Buy Or Hold: Go For 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Or Wait For Upcoming Audi A4 Facelift, New 3 Series, New Volvo S60?

The launch of the C-Class facelift marks the beginning of a major overhaul of the entire luxury compact sedan segment in India, with three launches expected in 2019

Mercedes-Benz is set to launch the C-Class facelift in India on September 20. The C-Class’ traditional rivals in India and around the world are the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Other than the Germans, there’s a Brit and a Swede in the form of the Jaguar XE and Volvo S60 as well. While we do get the Lexus ES in India, which is on offer at around the same price as the C-Class in the US, it goes up against the E-Class, 5 Series and the A6 in the mid-size luxury segment in the subcontinent thanks to it being a CBU offering.

The compact luxury sedan segment is about to get a mega makeover on the whole. While you may have already read about what the C-Class facelift brings to the table (read it here if you haven’t), here’s what we expect from the competition.

Audi A4

Audi has already revealed the A4 facelift and if you think Mercedes-Benz has not done much in terms of reviving the exterior design of the C-Class with the update, you’re in for a disappointment with the Audi as well. The updated A4 gets minor changes to the front and rear bumpers and we hope it’ll be better equipped than the current version when it comes to India in 2019. Read this report to know more about the updated A4.

BMW 3 Series

The 3 Series is set to get a generation change soon and the new model is expected to be showcased in the first week of October at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. In terms of design, the camouflaged prototypes reveal that it could feature sleeker headlamps and a wider kidney grille wider similar to what BMW’s been offering with its newer models. Other than that, the design appears to be more of an evolution of the current version. We expect it be more luxurious with a good amount of convenience features thrown in as well. There will be an electric model. However, it won’t go on sale anytime soon. The GT body type, which is also on sale in India, will not be available with the next generation. We expect BMW to launch it in India in FY 2019-20.

Volvo S60

The new Volvo S60 promises to be the most exciting upcoming compact luxury sedan in the country. It looks like no other car in this category and that has to be its biggest draw. Volvo says that it won’t be packed with a diesel engine, but it remains to be seen whether that’s on a global level or for particular markets. Anyway, the S60 will have a hybrid version for those who prefer cars with a lower running cost. And since it’s a Volvo, we expect the equipment levels to be on par with what’s being offered in other markets, so expect it to pack a host of advanced driver assistance systems when it goes on sale in India sometime in 2019. Read more about it here.

So, should you go ahead and buy the C-Class facelift or wait for an upcoming model?

The new-gen Volvo S60 is one upcoming compact luxury car that you should wait for, if you can. It will be the car that will get noticed and given Volvo’s reputation of offering maximum tech at competitive prices, the S60 could give its rivals a run for their money on the value chart too.

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