Compare the2022 BMW X1VS 2021 Mercedes GLC

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/04

The BMW X1 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X1’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X1’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

Both the X1 and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X1 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	X1	GLC
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	68 lbs.	115 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X1 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	X1	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	637 lbs.	784 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	40 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The X1’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X1 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X1’s reliability 16 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 20th in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X1 is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

	X1	GLC
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	6.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X1 gets better mileage than the GLC:

			MPG
X1
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
GLC
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X1’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X1 higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLC (6). This means the X1 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLC every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The X1’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLC doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The X1 stops shorter than the GLC:

	X1	GLC
60 to 0 MPH	122 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The X1’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s standard 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X1 xDrive28i handles at .85 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X1 xDrive28i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the X1’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GLC’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the X1 has a 2.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (7.2 vs. 5 inches), allowing the X1 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The BMW X1 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Mercedes GLC.

The X1 is 7.8 inches shorter than the GLC, making the X1 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the BMW X1 amounts to more than styling. The X1 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the GLC (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the X1 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The X1 has 4.1 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more rear headroom than the GLC.

The front step up height for the X1 is 3 inches lower than the GLC (17” vs. 20”). The X1’s rear step up height is 5.2 inches lower than the GLC’s (17.3” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The X1 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (27.1 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The X1 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (58.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

The X1’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in almost every dimension:

	X1	GLC
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	35.1”/69”	36.6”/61.3”
Max Width	51.5”	49.4”
Min Width	39.5”	43.3”
Height	33”	31.1”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X1 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the X1 will cost $110 to $495 less than the GLC over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X1 is less expensive to operate than the GLC because it costs $282 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the X1 than the GLC, including $70 less for a water pump, $101 less for front brake pads, $2 less for fuel injection, $60 less for front struts and $46 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW X1 will be $5249 to $5401 less than for the Mercedes GLC.

Recommendations

The X1 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 5 years. The GLC has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.