BMW X3 vs Land Rover Discovery Sport vs Mercedes GLC
Still, if initial impressions are anything to go by, the wait may have been worth it. Not only does the new GLC look the part inside and out, it also comes packed with high-tech features and promises to be more fuel-efficient than its premium-badged contemporaries.
The two most obvious of those are the BMW X3 xDrive20d and our current class champion, the Land Rover Discovery Sport. The vast majority of buyers choose the 178bhp 2.0 TD4 seven-seat version we’ve lined up here.
Our first taste of the GLC on UK roads is in the range-topping 250 d AMG Line that, despite having a sizeable power advantage over its two rivals, costs barely any more to buy. Mercedes might have arrived late to the party, but has it turned up with a winner?
The contenders
BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport auto
We’re big fans of the X3 in SE trim, but does the more focused M Sport model cut the mustard?
Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 180 HSE auto
The benchmark in this class. The Discovery Sport has seating for seven and lots of luxuries.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 d AMG Line
Mercedes’ latest SUV certainly looks the part and seems well priced given the amount of standard kit.
What are they like to drive?
The GLC’s extra power gives it a healthy performance advantage over its rivals. No matter whether you’re using the automatic gearbox’s kickdown function to pile on speed quickly or relying on the engine’s low-rev muscle to accelerate more calmly, the GLC always feels stronger than its rivals.
That said, the BMW is far from sluggish and, in most situations, its eight-speed automatic gearbox acts a bit more intelligently than its rivals’ nine-speed transmissions. It responds more quickly pulling on to roundabouts, and shifts more smoothly the rest of the time.
The Land Rover is the slowcoach here. Performance is adequate, but you have to work its engine pretty hard to get anywhere in a hurry. Despite its name, the Discovery Sport isn’t at all sporty to drive, either. However, the priority for most SUV buyers is a comfortable ride and, on the whole, it delivers this. It’s particularly impressive at high speeds and, although it fidgets around a little more than we’d like over pockmarked urban roads, it’s never uncomfortable.
In AMG Line form the Mercedes rides on sports suspension and our test car also had optional 20in alloys (19s are standard). This might sound like a recipe for a bone-shaking ride, but the result isn’t too bad. Again, you’re jostled around a little at low speeds, but the pay-off is considerably less body sway through bends than in the Land Rover. It’s just a pity the GLC’s steering isn’t better; it weights up
in a very unnatural way turning in to corners, whereas the Land Rover’s steering is more accurate and confidence-inspiring.
For years, we’ve heaped praise on the X3’s tidy handling and comfortable ride. However, in range-topping M Sport trim it’s simply too firm. The ultra-stiff suspension does the handling few favours either; even relatively small bumps can throw the car off line.
If you want the looks of the M Sport with a more forgiving ride, you can opt for softer suspension for free, although we’ve yet to try the BMW in this form. We have tried it with £650 variable damper control, but the fact that its two rivals are comfortable enough without an expensive upgrade counts against this particular X3.
The BMW is also the least refined; it has the gruffest engine and suffers from the most wind noise on the motorway. The Mercedes is the quietest overall, although the larger-than-standard alloys on our test car generated some road noise.
What are they like inside?
You’re unlikely to have much bother finding a comfortable driving position in any of these SUVs, although the BMW’s lack of electric seat adjustment makes the process more complicated than in its rivals. The BMW is also the only one of the trio without adjustable lumbar support, although you can add it for a reasonable £265.
For sheer wow-factor the Mercedes’ interior is in a class of its own, thanks to the giant gloss black centre console and eye-catching metal highlights. There are a couple of examples of questionable build quality, but the Mercedes still edges the BMW for outright quality. The Land Rover’s interior feels the lowest-quality of the three, but its greater focus on functionality makes tasks such as adjusting the air-con easier than in either rival.
Practicality is a priority for many SUV buyers and here the Land Rover has a clear edge. It’s the only one of the trio that can carry seven people and the only contender with a second row of seats that slide back and forth and recline. Better still, the Discovery has the most space for two rear passengers; the Mercedes has the least, but still plenty for a couple of six-footers.
The Land Rover’s extra seats are a massive bonus. You have to clamber through a narrow gap to get to them, and they are only comfortable enough for smaller children on long journeys, but adults can certainly use them on short trips.
Fold the Land Rover’s rearmost seats away and you’re left with a large, square luggage area. Ignore the official boot capacity of 981 litres – Land Rover measures its cars in a different way from most other manufacturers – but it still has a longer and slightly wider boot than both German rivals. The Mercedes’ load capacity is the same as the BMW’s, but folding down its rear seats is easier than in either rival; you simply flick tiny switches on the walls of the boot and the backrests drop flat automatically.
What will they cost?
The Mercedes has the highest list price, although after discounts it costs just £2 more than the Land Rover. The BMW is the cheapest to buy outright with cash before and after discounts.
However, company car drivers will find the Mercedes makes the most financial sense. Its lowest CO2 emissions mean it works out £837 cheaper than the Land Rover over three years for a 40% taxpayer,
and £558 cheaper than the BMW. Contract hire rates for the three are less diverse, with the BMW only slightly cheaper over three years than the other two.
Buyers looking to finance their next car with a PCP deal will tempted by the Mercedes, too. On a three-year, 12,000-mile-a-year deal with a £5000 deposit, the Mercedes will cost £482 a month, the Land Rover £486, and the BMW £528.
There’s more good news for the Mercedes in our fuel tests, which revealed the GLC to be the most efficient. It’s also the cheapest to tax and is predicted to hold on to its value for longer. Even so, the Land Rover is still, albeit marginally, cheaper to own privately over three years, with the BMW the most expensive by around £750.
Land Rover has been most generous with standard equipment. All three cars get 19in alloy wheels, climate control, leather heated front seats (although the GLC’s are man-made leather), automatic headlights and wipers, front and rear parking sensors, an electric tailgate, cruise control and keyless start. The Land Rover and Mercedes add electric front seats, upgraded headlights and a reversing camera to that list, while the Land Rover is unique in adding a panoramic roof and keyless entry.
All three gained five stars in their respective Euro NCAP crash tests, but the Mercedes scored highest in the adult, child and pedestrian categories. City braking and tyre-pressure monitoring cost extra on the X3, and the Mercedes and Land Rover get one more airbag than the BMW. Security firm Thatcham awarded each car four stars (out of five) for resisting being stolen and three for resisting a break-in.
Our verdict
For many the biggest surprise here will be the BMW X3 finishing last. Just over a year ago it was our favourite large SUV this side of £50,000, and its fall from grace serves to highlight how quickly the game has moved on in this fiercely competitive class.
However, it’s important to point out that cheaper versions of the X3 make a lot more sense than this range-topping M Sport model, not only on financial grounds, but also because of their better ride comfort. Nevertheless, it’s getting harder and harder to overlook the X3’s shortage of standard safety equipment and its comparatively heavy depreciation.
The GLC is one of the best cars Mercedes has launched in years. It’s good to drive, smart inside and, in range-topping 250 AMG Line trim, as tested here, both fast and lavishly equipped. It even stacks up well financially for private buyers and company car drivers, which is something we’re not used to saying about many modern Mercedes models.
Cheaper and more comfortable GLC models could be even more recommendable, but until we’ve tried them the Discovery Sport remains top of the pile. The fact it’s so much more practical than its rivals is a huge bonus, but it’s also the most comfortable of our trio and the most generously equipped. Yes, its diesel engine could do with a bit more oomph and we wish its touchscreen infotainment system was better, but these are relatively small criticisms of what’s otherwise a thoroughly brilliant SUV.
1st
Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 180 HSE auto
For Superb practicality; good to drive; slow depreciation; loads of standard equipment
Against So-so performance; infotainment system slow to respond; unsettled low-speed ride
Verdict The best large SUV you can buy for less than £45,000
2nd
Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 d AMG Line
For Strong engine; smart and clever interior; low CO2
Against Fiddly infotainment; smallest inside
Verdict A fine choice if practicality isn’t your priority
3rd
BMW X3 xDrive20d M Sport auto
For Spacious cabin; brilliant infotainment system
Against Overly firm ride; depreciation; safety kit
Verdict Cheaper X3s make far more sense
BMW X3 xDrive20d
Engine size
2.0-litre diesel
Price from
£38,590 (list)
Power
188bhp
Torque
295lb ft
0-60mph
8.5 seconds
Top speed
130mph
Fuel economy
38.4mpg
CO2
136g/km
Land Rover Discovery Sport TD4 180
Engine size
2.0-litre diesel
Price from
£39,400 (list)
Power
178bhp
Torque
317lb ft
0-60mph
10.3 seconds
Top speed
117mph
Fuel economy
35.9mpg
CO2
139g/km
Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 d
Engine size
2.1-litre diesel
Price from
£39,595 (list)
Power
201bhp
Torque
369lb ft
0-60mph
7.7 seconds
Top speed
138mph
Fuel economy
39.3mpg
CO2
129g/km