Compare the2024 BMW X5VS 2024 Mercedes GLC

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 X5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLC doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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.

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 and available all wheel drive.

The BMW X5 weighs 642 to 1406 pounds more than the Mercedes GLC. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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, 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.

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 BMW X5 xDrive50e’s reliability 36 points higher than the GLC and the BMW X5 is rated 65 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 20 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The X5 s/xDrive40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (398 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The X5 xDrive50e’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 228 more horsepower (483 vs. 255) and 221 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The X5 M60i xDrive’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 268 more horsepower (523 vs. 255) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the X5 M60i xDrive 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

The X550e xDrive can travel with zero emissions for 40 miles. The GLC can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

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.

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

The X5 stops shorter than the GLC:

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. F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20).

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 front and 40 series rear 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.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GLC doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 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 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5 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.

The X5 offers an available 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 X5 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLC doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLC.

The front grille of the X5 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X5 has 2.7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The X5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 21.9 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. 56.3 cubic feet).

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

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.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (5952 vs. 5291 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLC is only 5291 pounds. The X5 offers up to a 7209 lbs. towing capacity.

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 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.

The X5’s Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® chose the BMW X5 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLC isn't recommended.

The BMW X5 outsold the Mercedes GLC by 80% during 2023.