BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class: Specs Compared
Also searched as Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class vs BMW X3 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The BMW X3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Across 3 measured categories, the BMW X3 leads in 2. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
BMW X3
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 47 configurations
2016–2027
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 72 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | BMW X3 | Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 30 mpg ✓ | 29 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 27 mpg ✓ | 26 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,600 | $2,600 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 204 g/mi | 84 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic 7-spd, Automatic (S9) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium, Premium and Electricity, Diesel | Premium, Premium and Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2016–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 47 | 72 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class dimensions and size
The BMW X3 is 1.6 inches longer than the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class on a wheelbase 0.8 inches shorter, and 68.3 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | BMW X3 (2026) | Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 187.4 in | 185.8 in | 1.6 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 75.6 in | 74.4 in | 1.2 in |
| Height | 65.4 in | 64.6 in | 0.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 113 in | 113.8 in | 0.8 in |
| Curb weight | 4,176 lbs | 4,244 lbs | 68 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW X3 burns about $2,600 of fuel annually against $2,600 for the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the BMW X3 is the stronger commuter at 27 mpg city, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class pulls ahead on the interstate at 33 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the BMW X3 is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid), the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class with 3 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI). Across 47 recorded BMW X3 configurations and 72 for the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the BMW X3 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class emits 84 g/mile of CO2 versus 204 g/mile for the BMW X3. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
X3 vs GLC-Class: common questions
Which is better on gas, the BMW X3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class?
The BMW X3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 30 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $0 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class runs about $2,600 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,600 for the BMW X3 — a difference of roughly $0 per year.
What engines do the X3 and GLC-Class offer?
BMW X3: SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV. Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the BMW X3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
More X3 comparisons
More GLC-Class comparisons
Comparison id: bmw-x3-vs-mercedes-benz-glc-class