Mercedes-Benz GLC300 vs BMW X6

What's the difference?

The GLC300 Coupe isn't quite as great when it comes to being a family car as the regular SUV version of the GLC, and that's purely down to the sloping roofline which not only makes access more difficult to the second row but reduces boot capacity.

That said, the GLC300 Coupe makes a much better family car than a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, or any sedan.

Easy and enjoyable to drive, packed with great features and still practical, the GLC300 Coupe would still cut it as a good family car.

I was not expecting to like the BMW X6 xDrive 40i M Sport as much as I do. The styling is still polarising but the facelift will throw more people towards the liking rather than disliking side of the fence. The cabin and boot are super practical and the X6 nails all the premium elements you expect at this level. It’s driving and handling are what win me over, though.

My son loves this one and doesn’t want to hand it back. My husband also noted how nice he thought the X6 was… and that’s saying something for a born and raised 'country boy'!

Coupe SUVs aren’t for everybody… they’re not even for lots of people. But the design of an SUV with its roof cut down so that it meets the tailgate at an almost sportscar-like angle appeals to more than a few fans. The thing is they don’t just like the look, they love it, and they also probably enjoy how much the styling makes other people cranky.

To my eyes the GLC300 Coupe is the best execution of the bodystyle compared to those of BMW and Audi. There’s an elegance to the GLC300 Coupe and the AMG-line adds a tough look that only enhances the solid, powerful but pretty look.

The GLC Coupe is a mid-sized SUV and this new generation model is a bit bigger the previous one and now measures 31mm longer at 4763mm end to end, it’s 1890mm wide, 1605mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2888mm.

It’s also more aerodynamic than ever. No seriously, it’s drag coefficient is now 0.27 and it looks like a bar of soap - and it's about as slippery as one, too.

More curved surfaces await inside with a dashboard that pours down into the large centre console and it's adorned with a sloping and large portrait-style media screen. 

At night or in tunnels the ambient lighting glows through the air vents and skirts the edges of the door trims, console and dashboard.

It’s a minimalist and high-tech cockpit with modern sports seats up front and a Nappa leather wrapped steering wheel with its twin blade design.  

So, how does the coupe design work for family practicality? Let’s take a look.

SUV coupe styling with its raised platform and pinched bum just doesn’t do it for me usually but I like it on the new X6 model. The facelift helps the X6 appear more athletic and just plain meaner than the previous version.

The front end sees the most change with new adaptive LED headlights and a bigger 'kidney' grille. The kidneys are illuminated, which adds to its night-time presence and the extended blacked-out intake vents at the front and around the car make it look sharp as hell.

The weird prong on the side mirrors has been dropped in favour of a more seamless design (hurrah) and the 22-inch alloy wheels give total va-va-vroom sport-vibes. 

On the interior, the dashboard has been revamped with a more pronounced shape and a curved display panel that houses the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.8-inch multimedia system.

The air-vents now blend more into the dash but the little knobs for them might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

The ambient lighting is customisable and the quilted seats look beautiful but purists will wince on learning it’s synthetic leather, especially at this price point, but it feels and looks very nice. 

SUVs are the most practical cars for families because of the better access to the cabin thanks to their large doors and slightly elevated ride height, their big boots with wide and tall hatch openings and their high flat rooflines. They’re essentially raised station wagons.

A coupe-style SUV still has four doors but they are less boxy due to the sloping roofline which falls away quickly to meet the tailgate at a lower point. The effect is a sporty-looking shape but practicality is lost in this exercise of form over function.

The second row doorways aren’t as large as those on the regular SUV. I did a side-by-side test and felt like I had to duck under the sloping roof when getting out of the back seat.

The smaller opening also made it trickier to lift my toddler daughter into her baby seat.

The sidesteps are also surprisingly handy for bigger kids and my eight-year-old used them every time when climbing into the car.

Cabin storage is outstanding with huge door pockets and cupholders in both rows, and while the 545-litre boot in the GLC300 Coupe is 80 litres smaller than the cargo capacity of the regular GLC SUV, it's bigger than the previous version of the Coupe.

As for people space, there’s enough headroom for me at 189cm tall in the back seat and heaps of legroom, even behind my driving position.

I’ve mentioned the lack of climate control in the second row, but also should point out that there are no USB ports back there either.

There are USB ports in the big centre console box upfront and a long cord should be able to make it to the second row. 

There’s a wireless phone charger but it's housed in the bowels of the centre console too, and you’ll need to weave your hand while clasping the phone under the shiny black trapdoor, past the cupholders possibly with drinks in them and almost under the dashboard.

You know you’re in a large SUV when you slide into the X6 because the cabin has a lot of space in both rows.

But also because of the higher centre console design, you feel tucked into the car despite the higher seating position. It makes it feel far sportier than your typical SUV. 

Even back rowers enjoy decent legroom and headroom, despite the panoramic sunroof and sloping roof design. Six-footers should be relatively comfortable in both rows but it's best to reserve the middle seat as a sometimes position for adults. The raised floor won’t allow true comfort for a longer trip.

Let’s chat luxury because there’s plenty to be had with the electric front seats and their cloud-like comfort.

The electrically-adjustable side bolsters and adjustable lumbar support makes it feel like you’re being cuddled by the seat and also hold you in place in a turn. The extendable under-thigh supports minimise leg fatigue on a longer trip.

However, the back seat is almost as comfortable as the fronts in terms of cushioning. You also sit in, rather than on top of the seats which is a nice change for an SUV. 

Individual storage is great in both rows and up front you get a dual-opening middle console, glove box and a handy utility area that houses the cupholders and two phone pockets.

There is also a storage nook on the driver’s side that will comfortably hold a wallet. 

In the rear you enjoy two map pockets on the front seat backs and retractable cupholders in the fold-down armrest.

The armrest houses a shallow device holder and sits at a good height. Both rows enjoy deep storage bins in each door and a large drink bottle holder.

Happily, the holder is tilted towards the user, rather than away which is what you usually see.

The boot is a great size at 580L with all seats in use. There’s a little lip that has practical metal scuff plates but otherwise the loading space is level.

The hands-free powered tailgate is welcome and the handy 40/20/40 split on the back row opens up your storage options.

You get a temporary spare tyre underneath the floor and it’s cool how the floor has a gas strut, which makes the area much easier to access.

The concertina-style cargo cover is a bit dicky to use but I like how solid it is. It could easily double as a shelf by itself. 

Charging options are abundant with a total of two 12-volt ports, a USB-A port, three USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad to choose from throughout the car. But it is annoying to use the pad when the front cupholders are in use.

I like having hardened kickplates on the backs of the front seats because my seven-year old loves putting his feet on everything.

The higher ground clearance makes this an easy car to get in and out of but it also makes for a great view for my son. He finds the doors a little heavy to close but the massive door grab handles help!

Amenities in the rear row make it a pleasant space to be in for kids and adults alike. You have reading lights, map pockets, two storage shelves and directional air vents.

There is manual climate control in this row, too, but it feels at odds with the rest of the high tech in the car.

On that note, the updated technology looks gorgeous.

The head-up display is clear and the digital instrument panel offers plenty of customisation. It's a super handy feature to access your recent call log via the steering wheel controls and see it pop up on the instrument cluster. 

The touchscreen multimedia system is responsive but you can also use the rotary dial to get around it. There is a stack of information in it, though, which will take a bit to get your head around. Can’t fault its graphics, it looks hot, but some users may feel flustered at first.

The system has built-in satellite navigation that features an augmented reality feature, which overlays dynamic instructions on the video feed. What makes it practical is how it can be viewed on your instrument cluster, which means more on-road focus for the driver. 

There is wired Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, with the latter being simple to connect to. You don’t have the important climate control buttons/dials up front and I find it annoying to access the multimedia screen to change climate and fan speed settings. 

What you lack in controls there is more than made up for in the centre console. There are a lot of buttons, from the push-button starter, rotary control wheel and everything in between.

Even after a week, my mind still has a mini freeze looking at them while on the go.

There are three variants for the X6 before you jump up to the performance M grade. Our test vehicle is the mid-spec xDrive40i M Sport model and will cost you $144,900 before on road costs.

That places it in the middle of its rivals and you get a well-specified model for the price tag but our test vehicle has also been fitted with a few extras, like the 'M Sport Package Pro' which adds a darkened grille and accents throughout the car, an M Sport exhaust system, red M Sport brake calipers and the M Sport signature colour stitching in the seat belts. All of that adds $2308.

Our test model also has the 'Enhancement Package' which tacks on $4616 but you get some great items like the crystal glass accents on the rotary dial and push-start button and a premium Harman Kardon surround sound system.

It also adds big 22-inch alloy wheels, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a temporary spare tyre which replaces the standard run-flat tyres on the base model.

Oh, and the 'M Brooklyn Grey Metallic' paintwork adds $1539. Just sayin’ it will cost you a pretty penny but it’s not outrageous for a luxury SUV.

Other standard equipment includes synthetic leather trims, electric front seats with heat function, electrically adjustable steering wheel, sports paddle shifters, M Sport styled scuff plates and badging, exterior puddle lamps and a full suite of LED lights including adaptive headlights. 

You also enjoy a panoramic sunroof, adjustable lumbar support on both front seats, as well as extendable under-thigh support.

The drivers seat features two memory positions and comfort entry/exit functions (the seat and steering wheel slide back for you to get in and out of car).

For practicality, there is a hands-free powered tailgate, pre-entry climate control with programable entry time and a boot floor that features a gas strut for easy access.

We’ll touch on the tech later but the highlight is a new curved display panel that houses the 12.3-inch digital instrument screen and 14.8-inch touchscreen multimedia system. 

The GLC300 Coupe has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 190kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

There’s also an overboost function which allows the engine to make an extra 17kW and 200Nm just for a brief moment, but that extra dollop of grunt combined with the regular output provides impressive acceleration (0-100km/h in about 6.3 seconds) for overtaking or moving quickly when you need to.

A smooth nine-speed automatic transmission sends the drive to all-four wheels.

The GLC300 Coupe is all-wheel drive and while there’s a setting for rougher terrain, along with one for comfort, eco and sport, but I’d make sure that it doesn’t get any more adventurous than tame gravel and dirt roads.

Mercedes-Benz refers to the GLC300 Coupe as a mild hybrid and this is because it has a 48-volt system and an integrated starter-generator.

This type of hybrid doesn’t use electric motors, doesn’t drive the wheels and won’t save much fuel, but it will provide efficiencies by supporting the engine and when coasting, plus will reduce petrol consumption to a small degree.

The xDrive40i M Sport has a 3.0-litre, inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with maximum outputs of 280kW and 540Nm. That’s 30kW and 90Nm up from the previous model.

It has a smooth eight-speed auto transmission and is all-wheel-drive.

The facelift sees the addition of a new mild-hybrid system which makes for almost imperceptible stop/start functionality when idling and a smidge better on-road fuel economy. 

With a 0-100kmh sprint time of 5.4-seconds, it’s obvious that it has plenty of power to have fun with.

As we mentioned above the GLC300 Coupe's 48-volt mild hybrid system is not the kind of hybrid that will allow you to drive miles on electric power, nor will it dramatically reduce fuel consumption in the way a parallel, series or plug-in hybrid will. But every bit of efficiency helps.

Mercedes-Benz says the GLC300 Coupe will use 7.7L/100km after a combination of open and urban roads. 

We had the GLC300 Coupe for just two days, but in that time my family covered 176km of regular daily usage which took in motorways but mainly suburban duties such as the school run, supermarket dashes, that sort of thing.

In our fuel test we measured 14.48 litres at the fuel pump which works out to be an on-test fuel use figure of 8.2L/100km and not far off the manufacturer’s claim. 

While this fuel consumption isn’t overly high, a plug-in hybrid or even a parallel or series hybrid could return about 5.0L/100km or less.

Mercedes-Benz has dropped plug-in hybrids from its Australian range which is a shame because it would be good to see more efficient options in the GLC range. Of course if you want more efficiency from a Benz of the same size, there is always the fully electric EQB or EQC.

Expectations for a thirsty engine were high, considering the hefty power available, but this version of the X6 has proved to be quite economical.

The xDrive40i M Sport variant has an official combined cycle fuel economy figure of 9.3L/100km but my real-world usage averaged 8.8L/100km.

That’s after mostly open-road driving with only a little ‘city’ thrown in but I didn't hesitate to use the power, so I'm happy with the result.

The X6 has a big 83-litre fuel tank and based on my usage, you’d see a driving range of around 943km, which is great.

BMW only recommends a minimum 95 RON petrol to be used.

There’s a lot to like here but the short version is the GLC300 Coupe has a comfortable ride, but good handling, with a responsive engine, although rear visibility through the small back window is poor.

If we drill down a bit further I can tell you that excellent cameras around the car will help you check to make sure kids aren’t running around behind you and that forward and side visibility through the window is good.

An important takeaway is that the GLC300 Coupe is easy to drive with light steering and an engine that’s mild and controlled in its power delivery.

The gear shifter is mounted on the steering column, in the same way an indicator lever is. So putting the car into Drive, Reverse and Park is so easy and means you don’t have to take your hands off the steering wheel. 

As a family car I liked the good body control and composed ride. We have a small toddler that we can sometimes only get to sleep by taking her for a drive and we found that she could nod off and not be woken by potholes and speed bumps or too much leaning in the corners. 

The X6 is a thoroughbred on the road. It’s wide stance and massive wheels provide a well-balanced and grippy on-road ride experience.

Seriously, the tyres feel glued to the road even in the wet. Confidence is high with this one.

There is plenty of power to enjoy and you don’t feel like you’re digging deep for it, either, when you have to get up to speed or overtake.

It has the handling and power of a much smaller and sportier car but at no point does it feel wild or reckless to drive. It’s got a certain elegance and maturity to its handling.

Despite those massive wheels, the ride comfort is fantastic with the adaptive suspension. You still feel the road but you’re not knocked about by it. It’s very much a driver’s car in that sense but passengers still feel well-cushioned.  

The cabin is insulated and you get basically no road noise or wind noise but occasionally you get some feedback from the tyres depending on the road surface. Longer journeys are comfortable and quiet.

The steering is light enough that you don’t feel like you’re hauling a massive SUV around but is still responsive. Meaning you can tackle a winding road or urban traffic easily.

When it comes time to park it, you’ll love having the 360-degree view camera system. It’s the best and clearest system I’ve sampled.

Add the front and rear parking sensors and no car space is an issue. But if you’re unsure, you can use the Park Assist feature to help out.    

The X6 has an extensive safety list and I like the SOS emergency call button and front cross-traffic alert. Both are great to have but the latter is particularly useful on a large SUV like this, especially in the city or driveways.

Other standard safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, LED daytime running lights, forward collision warning, side collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aids, lane departure warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree view reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue monitor, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality. As well as an SOS emergency call button and stolen vehicle tracking.

The X6 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP, so it’s unrated but it is based on the X5, which achieved a five-star rating in 2018. However, it only features six airbags which is low for a family car.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top tethers in this row. Two seats will fit best but I reckon you could squeeze a third in if you had to.

There’s plenty of room for front passengers when you install a 0-4 rearward facing child seat, too, which is good.

The GLC300 is covered by Mercedes-Benz's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. 

Services are annually or every 25,000km. And you can buy a three-year service plan for about $3000.

The ongoing costs are surprisingly reasonable for a large luxury SUV! Like its rivals the X6 enjoys a five-year/unlimited km warranty.

However, you can pre-purchase a servicing plan for up to five years or 80,000km, whichever occurs first, for a flat $2400. Or an average of $480 per service which is inexpensive for this class.

Service intervals are also good at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.