BMW X5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC vs Volvo XC90 (2026)
The classic luxury suv shortlist, settled with numbers (October 2026):
- Pick the BMW X5 if you want the biggest boot (645 L).
- Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you want the lowest starting price (₹77.00 Lakh), the most power (415 bhp).
- Pick the Volvo XC90 if you want the most seats (7).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
BMW X5 in short
The X5 is BMW's large luxury SUV for India, facelifted in 2023 and priced ₹96.90 lakh to ₹1.12 crore across four variants — six-cylinder petrol (40i) and diesel (30d), each in xLine and M Sport trims. Every variant is a 3.0L six with xDrive, and the 645-litre boot leads the class. Local assembly keeps it under the Mercedes-Benz GLE's ₹1.00 crore entry. The GLE and Audi Q7 are its rivals; the Q7 counters with seven seats.
Full X5 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
X5 vs GLC vs XC90 — which should I buy?
Pick the BMW X5 if you want the biggest boot (645 L). Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you want the lowest starting price (₹77.00 Lakh), the most power (415 bhp). Pick the Volvo XC90 if you want the most seats (7). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among X5, GLC, XC90?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC starts lowest at ₹77.00 Lakh, against ₹96.90 Lakh for the X5 and ₹98.80 Lakh for the XC90 (ex-showroom, October 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
BMW X5: not yet NCAP-tested; Mercedes-Benz GLC: not yet NCAP-tested; Volvo XC90: not yet NCAP-tested.