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Mercedes-Benz GLC Wins Review vs. Range Rover Evoque, Lexus NX, and BMW X3

13401 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Toobad, 
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Drive.com, an Australian auto news site, has taken the time to compare a number of rivals versus the new Mercedes-Benz GLC. After all is said and done the GLC came out on top of the BMW X3, the Range Rover Evoque and the Lexus NX. Here's how the four vehicles measure up to one another (keep in mind that prices are in Australian dollars.)

BMW X3

Price: $74,600 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 180kW at 5000rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 1250-4800rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.3L/100km

The BMW X3 is the most powerful of the bunch with its 2.0L 4-cylinder turbo engine. It also is lauded as the most sporty with great handling, but that is a bit of a double-edged sword since it makes the ride less comfortable. That means more vibration and feel as you drive. It's sporty characteristics also make it better on-road, but it also isn't as good as some of the other vehicles when it comes to off-road ability.

Range Rover Evoque HSE Dynamic Si4

Price: From $80,605 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 177kW at 5800rpm

Torque: 340Nm at 1750rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.8L/100km

The Evoque wins when it comes to styling, although that styling, achieved partly through the coupe-style roof, sacrifices the interior space of the vehicle. The Evoque has a quiet and comfortable ride, and also has the best off-road capability of the four vehicles. The 9-speed automatic transmission can be a problem; it sometimes can get confused as to which gear to go with.

Lexus NX

Price: From $63,127 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 175kW at 4800-5600rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 1650-4000rpm

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.9L/100km

The Lexus NX has the lowest price, and consequently has the best value. That cheaper price does show itself when it comes to the interior with some harder plastics and lacklustre design when compared to its rivals. It unfortunately has the worst fuel economy, and its transmission is a 6-speed automatic which makes it the only one of the four vehicles without a 9-speed automatic transmission. The ride is quite comfortable, though handling could be improved as it doesn't feel as grounded.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Price: From $67,900 plus on-road costs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 155kW at 5500rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 1200-1400rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive

Fuel use: 7.2L/100km

After all has been said and done, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is touted as the winner of this comparison. The viewer says that it really doesn't have any weaknesses. The C-class sedan won the website's 2014 Drive Car of the Year award, and the GLC is based on the same underpinnings. It has an excellent ride, the best 9-speed automatic transmission of the group and the most fuel efficient engine as well. In comparison to the others it also has a roomier interior as it doesn't go with a sloped roofline like others.
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The Mercedes GLC is an all around good car with great utility and quality. A bit surprised that it managed to beat the BMW X3, BMW series usually wins because of how it drives.
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K
The BMW X3 xDrive28i probably lost by a hair's breadth as the only issue they pointed out was a firm suspension and it's lack of off road capabilities. It's supposed to be a paved road specific car so off rod functions aren't exactly a necessity.
Close call with the Range Rover Evoque too since the review has plenty of positive things to say about it.

Still, the GLC came out on top; better suspension and equipment at a more affordable price.
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Karl said:
The BMW X3 xDrive28i probably lost by a hair's breadth as the only issue they pointed out was a firm suspension and it's lack of off road capabilities. It's supposed to be a paved road specific car so off rod functions aren't exactly a necessity.
Close call with the Range Rover Evoque too since the review has plenty of positive things to say about it.

Still, the GLC came out on top; better suspension and equipment at a more affordable price.
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Even if it isn't meant for offroad, I still think that the GLC gets points for being more versatile. I was surprised at what they said about the NX interior. Wasn't expecting plastics like that.
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JRE
I drove the Evoque. It's a very nice car but doesn't quite stack up to the GLC. The transmission is indeed funky. It felt like it was always in too high of a gear where if you tried to accelerate somewhat briskly, it was a 2-3 gear downshift to get going which brought an annoying delay while it sorted through the gears. In sport mode this is alleviated; however, it is too aggressive with hard engine braking because it tends to be in too low of a gear. Unfortunately, there's no "Goldilocks zone" in between settings between the default and sport which probably would've been just right. The ride is also more harsh than the GLC but does handle rather well although the GLC does handle very well while giving a more cushy ride (I have not drive one with air suspension).

The X3 is a really great car all around and I only really have one knock on it - interior design. The BMW's have always had a more austere and "all-business" design inside which is fine because it still feels rich but my problem is, if you take a 3 year old BMW interior and compare it to a new BMW (just about any model), the interiors are almost identical. They hardly change anything and therefore if you go from one BMW to another, it feels like you are getting the same car. This may be a plus in the eyes of some people but not me. The inside of the GLC puts the X3 interior to shame and has a nicer ride overall. I think the GLC looks better on the exterior as well, especially the side view. I hate the way the rear side window on the X3 pinches up...make it look like and over-sized station wagon. The X5 styling is much better in this respect.

I didn't drive the Lexus simply because that huge hourglass grill is FUGLY. I would never be able to own a car that looks like that so I didn't even give it consideration.

The other car I drove that I liked a lot is the new Acura RDX. For the money, it is really packer with features and drives nicely. However, it does feel more like a premium car than a luxury car which ultimately steered me away from it. Their infotainment system is a bit much with the dual screens etc too but I've read once you figure it out it's pretty nice.
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P
I just find it odd that the GLC is so much more expensive than the BMW.
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JRE
How do you figure that? They are pretty close in price both in base and loaded out.
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JRE said:
How do you figure that? They are pretty close in price both in base and loaded out.
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That's what I was thinking as well. Both are priced in such a way pricing is out of the picture, creates space to start thinking about more important things like features and what really impacts your experience as an owner.
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P
Hmm... perhaps it was the comparison of two different models from the brands. My bad.
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C
I think/HOPE the GLC is a great car, I would consider it to replace my current '96 MB E-320... But I think this review is paid by MB (don't know the truth) , I would read a lot more reviews from end users before I draw the conclusion... Nevertheless, I like its design... My issue/problem is I buy a car and drive until I throw it out, so I do a lot of research on internet (mostly from owners/end users)
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JRE
most of the "professional" reviews agree that the GLC comes out on top for the very reasons called out in this article. I won't have mine for about a month :(
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JRE said:
most of the "professional" reviews agree that the GLC comes out on top for the very reasons called out in this article. I won't have mine for about a month :(
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One of the reasons why I like to wait for real owners to report on their experience, especially with those long term reviews since it exposes a lot of things. But that's a long way out.

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
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Hi all,

I am in decision making mode.
Test drove the BMW X3/X4 and GLC.
All a step up from my current vehicle.

It's a hard choice. I do prefer the drive of BMW's and their infotainment system....
But their interior and exterior are old design.

I think a next gen X3 will be killer...... but as of now I'm leaning towards the glc.
Also here a glc with my preferred options is cheaper than an equivalent BMW.
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cvee72 said:
Hi all,

I am in decision making mode.
Test drove the BMW X3/X4 and GLC.
All a step up from my current vehicle.

It's a hard choice. I do prefer the drive of BMW's and their infotainment system....
But their interior and exterior are old design.

I think a next gen X3 will be killer...... but as of now I'm leaning towards the glc.
Also here a glc with my preferred options is cheaper than an equivalent BMW.
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Asking this on a Mercedes forum you will get a bias towards MB.

But being a person to open to any brand out there, in my opinion the GLC looks best inside and out, everything else will look very old in a few years.

MB's new design language will age well, just as many of its previous generations have.
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Novice


As stated by previous members the interiors of BMW vehs are all much the same, and I had six new models over the past 12 years....;)​
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Toobad
The RX may be the cheapest of the bunch but that grill design fell out the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Audi have just unveiled their next generation Q5 at the Paris Motor Show. Having run with the previous model since Aesop was a lad, I was expecting some radical redesign. Turns out it is just more of the same. They have missed an opportunity to become the lead dog. I'm not a fan of the chopped roof look of the Vogue, I don't think it will stand the test of time. If I had the budget I'd "invest" in a Macan Turbo only because current owners can sell for more than the List Price because of the lead times for new orders. I'm glad to say I have not had one ounce of buyers remorse with my 220d.
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