350-mile test! New Mercedes GLC vs BMW iX3 ROAD TRIP

In our in-depth BMW iX3 vs NEW Mercedes GLC Electric contrast, we pit our ruling Car of the Year versus a new (and formidable) premium electrical SUV from Mercedes-Benz.

On an impressive 350-mile road trip, we perform a real-world variety test to learn the number of miles you can REALLY anticipate from a full battery on a long motorway journey. On paper, the BMW iX3 need to have the edge thanks to its massive 108.7 kWh battery. However, the brand-new Mercedes GLC has a possible game-changing Porsche Taycan-style two-speed automated transmission, designed to improve its high-speed travelling efficiency.

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We charge both of these electric cars and trucks to 100% and drive them in convoy until their battery levels struck 10%. We then work out their real-world range and performance, and learn for how long they actually take to charge up utilizing ultra-rapid public charging points.

Beyond the motorway cruise, we take a detour to completely review their driving manners, interiors and test out their functionality. With the Mercedes GLC using optional air suspension, can it provide a level of trip convenience and refinement to dethrone our current class-leader?

Lastly, we break down the monthly PCP financing costs, overall journey expenses and crown a total winner in this exceptionally close group test. Enjoy to discover which SUV comes out on top!

Provided by: Will Nightingale & Dan Jones
Videography by: Tom Goodban

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#BMWiX 3 #MercedesGLC #ElectricSUV #RangeTest #EVRoadTrip #WhatCar #CarReview #PremiumEV #ElectricVehicles #newcar 2026.

Video chapters:.
0:00 Introduction: BMW iX3 vs Mercedes GLC Electric.
0:58 Cost & Specifications: Two-Speed Gearbox vs Big Battery.
3:33 Test Rules & The Range Test.
5:15 Freeway Driving Impressions.
6:41 Country Road Driving.
9:18 BMW iX3 Interior Evaluation.
12:06 Mercedes GLC Electric Interior Review.
15:25 Running Out of Charge!
18:19 Real-world Variety Figures.
19:45 Effectiveness Comparison.
20:55 Expense of the Journey.
21:38 Charging Times.
22:19 Decision: Which is Better?

Comments

47 responses to “350-mile test! New Mercedes GLC vs BMW iX3 ROAD TRIP”

  1. @whatcar Avatar
    @whatcar

    If you were buying a new premium electric SUV, where would your money go?

    A) Mercedes GLC Electric (I want maximum comfort and a quieter interior) 🇩🇪
    B) BMW iX3 (Handling is more important to me and it has a slightly longer range) 🏁
    C) Volvo EX60 (I prefer the looks and the Scandi interior) 🇸🇪

    Let us know your choice in the comments! 👇

    1. @USUG0 Avatar
      @USUG0

      a Zeekr 7X awd performance!

    2. @williambradley3335 Avatar
      @williambradley3335

      In this video, the BMW is noticeably quieter? Road noise is my pet hate!

    3. @Johanbeerden Avatar
      @Johanbeerden

      @williambradley3335 I can tell you from experience that the MB is a little more quiet.

    4. @andersgunnarsson8113 Avatar
      @andersgunnarsson8113

      Mercedes 👍👍

    5. @pade1365 Avatar
      @pade1365

      Volvo

  2. @stevenjones916 Avatar
    @stevenjones916

    The fact that an Audi wasn’t included in the test speaks volumes about the brand at the moment.

    1. @Q-nt-Tf Avatar
      @Q-nt-Tf

      What car could they even add?

    2. @maksf1968 Avatar
      @maksf1968

      Q6 etron maybe

    3. @Cag-1907 Avatar
      @Cag-1907

      @Q-nt-Tfaudi Q4

    4. @Cag-1907 Avatar
      @Cag-1907

      Audi never was on the level of BMW and Merc

    5. @barrelsandwine4188 Avatar
      @barrelsandwine4188

      @Cag-1907q6 actually.

  3. @HamsterClamper Avatar
    @HamsterClamper

    I unfortunately lose interest in these videos when they give us the real prices. £75k+ for a compact SUV? Absolutely insane🙁

    1. @kenoh818 Avatar
      @kenoh818

      Especially when it’s an EV!

    2. @ZippyBeep Avatar
      @ZippyBeep

      Beat me to it, who’s going to pay that?

    3. @Stig765 Avatar
      @Stig765

      Madness

    4. @granituka6819 Avatar
      @granituka6819

      Wait 3 years at get it for £30k😅

    5. @aleeyh69 Avatar
      @aleeyh69

      I am either getting the Volvo ex60 or buy a used one in 3 years

  4. @Adam-pt3cb Avatar
    @Adam-pt3cb

    The 22” on the iX3 is reported to make the car feel a lot bumpier than the 21” or 20”. Not sure why anyone would want the big wheels other than looks.

    1. @rc666 Avatar
      @rc666

      Looks for passers by.

    2. @stevenjones916 Avatar
      @stevenjones916

      ​@rc666 Surely the dumbest reason to spend money and worsen your owneship experience.

    3. @madrettorfotrop6016 Avatar
      @madrettorfotrop6016

      Because it will make your neighbours think you can drive like Augusto Farfus.

    4. @Twin.motors Avatar
      @Twin.motors

      buying these cars is 100% for looks so the 22s make sense

  5. @raakkyanabayan7487 Avatar
    @raakkyanabayan7487

    Super 💯

  6. @peterjessop1878 Avatar
    @peterjessop1878

    These will be both excellent cars to buy secondhand in 3 years time

    1. @Mustafafilming Avatar
      @Mustafafilming

      If only they had ICE engines probably.

    2. @planetfall-0_0 Avatar
      @planetfall-0_0

      Only if you like paying for a badge instead of a good car

    3. @vicheaterx Avatar
      @vicheaterx

      Not with 8-10% degradation. 300ish mile range left will not compete with 2yrs from now EV long range models then. Think tesla, chinese, koreans…

  7. @80y3r9 Avatar
    @80y3r9

    So it’s 4 seat but 2m wide..wow amazing packaging how did they do it

  8. @j4jurg Avatar
    @j4jurg

    Interesting, thank you. Nevertheless, very happy with my Macan EV and not swapping for either one of these.

  9. @omer-sv1rb Avatar
    @omer-sv1rb

    Average speed ??

  10. @theyruinedyoutubeagain Avatar
    @theyruinedyoutubeagain

    Please for the love of god more real-world head-to-head range tests like this 😩

  11. @stamina9648 Avatar
    @stamina9648

    I will go for merc. Sporty driving not anymore the priority but long trip convenience is.

  12. @Jorgen926 Avatar
    @Jorgen926

    I love watching your car tests. I am from Denmark and I guess you have many viewers outside of UK. I would love if you also wrote in the text at the bottom of the screen the range, consumption etc in metric measures. Would be lovely 😊

    1. @londonwestman1 Avatar
      @londonwestman1

      I’m actually in the UK but I use the metric consumption. I agree it would be nice to see these things

  13. @johngpreston1784 Avatar
    @johngpreston1784

    Why would you choose the “range topping” merc but the worst 22 inch wheels on the BMW? Plus the BMW known to be more comfortable on the 20 inch wheels.

    1. @uttherkunst3806 Avatar
      @uttherkunst3806

      Likely it was what BMW gave them, but I agree that a range test is pointless if one of the cars has the idiotic wheels option.

  14. @DanielEdwards-c6z Avatar
    @DanielEdwards-c6z

    I have ordered the GLC. But recently I have discovered that Mercedes have not taken any additional steps to secure the radar behind the big central badge at the front. My neighbour has had his radar on his EQS SUV stolen twice in the last 12 months. There is a video on YouTube showing the factory production line and in this video highly valuable radar is clearly on show and then a technician just pops the badge over the top! This is deeply worrying for someone who has bought a top spec vehicle which comes to £78,000 in total. Especially given securing bolts cost about 50p each yet to replace the radar costs £5000 every time they are stolen. Whilst you’ve been testing for efficiency and interior quality, you haven’t been testing for security. It is notable that the Mercedes is a significantly higher insurance group in fact it’s the highest. From a complete consumer position it would be really helpful to understand what steps BMW have taken to protect these valuable components versus Mercedes, Audi and Volvo. I think buyers in London would find this of significant value. Please help, you are a consumer show!

  15. @andrew0winter Avatar
    @andrew0winter

    are you guys use same microphone? there is little bit difference in road noise when they talk in the each car

  16. @vitalyromas6752 Avatar
    @vitalyromas6752

    Pity, you didn’t add the average speed to the results of both car. It would make the test much more informative.

    1. @uttherkunst3806 Avatar
      @uttherkunst3806

      They drove together, which would suggest the average speed was identical…

    2. @steverooks914 Avatar
      @steverooks914

      they were in convey ! So avg speed very similar

    3. @vitalyromas6752 Avatar
      @vitalyromas6752

      @steverooks914 But their results are different. And the average speed is the key data to understand the results.

  17. @vhol93 Avatar
    @vhol93

    Nice

  18. @MichaelBeasley-s8x Avatar
    @MichaelBeasley-s8x

    Compare a car on 21 inch with a car on 22 inch (the same car) the smaller wheels are more comfortable and more economical. Why use different size wheels for this important comparison?

  19. @keny7269 Avatar
    @keny7269

    Include metric system in addition plz – otherwise – great review

    Edit: The charge test seems to be very misleading ….

  20. @richardjohnson5394 Avatar
    @richardjohnson5394

    Looked at both and the Audi and went for a Tesla MY and keeping my Audi a5 cabriolet for sunny weekends with the money saved.
    Shocked by the actual price of these vehicles when extras added and the low quality cabins

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