Mercedes-Benz GLC300 vs BMW X3

Mercedes vs BMW

It’s perhaps best to think of the Mercedes-Benz GLC300 vs BMW X3 as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 of the luxury SUV world. While they have more brand power than those standard SUVs, these two smaller extravagance hybrids are comparatively essential to their brands. Just as the CR-V and RAV4 have eroded the sales of the Accord and Camry, the GLC and the X3 are what shoppers have turned to instead of the Mercedes C-class and BMW 3-series.

BMW X3

The current-age GLC showed up for 2016 as a swap for the past GLK-class. Mercedes did, however, give the GLC a comprehensive update for 2020 that includes revised styling, an updated engine for the four-cylinder GLC300 model, and an array of new tech features. BMW completely redid the X3 for the 2018 model year and hasn’t changed in any significant way since. Like the GLC300, the X3 30i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Both vehicles come standard in rear-wheel-drive form.

Mercedes-Benz GLC300

For this test, we drove a 2019 X3 xDrive30i back to back with a 2020 GLC300 4Matic for our subjective evaluation. Wet weather prevented us from being able to perform instrumented testing on the X3, but it is mechanically identical to the 2018 X3 xDrive30i we previously tested, and we’re comfortable relying on that earlier X3’s objective numbers.

On the Road

Although it benefits from a slight horsepower bump for 2020, Mercedes’s 255-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four still lacks the smoothness, response, and power delivery of BMW’s 248-hp engine. The numbers tell a different story. Acceleration testing shows a clear advantage for the GLC300 4Matic, which can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, or 0.7 seconds quicker than the 175-pound-heavier X3 xDrive30i. What the numbers don’t tell you is that BMW’s engine simply works better in the real world and sounds more engaging than GLC’s engine. We have to give some credit to BMW’s ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, which downshifts more authoritatively and willingly than the Benz’s more relaxed nine-speed automatic.

The X3 managed to beat the GLC’s efficiency numbers. In our hands, the X3 xDrive30i averaged 22 mpg versus 20 mpg for the GLC300 4Matic. In our steady 75-mph highway test, the BMW returned a strong 31 mpg, or 2 mpg better than its EPA highway estimate. In contrast, the Benz posted 25 mpg in the same test, which is 3 mpg lower than its EPA highway number.

Driving both backs to back reveals that the X3 is the more athletic of the two. It has better body control, heavier and more direct steering, and a playful eagerness to challenge corners. Benz’s driving experience is subdued by comparison. We didn’t love the GLC300’s light-effort steering and slightly mushy brake pedal, although the Mercedes did perform slightly better in our 70-mph-to-zero braking test than did the BMW with its optional M Sport brakes. For buyers who like to drive, the X3 has been graced with sports-sedan moves. We’d even go so far as to say that you might mistake it for a 3-series if not for its elevated seating position.

The Inside View

We’ll call it a tie in terms of rear-seat accommodations, as both the BMW and the Mercedes have comfortable cushioning in the back and a reasonable amount of room for adults.

BMW X3

In terms of cargo space, their spec sheets would have you believe that the X3 boasts a whopping 10 more cubic feet of cargo space than the GLC, but we’re skeptical of those measurements because we fit eight carry-on-suitcase-size boxes in the GLC’s cargo area and only seven in the X3.

Mercedes acquainted another infotainment framework with the GLC as a major aspect of its update for 2020.

It’s called MBUX, and we’re not sold on its touch-heavy interface, which incorporates a touchscreen, a touchpad controller on the center console, and touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel.

Mercedes-Benz GLC300

The displays themselves look crisp, but we prefer turning physical knobs such as the one that’s used to control BMW’s (somewhat) more intuitive iDrive infotainment system.

Turning a knob requires less concentration than swiping or pinching on a virtual touchpad, and the BMW setup is less distracting to use while driving.

We’ll hand it to Mercedes in terms of interior style, though, as the GLC’s cabin is far flashier than the BMW’s. There’s rich detailing of the buttons and knobs, and the wood trim looks and feels expensive. The X3 measures up in terms of fit and finish, but the BMW’s dashboard design lacks the panache and wow factor of the Benz’s.

For detailed specification of both cars, look the below table:

The Bottom Line

If we were writing the check, it’s the BMW X3 that we’d rather take home. While the Mercedes-Benz GLC300 is refined and luxurious, the X3 is a near match for the GLC in those measures, and the BMW adds a superior driving experience, a better powertrain, and a more intuitive infotainment system. It’s that extra degree of athleticism that is built into the X3 that earns it a narrow win over the GLC.

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