Compare the2025 BMW X5 MVS 2024 Mercedes AMG 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 M are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X5 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 X5 M’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 AMG GLC.

Both the X5 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 and driver alert monitors.

The BMW X5 M weighs 945 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG GLC. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The BMW X5 M has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The AMG GLC has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The X5 M’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

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 M’s 4.4 turbo V8 hybrid produces 201 more horsepower (617 vs. 416) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 369) than the AMG GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

For better traction, the X5 M has larger tires than the AMG GLC (F:295/35R21 & R:315/30R22 vs. F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20).

The X5 M’s 295/35R21 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLC 43’s 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The X5 M’s tires are lower profile than the AMG GLC 43’s optional 40 series front and 38 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 M has standard 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG GLC 43. The AMG GLC’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The X5 M has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG GLC; it requires you to depend on its optional run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The X5 M has 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 AMG GLC doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X5 M uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the AMG GLC, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The X5 M 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 AMG GLC.

The X5 M has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X5 M’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5 M’s wheelbase is 3.3 inches longer than on the AMG GLC (117 inches vs. 113.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X5 M is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG GLC.

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

The X5 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLC with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The X5 M has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLC with its rear seat folded (72.3 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X5 M to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X5 M has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG GLC.

The X5 M offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the AMG GLC.

The X5 M’s Parking Assistant Professional 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 AMG GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

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