2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 vs. 2019 BMW X3

It's perhaps best to think of the Mercedes-Benz GLC and BMW X3 as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 of the luxury SUV world.
 

While they have more brand power than those mainstream SUVs, these two compact luxury crossovers are similarly important 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 C-class and 3-series.

The current-generation GLC arrived for 2016 as a replacement for the previous 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, with all-wheel drive adding $2000 to the bottom line. 

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 second quicker than the 175-pound-heavier X3 xDrive30i. What the numbers don't tell you is that the 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 did manage to beat the GLC's fuel economy 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 back 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. The 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.





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