Both are German premium brands, and both attempt to combine sensual styling and SUV practicality with hatchback-coupé-handling. Let's see which one takes top honours in the value battle between these two 'Sport Activity Coupes': The BMW X4 xDrive 20d, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d Coupé 4Matic.
Get ready for a thrilling face-off as we pit two titans of automotive excellence against each other: the BMW X4 and the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé.
Styling
In the style stakes, these cars both score highly with their eye-catching coupé-like looks. Not quite as menacing as the buffoon of an X6, the BMW X4 looks slightly more cultured, but the latest rear-light design leaves onlookers either cold or hot (see below).
In contrast, the backside of the GLC Coupé looks decidedly more in proportion. Around the front, it’s purely a matter of taste, depending on whether you prefer BMW or Mercedes-Benz’s design language. Personally, I prefer the grille and headlamp design of the Mercedes. (You can also read our review of the GLC 250 Coupé here.)
Engine & Drivetrain
Both Germans are four-wheel-driven, and their engines both measure 2.0 litres in displacement. As part of its recent facelift at the end of 2019, the GLC received a new-generation engine at the base level, finally saying goodbye to the old 2.1-litre diesel. It is a fair bit more powerful than the old unit, raising its power output from 125 kW to 143 kW. This makes it marginally more potent than the BMW “B47” engine’s 140 kW, which remained unchanged in its 2021 facelift.
These two engines are evenly matched on torque at 400 Nm, however, and on-road performance should be almost indistinguishable. According to the manufacturer’s figures, the Mercedes (with its 9G-Tronic transmission) beats the BMW X4 (with its 8-speed Steptronic gearbox) to 100 km/h sprint at 7.9 seconds vs. the BMW’s 8.0 seconds.
Maximum speed (electronically governed, of course) is 217 and 213 km/h, respectively. They’re about equal in the refinement stakes, however, being fully encapsulated under their bonnets to keep the diesel racket down.
Fuel Consumption
According to the manufacturers’ claimed consumption figures, both “SACs” are light sippers, with average diesel consumption on the combined cycle of around 5.5 litres per 100 km. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that these figures are just an estimate: You can easily add around 2 litres per 100 km to the manufacturers’ number, who measure fuel usage under ideal conditions, out in the real world.
While BMW and Mercedes-Benz both claim that you’ll be able to complete around 1200 km on one tank, we reckon that you’ll be able to squeeze around 950–1000 km out of both the X4 (with a 68-litre tank) and the GLC Coupé (with a 66-litre tank) if you drive decently.
Space
With these SACs being the shape that they are, taller passengers sitting in the rear will surely feel that sloping roofline against the top or back of their heads. Consequently, the X4 and GLC Coupé are not really aimed at couples who still have their older children driving around with them.
As for rear legroom, both cars offer sufficient amounts. The BMW has a slightly larger boot with 525 litres, but it’s very close in size to the GLC Coupe’s 500 litres.
Infotainment
The interior of the facelifted X4 is kitted out with BMW’s latest 12.3-inch iDrive infotainment system using BMW OS 7 (with optional gesture control/touchscreen functionality and wireless charging), as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It’s terrifically user-friendly, but the facelifted GLC’s MBUX interface is also very easy to operate and has the same standard features—much more so than the pre-facelift model’s COMAND system ever managed. These two are about equal in this regard at the moment, with little to set either one apart in terms of functionality or user interface quality.
Safety
The X4 and GLC Coupé have similar safety features, but the Benz has 7 airbags with an option for 9, instead of the six airbags in the X4. Both cars have ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist, traction & stability control, and optional Lane Departure Warning. The current-generation BMW X4 is equipped as standard with Cruise Control with braking function, as well as Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation.
The GLC has Attention Assist to alert you if the system thinks you are nodding off or in need of a break, and another useful feature in the GLC is Collision Prevention Assist (the Mercedes-Benz version of BMW’s City Collision Mitigation), which will first warn you and eventually slam on the brakes if it detects that a crash is imminent.
Buying used? Here’s everything you need to know about the previous (2021) Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Reliability
According to the WhatCar.com car reliability survey, the BMW X3 diesel (and its functionally identical X4 sibling) ranked fourth in class, beaten only by the X3 petrol, Mazda CX-5, and previous-generation Honda CR-V. The GLC finished in mid-pack fourteenth place, so the BMW X4 should prove more reliable than the Mercedes GLC. This trend is echoed in the 2021 J.D. Power survey, with the X4 earning first place in its class and the GLC slotting into fourth.
Pricing
The BMW X4 xDrive 20d is priced at R 1 187 894, while the Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d Coupe 4Matic is priced at R 1 156 053 956 – before options, in both cases. The price difference is not that much. Consequently, these contenders offer similar value propositions, and choosing between them will very much depend on the buyer’s preferences.
* Prices and specifications were accurate at the time of publication, but are subject to change without prior notice.
Keyword: Quick comparison: BMW X4 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé