Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d vs Land Rover Discovery Sport vs BMW X3 comparison

We are in the heart of this year’s monsoons but it’s been raining new Mercedes-Benzs for a whole lot longer. The German carmaker has been on an intense drive to revamp its product portfolio with new launches, and where it’s not altogether replaced older models with newer versions, it has thoroughly updated existing ones. There’s also been a whole battery of AMGs that have made their way to India. But, it’s the Selenite Grey model you see here that finally completes the Mercedes range. It’s the much-awaited GLC that plugs the  gap between the small GLA crossover and the larger GLE SUV. But mere participation in the mid-size luxury SUV segment doesn’t guarantee Mercedes success. Alternatives are plenty and include, though are not restricted to, the other duo here.

The Discovery Sport, itself one of the newest entries in the market, brings some traditional Land Rover flavour to the segment, with the added versatility of a seven-seat option. Then there’s one of our long-time favourites – the BMW X3. It’s been around for a while but has been the recipient of a facelift and a new 2.0-litre diesel engine along the way. While the Merc and Land Rover are also available with petrol engines, it’s their more popular diesel versions we’ve considered here. Also of note is that the Discovery Sport is in 150hp TD4 spec rather than the 190hp SD4 form; the latter is unduly expensive and doesn’t bring with it commensurate benefits in performance for the additional outlay over the TD4. What this also means is pricing for the three SUVs is within the same bracket. The GLC 220 d Edition 1 costs Rs 55.74 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Discovery Sport TD4 HSE comes in at Rs 55.31 lakh (for the five-seat version) and the BMW X1 xDrive20 in xLine trim is yours for a slightly lower Rs 53.9 lakh. However, some states levy higher registration charges for imported cars and this implies you could end up paying the most for a GLC, at least until the time Mercedes starts local assembly in India.

Now that you have some perspective, let’s get straight to it and find out which is the best mid-size luxury SUV you can buy today.

Scratching the surface

There’s really not all that much difference between these SUVs in length and width, but the Discovery Sport is the tallest while the Merc’s roof is closest to the ground. In fact, viewed head-on, the GLC’s look can be likened to that of a significantly raised C-class. The two do share their basic underpinnings and carry the same design language, so similarities are only to be expected. What Mercedes has done really well though is translate its new-age, youthful styling treatment on to what is a fairly conventional SUV shape. The brawny look of the protruding grille, for instance, is balanced by the soft contours of the headlights. And while there is a prominent slash at the doors, it doesn’t look overdone. Even the rear end with its spread-out tail-lamps is attractive. There is a tasteful use of chrome on the GLC too, and in all, the look is sporty yet graceful.

The Discovery Sport, on the other hand, has a very rugged air about it. You won’t find any flashy cuts and creases on the body, rather, it’s all about clean lines and a chunky, robust look. It’s unabashedly a Land Rover, so it’s designed to look at home in the mud, not Madrid. The family look at the front works well, while the thick C-pillar and wrap-around appearance of the rear windshield add distinction to the design. If there’s a spoiler, it’s that the 17-inch wheels look too small under the large wheel arches.

Like the GLC, 18-inch rims are standard fit on the X3. The Bimmer is attractive in its own right, but perhaps since we’ve seen the shape for long now, it doesn’t appear as special as its rivals today. 2014’s update did bring a new face with larger headlights that fuse with the kidney grille and this helps link the X3 to the latest BMWs. The X3’s rear end is smart and the tailgate opens to reveal a sizeable luggage bay. However, go for the optional spare wheel (the X3 uses run-flat tyres, remember), as you must, and you’ll see useable space reduce significantly. That’s a complaint with the GLC too; the space-saver tyre that sits on the boot floor, rather than under it, ironically eats up most of the space. For what it’s worth, the GLC is the only one here with an electric boot shut function. The Discovery Sport has the biggest boot of this trio, and thankfully, also comes with a dedicated recess for the spare tyre. An important distinction to note between the five- and seven-seat versions of the Discovery Sport is that while the former comes with a full-size spare tyre, the latter gets only a space saver. It’s something to keep in mind when deciding on the right version of the Discovery Sport for your needs.