The classy vs the rugged

Trouble with diesel engines has meant that luxury cars, including SUVS, are turning to petrol. The Merc GLC and Land Rover Discovery Sport are two new cases. With this shootout, we make your choice easier

Therearetwogoodreasonswhy SUVS tend to have diesel engines. One is that filling petrol into a heavy, four-wheeldrive SUV is like hara-kiri for yourwallet.andtwo,theextra pulling power inherent to diesel motors is ideal for moving a bulky SUV.

But, due to diesels getting a bad rap of late, we have two new petrol SUVS – the Landroverdiscoverysport2.0si4andthe Mercedes-benz GLC 300 4Matic.

Thesearebothmodern,direct-injection turbocharged four-cylinder motors, and arepairedwithhigh-technine-speedautomatic gearboxes, so the running costs mightnotbeasbadasyoufeared.plus,both ofthemhavesufficientpullingpowertolug aroundroughly1.9tonnesofweight.wepit themagainsteachothertomakeyourdecision easier.

FORK IN THE ROAD

Lookswise,thediscoverysportistypically Land Rover, every inch of its bodywork screamingruggedoff-roader.meanwhile, the GLC looks like a modern Mercedes. Also, that big star on the nose and 18-inch alloy wheels give it quite a sporty look.

Theglc’sinterioriseasilythemostluxuriousinthesegment.athickslabofglossy wood makes up the centre console with rich,knurledmetalbuttonsmakingupthe switchgear. As ever, Merc’s free-standing COMAND screen is a sore point on an otherwise beautiful dash. On the other hand, everysurfaceinthediscoverysportlooks hardy, like it can stand the test of time. Unlikethemercthough,thedesignismore straightforward and functional.

CHAIR LEADERS

Where the Discovery Sport has a low-set dash and windows that offers superb visibility,theglchasatalldashandhighwindowsillsthatmakeyoufeelcocooned,like in a sports sedan. However, both drivers’ seatsofferawiderangeofadjustments,letting you go from a low-set driver-centric position,toatall,commandingpositionas some would prefer in an SUV. The Land Rover’sslimmerchairshavegoodcushioningthatwillkeepyoucomfyonlongdrives. But it’s the Merc’s bigger, more luxurious front seats that feel better.

Both cars get features such as parking sensors,areversingcamera,electricfront seats,adual-zoneclimatecontrolandsunroofs. While the Land Rover gets navigation, the Merc gets an electrically adjustable steering column. As for the infotainment systems, the Disco gets JLR’S Incontrol touchscreen, which functions quite well. Merc’s COMAND screen looks classier, but it isn’t very intuitive.

The Land Rover is the rugged one, and comes with ‘Terrain Response’ drive modes for various traction conditions. It alsogetsanecobuttontohelpyousavefuel. The Merc, meanwhile, gets five different drivemodesandaseparateoff-roadingprogrammewiththreedifferentsettings,soit’s not exactly a soft roader.

Comingtothesecondrow,thediscovery Sport lets you slide the 40:20:40 split-foldablebenchbackandforth.however,itsslim seats feel a touch firm. The GLC has more luxurious seats, but only gets a 60:40 split thatfoldsdownatthepushofabuttonifyou wanttoextendtheluggagearea.bothcars offermorethanenoughheadroomandlegroom,butthediscoverysporthastheflatter floor, making life for a third passenger much easier.

PET ROLES

Thediscoveryfiresuptoaverysmoothand refined idle. Get going and the revs build quickly, but then so does the noise. It’s not as harsh as a diesel, but it isn’t what you expectfromapetroleither.youalsogetabit of turbo lag, but that’s made up for by a strong punch when the engine comes on song at just under 2,000rpm. The gearbox feels a little jerky and indecisive at low speeds,butitisn’tabothersolongasyou’re smooth with the throttle.

The GLC’S engine and gearbox work reallywelltogether,givingyousmoothand seamlessacceleration.it’snotaspunchyas thediscovery’sengine,butmostwillprefer therefinedandlinearwaythiscardelivers itspower;youoftenhavetoglancedownat the speedo to realise how fast you’re actually going.

ROUND THE BEND

Despite the word Sport in its name, this Landroverisnotfortheenthusiast.it’sstable and predictable, but doesn’t like being hustled.thesteeringisabitheavy,butnot to the point that it’s difficult to park. The GLC’S quicker and sharper steering eggs youtopushthesuvintocorners.thesuspensionthough,issoft,whichsadlytranslates to immense body-roll around bends.

So,whilethediscoverysportisn’tfunto corner hard, it is at least predictable and rolls less. Its immense stability at threedigitspeedsletsyouchewuplonghighway milescomfortably.thefirmnessintheride can be felt when going over rough patches though,withthestiffbodymovingaround asyoucrossthem.ultimatelythough,customersarelikelytopreferthemerc’smore comfort-oriented ride.

CONCLUSION

Finally, it all comes down to preference. These SUVS are quite closely matched despite being so different. The Discovery Sport is the more practical choice, with its goodvisibility,flexibleseatingandgreater bootspaceasafive-seater.ithasalsogotthe punchierengineandbetterhighwaymanners,andtheruggedappeal.also,theland Rover will certainly be the better offroader.themercfeelssportierthough.it’s gotthebetterpowertrainandhasthecomfier seats. It’s more refined and its classy exterior will appeal to SUV buyers who don’t like things too rugged.

Overall, the Mercedes is the winner becauseitmakesyoufeelmorespecial.the plush, high-quality cabin feels like what it should be in a car of this price. The Land Rover is not bad, but it doesn’t have that final degree of finesse. Factor in the ₹4.6 lakhpricedifferenceandthemerc’sseems an even better choice.