Compare the2023 Mercedes GLBVS 2023 BMW X2

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLB 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 its rear seat belts.

The GLB’s optional 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 GLB 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 GLB 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 GLB 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.

The GLB’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 GLB and the X2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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.

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

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

The GLB offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The X2 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The GLB stops much shorter than the X2:

For better traction, the GLB has larger tires than the X2 (235/55R18 vs. 225/50R18).

The GLB’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 GLB’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the X2 (111.4 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLB is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X2.

For greater off-road capability the GLB has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X2 (7.9 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the GLB to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GLB offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X2 can only carry 5.

The GLB has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the X2.

The GLB’s cargo area provides more volume than the X2.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLB easier. The GLB’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.5 inches, while the X2’s liftover is 30.6 inches.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GLB’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The X2 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The GLB 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 GLB has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLB’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X2 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The X2’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLB’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.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GLB 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 GLB offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X2.

The GLB 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 GLB’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The X2’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Insurance will cost less for the GLB owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the GLB will cost $680 to $2990 less than the X2 over a five-year period.

The Mercedes GLB outsold the BMW X2 by over five to one during the 2022 model year.