2021 BMW X3 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

In the luxury compact SUV arena, BMW’s X3 and Mercedes’ GLC reign supreme. You’ll see them in many a suburban cul-de-sac, decorating many a driveway, from Florida’s Hollywood all the way to the Hollywood of the West Coast—and for good reason. Both the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC offer expectation-meeting features, excellent safety ratings, and just enough tech and supple in-cabin trimmings to make your grandma blush.

But if you were writing a check for one of these $40,000 luxury SUVs right this moment, do you know which model would earn your John Hancock and find its way in your driveway? Take five minutes to read why we think the “2021 BMW X3 vs. Mercedes GLC 300” competition ends with a “W” in BMW’s win column.

5 Reasons Why the BMW X3 Beats the Mercedes GLC 300

1. Headroom

If you played center on your high school’s basketball team, you’ll fare far better inside the BMW X3. Up front and in the back row, the new X3 offers approximately 8% more headroom (41.1 inches) than the comparable Mercedes GLC (37.8 and 38.5 inches, respectively). How’s the air up there?

2. Standard Wi-Fi

These days, we’re always on the grid, even when we’re technically supposed to be off the grid (i.e. inside our vehicles). But if you’re like us, that 24/7 connection is a welcome convenience to your already-busy life.

Unlike the Mercedes-Benz 300 GLC, the new BMW X3 gives you that convenience as standard fare in its base sDrive30i model. Every X3 comes with a WiFi Hotspot, which includes a 3-month/3GB trial.

To get a similar feature in the base 300 GLC Mercedes, you’d have to pay more for its in-car WiFi—and it only includes a 1-month/1GB trial.

3. Fuel Economy

With all-terrain performance, the BMW X3 is a luxury vehicle for those who heed adventure’s call. In the past, this usually meant visiting gas stations in between wooded excursions and downtown explorations.

Not so with the 2021 X3 sDrive30i, which returns up to 29 mpg on the interstate and 25 mpg in the city—the latter of which is an impressive feat considering the GLC 300 only nets 22 mpg in the city. Even the AWD X3 xDrive30i beats the comparable GLC 4MATIC 300 in the fuel efficiency department, returning 23 city/29 hwy mpg compared to the Mercedes AWD SUV’s 21 city/28 mpg.

4. Cargo Space

When it comes down to storage capability, BMW’s new X3 SAV bests even the most decked-out Mercedes-Benz GLC.

In the very rear, behind its luxuriously supple back row, the X3 offers 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space. That expands to an awe-inspiring 62.7 cubic feet with the rear row tucked in for the evening.

The GLC 300, offering just 19.4. cubic feet of room in the back and a maximum of 56.5 cubes to the front row, simply can’t match up to BMW’s truly utilitarian SUV.

5. Towing

Who says boat ramps are reserved for large SUVs and rusty pickups? With a hitched-up BMW X3, you can tow your Parker 750 CC (4,100 lbs.), Cobalt 23SC (4,200 lbs.) or Stingray 215LR (3,700 lbs.) to Miami Beach without worry. That’s because the new BMW X3 has a 4,400-pound towing capacity, which is an extraordinary spec for the luxury SUV class. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 can only tow a class-average 3,500 pounds.

Find Your New BMW X3 in Miami, FL

Easily the most spacious and practical SUV in its segment, the new X3 SAV is a breath of fresh air—and there’s one’s waiting for you right now at our BMW dealership in Miami. Visit Braman BMW at 2060 Biscayne Blvd to build and take this luxury family SUV for a test drive today, and we’ll even point you in the direction of our new BMW lease offers.