Compare the2023 BMW X5VS 2022 Mercedes GLC

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

Safety

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The BMW X5 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.

The X5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GLC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

Both the X5 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The BMW X5 weighs 937 to 1479 pounds more than the Mercedes GLC. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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, results indicate that the BMW X5 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	X5	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	279 lbs.	409 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	134
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	584 lbs.	784 lbs.

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

Warranty

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The GLC isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

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

The X5 40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (335 vs. 255) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 M50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 268 more horsepower (523 vs. 255) and 280 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X5 40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

	X5	GLC
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.5 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X5 has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (21.9 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X5’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

For better stopping power the X5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

	X5 xDrive40i	X5 M Sport	GLC
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	13.5 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.6 inches

The X5 stops shorter than the GLC:

	X5	GLC
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	131 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the GLC (265/50R19 vs. 235/60R18). The X5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The X5’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. The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the GLC’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLC. The X5’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC.

Suspension and Handling

The X5 M50i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The GLC doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 M50i offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the GLC.

The X5 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The GLC’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the GLC (117.1 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 2.4 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLC.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.2% to 49.8%) than the GLC’s (53% to 47%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

The X5 xDrive handles at .84 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X5 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (25.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a 3.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (8.7 vs. 5 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The X5 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the GLC can only carry 5.

The X5 has 2.9 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The front step up height for the X5 is .5 inches lower than the GLC (19.5” vs. 20”). The X5’s rear step up height is 2.5 inches lower than the GLC’s (20” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

The X5’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in almost every dimension:

	X5	GLC
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40.7”/70”	36.6”/61.3”
Max Width	49”	49.4”
Min Width	44”	43.3”
Height	31.5”	31.1”

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The GLC’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (5952 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLC is only 3500 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the GLC.

The X5 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the GLC is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X5 is less expensive to operate than the GLC because it costs $9 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the X5 than the GLC, including $91 less for a water pump, $27 less for front brake pads and $11 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X5 and the Mercedes GLC, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW X5 outsold the Mercedes GLC by 6% during the 2021 model year.

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