Compare the2025 Mercedes GLEVS 2024 BMW X3 M

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X3 M doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 M doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 GLE are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 M doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GLE has a standard Maneuvering Assistant that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The X3 M doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the GLE and X3 M have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLE has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3 M’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GLE and the X3 M have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, 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 lane departure warning systems.

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

	GLE	X3 M
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	102
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	38%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	139 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	72 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 Mercedes GLE is safer than the BMW X3 M:

	GLE	X3 M
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	64
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	153 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	133
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	677 lbs.	794 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	264	281
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	624 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 10 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

Engine

The GLE 580’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 7 more horsepower (510 vs. 503) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 479) than the X3 M Competition’s optional 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLE running on electricity gets better mileage than the X3 M:

			MPGe
GLE
	AWD	450e Electric Motor	57 city/63 hwy
X3 M
			MPG
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the GLE running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X3 M:

			MPG
GLE
	RWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	450e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
		350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
X3 M
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy
		Competition 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	15 city/20 hwy

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions for 50 miles. The X3 M can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The GLE’s standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 M (22.5 vs. 17.2 gallons).

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X3 M.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE 580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 M (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. F:255/45R20 & R:265/45R20).

The GLE 580’s optional 325/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X3 M Competition’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 580 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X3 M’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The X3 M doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450/580 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. BMW doesn’t offer an active suspension on the X3 M.

The GLE has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLE’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 X3 M doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X3 M doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the X3 M (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the X3 M.

For better maneuverability, the GLE’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the X3 M’s (39.4 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 M (9.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the X3 M (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The GLE offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X3 M can only carry 5.

The GLE has 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 4.5 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3 M.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 M with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 M with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

The GLE’s cargo area is larger than the X3 M’s in every dimension:

	GLE	X3 M
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/76.5”	36.5”/69”
Min Width	43.7”	43.3”
Height	35.5”	29.7”

Towing

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLE uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X3 M doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X3 M, the GLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLE’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 M doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GLE’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X3 M does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The X3 M doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The X3 M doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The GLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the X3 M.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X3 M.

The GLE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 M doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The GLE is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 M doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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