Compare the2024 BMW X6VS 2023 Mercedes GLC Coupe

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the X6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X6 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X6’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X6’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 Coupe.

Both the X6 and the GLC Coupe 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, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

The BMW X6 weighs 1034 to 1332 pounds more than the Mercedes GLC Coupe. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The X6’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC Coupe’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X6 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

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 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The X6 xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 125 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 273) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X6 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 268 more horsepower (523 vs. 255) and 280 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 273) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the X6 xDrive40i gets better fuel mileage than the GLC 300 Coupe (23 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X6 has 4.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC Coupe (21.9 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X6’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 Coupe doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC Coupe:

For better traction, the X6 has larger standard tires than the GLC Coupe (275/45R20 vs. 235/55R19). The X6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC Coupe (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20).

The X6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC Coupe’s standard 55 series tires. The X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the GLC Coupe’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X6 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the GLC Coupe. The X6’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC Coupe.

The X6 M60i 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 Coupe doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X6 M60i xDrive 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 Coupe.

The X6 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 Coupe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X6 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X6’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the GLC Coupe (117.1 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X6 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC Coupe.

The front grille of the X6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X6 has .4 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC Coupe.

The X6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat up (27.4 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The X6 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat folded (59.6 vs. 49.4 cubic feet).

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.

The X6 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC Coupe.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

The X6’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLC Coupe’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 second among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLC Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.