Mercedes GLC vs rivals: Specifications comparison

On June 2, 2016, Mercedes will launch the GLC, its C-class sedan based SUV that will slot between the GLA and GLE SUVs. It will take on the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60, and will be the only car in the segment to come with both petrol and diesel engines. We bring you how its tech-specs stack up against those of its rivals.

Note: For sake of simplicity, we shall only consider the four-cylinder diesel engined cars, and so, the petrol GLC 300, range-topping 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder diesel powered BMW X3 and 2.4-litre AWD version of the Volvo XC60 haven’t been considered in this comparison.

Dimensions

When it comes to luxury cars, space is of prime importance, and in this regard, the GLC claims to be class-leading. We drove the car recently and came away impressed with its cabin-space and it’s not difficult to see why. It has the longest wheelbase and is the widest car, both of which translate into a spacious interior.

In terms of size, all four cars are closely matched in terms of length, the BMW X3 being the longest of the lot, leading the GLC by just 1mm. As mentioned earlier, the GLC is the widest, and that too by a large margin. The X3 on the other hand is the leanest car here, with the Q5 and the XC60 spanning within millimetres of each other. The XC60 is the tallest car of the four, while it is the GLC that’s the shortest.

Not only is the X3 the slimmest, it is also the lightest car in the comparison, which should give it an advantage over the others in terms of performance and efficiency. At 1,830kg, the Q5 is marginally heavier, and is followed by the GLC and the portly XC60.