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Check out the pros and cons

The X3 has been in India for more than a year, but didn’t have a diesel option for most of this time. But ever since the launch of the X3 diesel, the sales of the car have grown considerably. The newly introduced Q5 is more expensive, but Audi hopes the extra equipment offered will offset the higher price. The Q5 is new and is the X3’s only competition at present. Though both cars have high-powered petrol options on offer, we test the more relevant BMW X3 2.0 diesel and the Audi Q5 3.0 TDi to find out which one would be the best to take home. For the size, both seem overpriced, and maybe not exactly what your ego demands, but still are great cars to own and drive.

Both are based on car platforms — the new A4’s modular chassis for the Q5 and the previous-generation E46 3-series chassis for the X3. Both cars have no ladder frame chassis or dedicated four-wheel-drive transfer cases with steel springs and are fully independent suspension layouts which are designed to carve corners rather than rumble over rocks.

Part of the reason they snap at sports cars’ heels on mountain roads is because they both come with full-time four-wheel-drive systems (which, as a default, distribute power with a 60 per cent rear bias) and stiff chassis. The only hints of their off-roading capabilities are their hill descent control and an off-road ESP setting, not to mention decent ground clearance.

The technology these cars have does little to impress owners who feel the urge to run into the wild. The Q5 does have an option of adjustable damper control and variable-ratio steering in other markets, but Audi isn’t offering it in India as yet.

The Q5 is longer, wider and has a longer wheelbase than the BMW. The Q5 looks a lot brawnier too with its wider stance and the higher bonnet. Perceived size matters and with these two important features Audi gains a crucial victory. The Q5 also has the bigger boot. Despite being compact, both tip the scales on the wrong side of 1.5 tonnes. The Q5 weighs 1,865kg while the BMW is a mere 40kg lighter. From the moment you get your hands on the nicely sculpted wheel of the Q5, you know the Audi beats BMW’s cabin by a considerable margin. The dashboard design is lot more interesting and looks like an aircraft cabin at night with the red backlit buttons. Barring a few bits of patchy plastic, it is a cabin high on quality and has an expensive feel. It’s also well-specced — you get a reverse camera, a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, Audi’s MMI system and fully powered seats with seat memory. However, we didn’t like the optional panoramic sunroof — good as it is on a full moon night, it is the reason behind the car turning into an oven when parked. The air-con takes longer to cool the cabin too.

That said, the cabin is impressively spacious, with plenty of legroom and headroom for four adults, five at a push (the high and wide centre tunnel means the rear centre passenger has to sit with his legs splayed). The rear seats are comfortable and ensure less complains from rear passengers on longer journeys. The deep 540-litre load bay is big and the boot has a useful selection of hooks, power sockets and fastenings to keep baggage tied down firmly. The seats are more comfy than the BMW’s and the cushioning is almost perfect. However, people of bigger build might find the Audi’s seat contours a bit narrow.

In contrast, the BMW’s seats are wider and have better under-thigh support, especially at the rear. Again, the centre tunnel means the car is most comfortable as a four-seater. The seating position is almost-perfect. We couldn’t fault the build quality of the X3’s interiors. However, the dashboard design is not eye-catchy. Fit and finish may be a notch above the Audi’s and the switches may work with more feel, but the car’s hard, shiny finish of the centre console is not impressive. The controls work with reassuring solidity but we found the buttons on the centre console a tad too small.

The Q5’s 3.0-litre V6 is the same as that of the Q7 and the X3’s 2.0-litre in-line four is from BMW 320d. The Q5’s 240bhp engine is powerful and quiet, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. It’s the first time this seven-speed twin-clutcher has been fitted to a longitudinal engine and it’s as clinically efficient, if a little slow to kick-down. For a vehicle of its size, the Q5 is blisteringly fast. Flat-out, its 63bhp advantage and considerably shorter gearing will leave the X3 coughing dust. It gets to 100kph a full 1.6 seconds faster than the X3.

Which isn’t to say that the X3’s lacks performance because it takes just 9.2 seconds to 100kph and touches 205kph flat-out. In town, both engines are well-suited to take on traffic wars. However, the BMW’s six-speed auto has none of that annoying delay in kick-down that the Q5 has, making it easier to slot into gaps.

Out on the highway, the Audi has a clear advantage. The extra power helps in overtaking, and it is easier to maintain higher cruising speeds. Its tall seventh gear means the engine is spinning at a lazy 1600rpm at 100kph. At idle, it’s almost impossible to tell if the V6 is alive. The engine is smooth, refined and a lot more relaxed than the BMW’s relatively thrummy four-cylinder unit.

The Q5 turns with little body roll and changes direction without protest and there’s fantastic grip from the four-wheel-drive system. The X3 handles in ways a BMW should. Grip is outstanding from the Pirelli Scorpion tyres, and the X3’s hydraulic steering rack is accurate and confidence-inspiring, especially at high speed.

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