Samir Kale is yet another professional on the run for whom the duties of a chauffeur are essential. His priorities are rear seat legroom and underthigh support, apart from no-nonsense mechanicals and after-sales service. With his last-gen Corolla doing  sterling duty, he's now looking for a car in the Rs 20-22 lakh bracket as a replacement in the coming months. So when the BMW and Fortuner turned up, he was more than surprised by what the BMW had to offer. For one, he liked the overall handling, refinement and the quality of interior materials. While he appreciated the fact that the car runs on diesel, he was quick to add that a petrol Corporate Edition should be made available (are you listening, BMW?). But after a quick spin his attention was drawn to the rear seat and somehow the overall room at the rear fell a bit short of his expectations. His experience in the Fortuner next did give him some relief in terms of room, but he found the overall refinement and build quality a bit disappointing. He did find the seven seats a boon, but a bit impractical for his use.

So what would he choose? Actually, neither. He wasn't happy with the overall comfort levels of either and ended up feeling that a Skoda Superb would suit him best, given his requirements. So in the end, the two walked back home with a point each, but all three did feel that the BMW is a strong contender for anyone in the market looking for a vehicle in that price range. You could say that the round has yet another winner on its hands.