Audi Q7 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC vs Volvo XC90 (2026)
The classic luxury suv shortlist, settled with numbers (October 2026):
- Pick the Audi Q7 if you want the most seats (7).
- Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you want the lowest starting price (₹77.00 Lakh), the most power (415 bhp).
- Pick the Volvo XC90 as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere.
Three-Way Specification Comparison
Audi Q7 in short
The Q7 is Audi's large SUV in India and the value seven-seater of the German luxury class: ₹87.17 lakh (Premium Plus) to ₹96.15 lakh (Technology) for a 340 PS 3.0L V6 petrol with quattro, refreshed in late 2024. That entry price is ₹10 lakh under the five-seat BMW X5 and ₹13 lakh under the Mercedes-Benz GLE — while seating seven. For three-row German luxury, the alternatives (Mercedes GLS, BMW X7) start above ₹1.3 crore.
Full Q7 prices & variants →Mercedes-Benz GLC in short
The GLC is Mercedes-Benz India's best-selling SUV, and its formula is straightforward: petrol and diesel at the same ₹77.00 lakh price, 4MATIC all-wheel drive standard, and a 620-litre boot that beats most SUVs a class above. The AMG GLC 43 Coupé at ₹99.85 lakh adds a 421 PS performance flagship to the range. It fights the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 in the heart of the luxury SUV market.
Full GLC prices & variants →Volvo XC90 in short
The XC90 is Volvo's seven-seat flagship, sold in India in its 2025-facelift form as a single fully-loaded variant: the B5 AWD Ultra at ₹98.80 lakh, powered by a 250 hp 2.0L mild-hybrid petrol. That one-variant strategy makes it the only sub-₹1-crore seven-seat flagship from a European luxury brand — the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7 both start well above. Volvo's safety-first engineering is the brand's calling card, and the electric EX90 flagship is slated to join it in India with a launch set for October 12.
Full XC90 prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q7 vs GLC vs XC90 — which should I buy?
Pick the Audi Q7 if you want the most seats (7). Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you want the lowest starting price (₹77.00 Lakh), the most power (415 bhp). Pick the Volvo XC90 as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere. Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among Q7, GLC, XC90?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC starts lowest at ₹77.00 Lakh, against ₹87.17 Lakh for the Q7 and ₹98.80 Lakh for the XC90 (ex-showroom, October 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Audi Q7: not yet NCAP-tested; Mercedes-Benz GLC: not yet NCAP-tested; Volvo XC90: not yet NCAP-tested.