Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA vs MINI Countryman (2026)
The classic luxury suv shortlist, settled with numbers (October 2026):
- Pick the Audi Q3 if you want the lowest starting price (₹43.67 Lakh), the biggest boot (530 L).
- Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLA as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere.
- Pick the MINI Countryman if you want the most power (296 bhp).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
Audi Q3 in short
The Q3 is Audi's entry SUV in India and currently the cheapest German luxury SUV on sale, spanning ₹43.67–53.00 lakh across three variants — all with a 190 PS 2.0L TFSI petrol and quattro all-wheel drive standard, a combination no rival matches at this price. This is the 2022 second-generation car in its runout phase: the all-new third-generation Q3 launches in India on October 16, 2026. Rivals are the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Full Q3 prices & variants →Mercedes-Benz GLA in short
The GLA is the entry point to Mercedes-Benz SUV ownership in India, priced ₹51.80–55.00 lakh across three variants. The 2024 facelift carries a 163 PS 1.3L turbo-petrol (GLA 200) or a 190 PS 2.0L diesel with 4MATIC all-wheel drive (GLA 220d), both with dual-clutch automatics. It is the only car in its class to pair a diesel with AWD, and its 425-litre boot is usable for the footprint. Rivals are the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.
Full GLA prices & variants →MINI Countryman in short
The new-generation (U25) Countryman is MINI's five-seat SUV and, from 2026, locally assembled in India as a CKD — which is how the Countryman C Favoured lands at ₹47.50 lakh with a 156 PS 1.5L turbo-petrol. At the other end sits the ₹66.15 lakh JCW Countryman ALL4: a 300 hp 2.0L turbo with all-wheel drive, the fastest MINI on sale in India. It is the MINI you buy when the family vetoes the hatch, against the BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA.
Full Countryman prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q3 vs GLA vs Countryman — which should I buy?
Pick the Audi Q3 if you want the lowest starting price (₹43.67 Lakh), the biggest boot (530 L). Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLA as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere. Pick the MINI Countryman if you want the most power (296 bhp). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among Q3, GLA, Countryman?
The Audi Q3 starts lowest at ₹43.67 Lakh, against ₹47.50 Lakh for the Countryman and ₹51.80 Lakh for the GLA (ex-showroom, October 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Audi Q3: not yet NCAP-tested; Mercedes-Benz GLA: not yet NCAP-tested; MINI Countryman: not yet NCAP-tested.