came only in March 2006 and BMW arrived in 2007. The Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-class are the entry point for each brand and all three are diesel-powered. The battle between the three brands has been on for decades and now, they’ve got it down to India. While BMW and Mercedes will assemble the cars here, Audi will come here as a fully-assembled unit. We test the three to see which gets the upper hand.
Design and engineering
Being established international brands, these cars have a typical identity. The Audi has a heavier full-length Bulgarian beard while the BMW’s wide kidney-shaped grille gives it a sporty and light appearance, the Mercedes, unfortunately, looks a little outdated with its shrunken radiator-style grille.
Luxury tag Products of established international brands such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes, these cars have a typical identity
The Audi looked most attractive to us. Its crisp styling and clean lines make it an attractive car to look at. The difference between the three continues under the hood as well.
The Audi is a car that likes to be associated with practicality and in order to fit this profile, it is built on a platform whereby power is sent to the front wheels, but via a longitudinally-mounted engine. This is a departure from most front-wheel-drive cars, but is necessary to accommodate Audi’s Quattro or four-wheel-drive system on more powerful A4s.
The BMW prioritises great driving and uses aluminium suspension arms, a near 50:50 front rear weight distribution and an engine that is mounted so far back in the bonnet; this car could be designated as front/mid-engined.
Merc’s C-class is a more traditional rear driver and uses an effective and refined front and rear independent suspension.
Interiors
The three contenders come with the compact luxury tag, which is best felt when one takes a look inside the cars. The BMW is the king of class and has a two-tone multi-textured feel.
The dashboard, steering wheel and the rest of interiors feel good to be in and the materials used are of superior quality — the front seats being fully powered.
The instrument cluster on the Audi is also neat and clear and has white-on-black dials to provide the driver with the necessary information. The front seats are ergonomically spot-on, and they feel a half-size larger than any of the A4’s rivals.
However, the quality of the plastic and the rear seat comfort are not as good as the BMW. It does not feel as solidly built as the BMW.
The Mercedes’ interiors look better since the upgrade in 2004 but this car too lacks the solid build feel. Front seat and driver comfort are decent, but the seats are only partially powered, almost a cheap trick at this price.
Engine and performance
The Mercedes C-class and BMW use common-rail motors while the Audi uses one-fuel injection pump per cylinder, pumpe duse, which means that punch and responsiveness in the mid-range makes it feel punchy indeed.
However, owing to maximum power and torque and minimum body weight the BMW is the quickest car in the contest. The superb CDI motor still feels refined and smooth.
The Mercedes only comes with a five-speed gearbox while the Audi has a metal-belted Multitronic (CVT-type) gearbox and the BMW’s six-speed is surprisingly the slowest to react.
Fuel economy
Fuel economy on the BMW is the best; in fact this car is the fastest, makes the most power and delivers decent mileage. While the Mercedes delivered 11.25kpl overall, the Audi gives 11.5 and the BMW delivers 12.15kpl.
Verdict
The cars in this contest belong to compact luxury segment and need to fit and look it. The Audi has a great PD engine and Multitronic auto box but its interiors are tacky for a car that belongs to this class, especially when it rivals products by BMW and Mercedes. The Mercedes too is refined and does several things well. But it looks outdated and this takes away from its appeal. The BMW looks good, moves like a dream, has the best fuel efficiency and is the most powerful. Not surprisingly, BMW is the winner of this contest.
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Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
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Kochi
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Visakhapatnam
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