Compare the2024 BMW X3VS 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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X3 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 X3 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 X3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLC doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X3’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X3’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 X3 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	X3	GLC
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	120
Neck Injury Risk	21%	23%
Neck Compression	64 lbs.	87 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	116/280 lbs.	378/445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	72 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 X3 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	X3	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	69
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	409 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	134
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	46 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	624 lbs.	787 lbs.

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

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, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 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.

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 X3’s reliability 30 points higher than the GLC.

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.

Engine

The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 127 more horsepower (382 vs. 255) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

	X3	GLC
Zero to 60 MPH	6.7 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.1 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 sDrive30i gets better fuel mileage than the GLC 300 RWD (23 city/29 hwy vs. 22 city/27 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

The X3 M40i’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 X3 M40i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

	X3 M40i	GLC
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	13.5 inches
Rear Rotors	13.5 inches	12.6 inches

The X3 stops much shorter than the GLC:

	X3	GLC
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the GLC (245/50R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The X3’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 X3’s optional 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the GLC’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLC. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC.

Suspension and Handling

The X3 offers an optional 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.

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the GLC’s (53% to 47%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive 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 X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 has a 3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (8 vs. 5 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The X3 has 2.9 inches more front headroom and .3 inches more front shoulder room than the GLC.

The front step up height for the X3 is 1.5 inches lower than the GLC (18.5” vs. 20”). The X3’s rear step up height is 4 inches lower than the GLC’s (18.5” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X3 with a number “5” insurance rate while the GLC is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X3 is less expensive to operate than the GLC because typical repairs cost less on the X3 than the GLC, including $98 less for front brake pads and $7 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLC isn't recommended.

The BMW X3 outsold the Mercedes GLC by 268 units during 2022.

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