Compare the2022 Mercedes GLCVS 2022 BMW X2

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X2 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The GLC’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The X2 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X2 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The GLC has standard NECK-PRO front head restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the NECK-PRO front head restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X2 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 5 points, IIHS rates the Active Brake Assist optional in the GLC as “Superior.” The X2 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The GLC offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The X2 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The GLC has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the X2’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLC has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the X2.

The GLC’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The X2 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLC and the X2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 lane departure warning systems.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GLC the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X2 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 9 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLC’s warranty.

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 GLC’s reliability 21 points higher than the X2.

Engine

The GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 more horsepower (255 vs. 228) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the X2’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mercedes GLC is faster than the BMW X2 2.0:

	GLC	X2
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.3 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.6 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The GLC has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X2 (17.4 vs. 16.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X2.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLC’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the X2:

	GLC	X2
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	11.8 inches

The GLC stops much shorter than the X2:

	GLC	X2
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the X2 (235/60R18 vs. 225/50R18). The GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X2 (255/45R20 vs. 225/50R18).

Suspension and Handling

The GLC’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X2 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 8 inches longer than on the X2 (113.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X2.

The GLC’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the X2’s (57.2% to 42.8%). This gives the GLC more stable handling and braking.

The GLC 300 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X2 xDrive28i (26.6 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the GLC uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X2 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The GLC has .5 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the X2.

Cargo Capacity

The GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X2 with its rear seat folded (56.5 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLC easier. The GLC’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.8 inches, while the X2’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

The GLC’s cargo area is larger than the X2’s in almost every dimension:

	GLC	X2
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	36.6”/61.3”	30.6”/63”
Max Width	49.4”	48”
Min Width	43.3”	39.6”
Height	31.1”	28”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLC’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The X2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLC has a 3500 lbs. towing capacity. The X2 has no towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLC uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X2 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLC is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the X2. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Mercedes service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, BMW is ranked 8th.

Ergonomics

The GLC has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X2 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X2, the GLC offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLC’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the GLC to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X2 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GLC’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the X2’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The X2’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLC’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLC has standard extendable sun visors. The X2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GLC has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the X2. The GLC also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the X2.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GLC keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X2 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The GLC offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X2 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The X2’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

and e Mercedes GLC comes in four door bodystyles; the BMW X2 isn’t available as a .

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the GLC owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GLC will cost $165 to $1940 less than the X2 over a five-year period.

The GLC will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GLC will retain 51.03% to 51.13% of its original price after five years, while the X2 only retains 46.45% to 48.62%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mercedes GLC, based on reliability, safety and performance. The BMW X2 isn't recommended.

Motor Trend selected the GLC as their 2017 Sport Utility of the Year. The X2 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes GLC outsold the BMW X2 by almost 9 to one during the 2021 model year.