The Perennial Battle Between the Mind and the Heart

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to jet off to Munich, then cruise to Andermatt in Switzerland. Awaiting me was the thrill of a test drive in the jaw-dropping Bentley Continental GT Speed. But first, a quick call to my pals at BMW ensured I got my hands on the BMW X5 M Competition, delivered in a shockingly vibrant green that had no right to look as good as it did on a hulking SUV.

Let me tell you, the more I unleashed this 4.4-litre V8 beast, complete with an impressive 650-litre boot and five proper seats, the more I wondered why BMW waved goodbye to it in India. In terms of power, it leaves the Audi RS Q8, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, and Range Rover SE Petrol in the dust, proudly flaunting the largest boot space. And talk about value! It’s priced at just half of what you’d shell out for a Range Rover SV or a G-Wagen, yet it serves up more horsepower, torque, and engine might. Looks? Absolutely monstrous (subjective!), but in the best way possible. Comfortable seating makes it perfect for long road trips, and its sportscar-like performance zips from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.8 seconds, despite its almost 2.5-tonne weight. Sure, it might not sell in droves because, without the Competition badge, it comes in at a crore-plus—a tough sell next to a similar model for half the price for inexplicable reasons. But for a globe-trotting adventure? Just spectacular, as long as you don’t mind it gulping fuel like a thirsty camel when you let its ‘Competition’ spirit rip.

A few weeks later, I found myself in the vibrant streets of Barcelona and on the Circuit Parcmotor Castellolí racetrack, itching to take the 2025 Audi RS Q8 Performance for a spin. Now, it is even more powerful with a hybrid engine and features a few cosmetic grille tweaks and less insulation for that raw cabin roar. It’s intriguing how everyone knows that Audi RS Q8 and Lamborghini Urus share the same Evo MLB platform, delivering almost identical power punch. However, the Urus’ tuning and exhaust provide a distinctive edge. But if you’re a rational thrill-seeker, the RS Q8 Performance makes far more practical sense.

Nevertheless, comes the almighty badge factor. Even if the RS Q8 offers almost 90-95% of the same excitement and specs for half the price of the Urus, still the takers are far less. A wise man knows when pitted against the raging bull, the three rings look faded despite being similar in almost all aspects. The mind gets it, while the heart grapples with logic, but at the end, gets run over by the bull! Such is the ironic dance of life. Enjoy the issue!