BMW X1
With great road presence, boxy design and a premium interior, the BMW X1 feels quite balanced. The road presence, when compared to a GLA, is far better, but again, the department of design is quite subjective. Even the boot carrying capacity of the X1 is something marginally better. In terms of features, it is quite loaded and comes with a continuously running screen, two-zone climate control, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof to name a few.
Available in two variants called the sDrive18i M Sport and sDrive18d M Sport, the carmaker is offering X1 with both petrol and diesel engines.
The catch is that the first is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine known for producing 134 horsepower and 230Nm of peak torque while being paired to a 7-speed Steptronic gearbox. On the other hand, it is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine which is better with an overall output rated at 148 horsepower and 360Nm while being paired to the same gearbox mentioned above.
The performance, however, is better on the diesel variant, making the SUV clock a triple-digit speed in just 8.9 seconds when compared to the petrol counterpart’s 9.2 seconds. An all-wheel-drive system is something one will miss on the new X1.
Safety features on the X1 are also promising, and that’s all about the X1. Now, let’s move to the GLA and find more about it.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
The design of the new GLA is more inclined towards a crossover silhouette rather than something more SUV-ish. Still, the entry-level SUV from Mercedes manages to attract a lot of attention on the road because of its overall dimensions. Feature-wise, it is kind of loaded and packs almost every modern feature that any luxury SUV will bring in today’s world. However, when compared to the X1, this one gets a 360-degree camera, giving it an edge over the BMW rival.
Mercedes-Benz has decided to offer GLA in three variants. To be precise, these are 200, 220d 4MATIC and 220d 4MATIC AMG Line.
The 2024 GLA is a lot better when it comes to performance, all thanks to a 1332cc four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 160.92 horsepower and 270Nm of peak torque. This power unit is currently available with a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Then, there’s a performance-packed 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine known for propelling 190 horsepower and 400Nm. It is paired with an 8-speed DCT gearbox for a smoother transmission experience.
The interesting part about the GLA is that it comes with an all-wheel drive system with the diesel setup as standard. Meanwhile, the X1 still misses on an all-wheel drive setup.
On the safety front, GLA packs ABS, Blind Spot Monitor, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Brake Assist, etc among others.
Verdict
Of course, choices are always subjective, and they may vary from person to person. But here, if you are fond of a boxy design, luxurious cabin, refined engine and an SUV-ish kind of silhouette, then X1 is the correct choice. And, if performance and luxury make more sense to you, Mercedes-Benz GLA brings a lot more. The best part about the duo is that both of them are currently available in petrol and diesel guise.