BMW IX3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC200

What's the difference?

The BMW iX3 is a rarity in the market, a premium-feeling electric model that's not a whole lot dearer than petrol alternatives.

For those happy to trade some of the Tesla Model 3 and Kia EV6 GT's all-paw performance for a luxurious cabin, slick drive and badge cachet, the iX3 M Sport is a very attractive package. Until Audi's Q4 and Q6 e-tron arrive, the iX3 remains basically peerless in this part of the market.

No wonder, then, that BMW is Australia's third most popular electric car brand after Tesla and BYD. The vehicles capture everything the brand promises at a price that looks good on paper and better in the real world.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC200 might be the base-grade, but it doesn’t look or feel like it. From the outside, it’s stylish and refined, and inside, it delivers that signature Benz luxury with premium features, impressive tech and a beautiful cabin.

While the engine isn’t wildly powerful, it’s more than capable for everyday driving and long stretches on the highway and the ride quality overall is smooth, quiet and composed. It loses points for being more expensive than its entry-grade rivals and for those steep ongoing servicing costs, which could be a sticking point for some buyers.

Now that we've seen the new X3, the current model is already dated. Not that it was a cutting-edge design at launch but there is precious little offensive about this mid-size SUV.

Fussy wheel designs, strange closed in grilles and clashing blue accents aside the iX3 M Sport remains a plenty handsome option as you approach.

Inside the cabin's shapes feel positively conservative next to BMW's latest efforts like the X2 and 7 Series but, in a way, this is no bad thing.

It's also nice that you can tailor this car's appearance to your liking without spending extra, the combination here rocks a nice blue paint with tasteful brown upholstery for a classy look.

You can have Oyster white leather or simple black and the paint colour palette is refined without being restrictive.

The GLC is a handsome SUV with a strong, confident stance. It looks fit and premium, but not overly sporty, especially with the standard 'Avantgarde' exterior styling seen on our test car.

The entry-level grade rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels, features slimline running boards, LED lighting all around and an interior ambient lighting package that even includes logo 'puddle light' projection from the side mirrors.

Inside, the GLC200 doesn’t skimp on style. You get sports seats trimmed in synthetic leather (available in a range of colours), plus a panoramic sunroof, flashy dual displays and a black headliner that adds a cocooned feel.

The ambient lighting is a real standout and reminiscent of sci-fi films like Tron! It adds to the cabin’s upmarket vibe.

Combined with the soft-touch surfaces and neat trim details, the interior feels luxurious. And to be frank, it should at this level. But not every base-grade SUV in this segment gets it right. This one does.

The BMW X3 was developed with family buyers in mind and that has paid dividends because it has an extremely practical cabin with lots of thoughtful storage.

Each of the four doors has a bottle holder and generously-sized pocked for extra storage. There are two cup-holders in the centre with a wireless charging pad, secure spot for the key fob and USB port in easy reach. You can slide a roller cover down to hide valuables.

Key driving controls are smartly grouped together around the iX3's unconventional gear selector. Here, you'll find the start/stop button along with hard switches for drive mode selection, stability control and exterior cameras.

Right next door is where the rotary 'iDrive' controller lives with yet more physical shortcut buttons. Including the extra option to easily interact with the multimedia system on the move is a refreshing delight that you don't see in so many touchscreen-heavy EVs. There's also a physical stack for HVAC and seat heating controls.

The 12.3-inch touchscreen is responsive and bright with BMW's slightly older system having a more conventional appearance than the latest software in the iX2. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless and still work flawlessly.

If there are some negatives, they would be some build-quality niggles. On the whole the materials are high quality and the car is well screwed together but the indicator stalks feel decidedly flimsy compared to BMWs of old and I noticed a rattle from the parcel shelf on the road.

The eight-way power adjust seats with tilt and under-leg extension are classic BMW, being sporty enough to hold you in but with enough padding to stay comfy. Though we will knock this car down for lacking power lumbar adjust.

Those in the back will be plenty comfortable even if they're taller than 180cm with ample head, leg and toe-room. There doesn't appear to be a major compromise to the floor height despite BMW stacking 10 lithium-ion modules beneath.

Vision out is excellent with an expansive glasshouse and full-length sunroof.

Amenities include two USB-C charge points, a third climate zone, fold-out armrest with pop-up cup holders and generous storage in the doors.

Fitting child seats should be pretty simple with doors that open wide, two sets of ISOFIX ports (that you can't lose the covers of) and three prominent top tether anchors in the recline-adjustable backrest.

The boot is large with 510L of space at a minimum that expands to 1560L if you fold the 40/20/40 split backrest flat. There's a sense of solidity in that process, too, with sturdy levers and components.

So sturdy that the retractable luggage cover is quite difficult to remove, especially for shorter owners. Other niceties include a single shopping bag hook, LED lighting and 12-volt socket in the back.

No BMW X3 comes with a spare tyre so that should come as no surprise. The iX3 instead has a tyre repair kit. There is underfloor storage in the iX3, though, which is the perfect place to store both charging cables — Mode 2 and 3 — that are included.

The cabin is spacious in both rows, with decent access thanks to wide door apertures and 195mm of ground clearance. That said, it’s the kind of cockpit you sort of tuck into and I knocked a knee or elbow on the steering wheel getting in (my husband joked this was just a user issue). My eight-year old had no trouble hopping in and out, though.

The front seats are best described as sumptuous, with features like expandable under-thigh and lumbar support. It’s super easy to get comfortable and stay that way, a big plus for anyone who does long drives, like I do.

The rear seats are equally comfy, with generous padding and deep bases. You’ll find three top-tether points in the back row, but realistically, it’s a space better suited to two child seats.

Keeping the cabin tidy is simple thanks to thoughtful storage throughout. There are deep door bins with drink bottle holders, a couple of cupholders in each row, a largish glove box and a dual-lid centre console.

Up front, there’s also a phone cubby, two USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad. In the rear, you get another two USB-C ports and some handy map pockets.

The boot has proven to be a practical space, with 620L of capacity and a level load floor. There’s a reversible mat and underfloor storage, which is also where you’ll find the space-saver spare tyre.

This grade now includes a powered tailgate, a welcome addition, and the second row folds electrically in a 40/20/40 split, giving you more flexibility when you need it.

The updated media display is easy enough to use once you spend a bit of time with it. The touchscreen is responsive, and wireless Apple CarPlay maintained a steady connection throughout our test. I also appreciated how the instrument cluster and head-up display pull through directions from either your phone or the in-built sat nav system.

There are five variants in the GLC range, and for this review we’re testing the new entry-level GLC200, priced from $84,455, before on-road costs.

While it’s definitely more affordable than the next step up, the GLC300, it still wears the highest price tag among its base-grade rivals, with the Audi Q5 35 TDI starting from $73,400 and the BMW X3 xDrive20i from $77,601.

That said, the GLC200’s generous equipment list could easily convince you it sits higher in the range. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather trim as well as electric front seats with memory, heating and Mercedes’ ‘kinetic’ function.

You also get a panoramic sunroof, a slick 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a colour head-up display and a vertical 11.9-inch media screen running an upgraded operating system with satellite navigation plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Practicality hasn't been overlooked, either. There’s a space-saver spare tyre (a welcome change from the run-flat tyre solution often employed by Euro brands), a handsfree powered tailgate, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, four USB-C ports, two 12-volt sockets and a wireless charging pad.

Our test car also includes the optional 'Plus Package', which adds $5846 to the price. It bundles in a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, digital matrix LED headlights, heated and noise-insulating glass, augmented reality navigation and a digital key via the Mercedes-Benz app.

You’ll also find a few extra safety additions here, such as a lane centering aid, emergency steering assist, interior monitoring and external surveillance for added occupant protection and theft deterrence.

Overall, a bit more expensive but you get an impressive amount of features.

In this case there isn't much under the bonnet except for electric gubbins. The single electric motor – that uses no rare earth materials – resides at the back and generates 210kW/400Nm.

Those outputs are fairly close to a petrol X3 30i, though of course this model is rear-drive only.

Thanks to the rapid response of electric motors, the iX3 M Sport can sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds (claimed).

BMW has chosen to give the iX3 a long-travel progressive throttle pedal that makes grunt easy to meter out. However, the regenerative braking could do with a little more refinement.

There are two settings, 'D' — just like letting off the throttle in a combustion car — and 'B' which is quite strong. The blending between regenerative and physical caliper-on-rotor braking is vague, though, which can make low-speed moves a bit jerky.

The GLC200 is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing up to 150kW of power and 320Nm of torque. It’s the least powerful engine in the GLC range, but still manages to feel punchy when you need it to.

This all-wheel-drive variant is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While it can feel a little twitchy at lower speeds when the auto start/stop system is active, it’s otherwise a smooth and well-matched combination for everyday driving.

The iX3 M Sport's WLTP rating is a respectable but not groundbreaking 461km on the combined cycle. The reality is a little bleaker, our test car displaying 316km on its digital instruments at 100 per cent charge.

Going against what you might expect for an electric car, the iX3 was not very efficient in town, we initially saw 24kWh/100km on the read-out which is quite high.

It is better suited to a longer, steady-state run. Our regular 200km country and suburban test loop dropped the consumption to 18kWh/100km for a real-world driving range of 411km.

When it's time to bring the charge levels back up the iX3 will take on AC electricity at 11kW, for flat to full in seven and a half hours.

Public fast-charging caps out at 150kW (DC) though averages to 104kW over a 10-80 per cent session. This should take 21 minutes, says BMW.

We only observed a maximum of 101kW on a DC charger though the pylon did not appear to be performing at full energy with other vehicles having similar issues.

The GLC200 has an official combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel consumption figure of 7.5L/100km and with its 62-litre fuel tank, you’re looking at a theoretical driving range of up to 826km which are solid figures for a family cruiser.

In real-world testing, I averaged 7.8L/100km, mostly around town with one longer trip thrown in. Overall, I’m pretty happy with its efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol for this model.

Despite no saucy straight-six, V8 or twin-cam four-cylinder there is an inherent 'BMW-ness' in the iX3 M Sport. The way it steers, accelerates and rides all match the brand's DNA.

It is not a plush SUV, with some firmness to the suspension even in Comfort mode on the adaptive dampers — this may have something to do with BMW's 40PSI front and 45PSI rear tyre pressure recommendations — but without ever being crashy.

Build up a little more speed, beyond 60km/h for example, and the body settles nicely with a solid, assured stance.

There's no evidence of suspension noise and road noise is very well insulated as well, even without the up-spec M Sport Pro's acoustically insulated glass. 

The steering is light in Comfort mode which makes it ideal for urban driving. It also has three turns lock-to-lock which is a lot for a sporty-ish BMW, however that is largely down to the improved steering angle. Without an engine or AWD system, the iX3 has a great turning circle of just 12.1 metres.

Moving things up a notch into Sport adds extra weight to the steering which helps judge the grip on good roads, which is pretty decent from the 245/45R19 Yokohama Advan Sport V107 tyres.

When you approach the limit, the iX3 is very secure but significant mid-corner bumps can unsettle the car, bringing its 2180kg tare weight (a 325kg penalty over the xDrive20i) sharply into focus. Pull it back a touch, though, and the iX3 M Sport is plenty rewarding on a country road.

Mostly, the iX3 is a refreshingly natural electric car out on the road. You could put anyone in the driver's seat and they'd be smooth just like in a combustion car.

Despite having the ‘baby’ engine in the range, the GLC200 doesn’t feel underpowered. Power delivery is generally quick, and there’s enough in reserve when you need to get up to speed or overtake. It’s responsive and confident in everyday driving.

That said, the auto start/stop feature is frustrating around town, especially at give way signs or roundabouts where you’re more likely to pause than come to a full stop.

It will cut the engine, and then when you want to accelerate, there’s a delay - sometimes even a little rollback. Not ideal, and definitely something that takes away from the otherwise polished drive.

The suspension hits a lovely balance, it’s forgiving but not floaty. You feel the road just enough to stay connected without it ever feeling harsh, which means the ride stays smooth and composed. It’s also a lovely highway cruiser, easily settling into long stretches with comfort and ease.

Visibility is solid, with minimal blind spots thanks to slim pillars, and the steering is responsive. It corners with confidence, too, with very little body roll, which isn’t always the case in a mid-size SUV.

Parking is straightforward thanks to a clear 360-degree camera system and park assist. The reversing camera turns with the steering wheel, which takes a moment to adjust to, but ultimately makes tight manoeuvres that little bit easier.

The GLC carries a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing conducted in 2022. It scored an excellent 92 per cent in both adult and child occupant protection, which gives plenty of peace of mind for families.

It’s also well-equipped when it comes to safety tech. There are 10 airbags in total, including a front centre airbag and side chest airbags for both rows; a solid showing in this segment.

Even without the optional Plus Package, the GLC comes loaded with safety features including blind-spot monitoring, side exit assist, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid and traffic sign recognition.

There's also driver attention warning, a 360-degree camera view, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, intelligent seatbelt reminders and rear cross-traffic alert.

With the Plus Package, you add interior and exterior monitoring systems, along with something called 'Pre-Safe Impulse Side'; a clever feature that gently moves front occupants away from the doors if a side impact is imminent.

Autonomous emergency braking is also included, with pedestrian, cyclist, car and backover detection. It operates from 7.0-80km/h (or up to 250km/h for vehicles), which is slightly higher than most systems that usually activate from 5.0km/h.

In the back, there are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points across the row.

The iX3 M Sport is now covered by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty in Australia.

Servicing is due on a conditional basis with the multimedia system prompting the owner when to visit a dealer.

BMW offers serviced packages for electric vehicles that last six years/unlimited kilometres, with the iX3's pack costing a reasonable $2325 over that time.

The GLC is backed by a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which puts it on par with key rivals in this space. Servicing intervals are generous, too, at every 12 months or 25,000km. Great news if you rack up a lot of kilometres.

But the catch? Servicing costs are steep. Mercedes-Benz offers pre-paid servicing plans in three-, four-or five-year bundles, and the five-year package will set you back $7350. That averages out to almost $1500 per visit. Oof.

For comparison, the Audi Q5’s five-year plan is $3520, and BMW’s five-year 'Basic Service Inclusive' package for the X3 is $2475. So, while the GLC might win on features and finish, it definitely asks more of you when it comes to ongoing costs.