Compare the2024 BMW X3 MVS 2022 Mercedes AMG GLC

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

Safety

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The BMW X3 M 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 AMG GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X3 M has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3 M 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 AMG 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.

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

The X3 M’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG GLC.

Both the X3 M and the AMG 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, 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 X3 M weighs 448 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG GLC. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	X3 M	AMG 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 M is safer than the Mercedes AMG GLC:

	X3 M	AMG 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 M its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG GLC has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 M for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG GLC.

Reliability

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 M’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 88 more horsepower (473 vs. 385) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (457 vs. 384) than the AMG GLC’s 3.0 turbo V6. The X3 M Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 118 more horsepower (503 vs. 385) and 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 384) than the AMG GLC’s 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

Transmission

The X3 M’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 AMG GLC doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3 M’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG GLC:

	X3 M	AMG GLC
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	14.2 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	12.6 inches

The X3 M stops shorter than the AMG GLC:

	X3 M	AMG GLC
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	109 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The X3 M’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the AMG GLC’s (54% to 46%). This gives the X3 M more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M Competition handles at .95 G’s, while the AMG GLC 43 pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the AMG GLC 43 (24.2 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .75 average G’s).

Passenger Space

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

Cargo Capacity

The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLC with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The X3 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLC with its rear seat folded (62.7 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

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

The X3 M’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The AMG GLC’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Recommendations

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

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