2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2025 BMW X3

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS exuded a refined elegance that, while bordering on understated, promised longevity in its appeal. The GLS 450 test vehicle featured striking 22-inch AMG rims, a new silver four-louver grille design, and polished metal accents, all complemented by a lustrous Twilight Blue paint. Inside, the GLS 450 boasted a sophisticated Bahia Brown over Black interior, enriched with natural-grain Grey Oak, contrast stitching, and polished aluminum accents. This combination of elements created an inviting and luxurious environment, characteristic of Mercedes interiors.

In contrast, the 2025 BMW X3 presented a more athletic and seductive appearance for a two-box SUV. Its design featured a long hood, a captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and a tapering greenhouse and roofline, all contributing to its athletic stance. The test model's Arctic Race Blue paint, paired with machined surface wheels and gloss black M Sport details, enhanced its visual appeal. Inside, the X3's cabin was simple yet functional, with quality materials in expected areas, though some lower cabin plastics revealed its price point. The Veganza artificial leather upholstery added a touch of luxury, while the ambient lighting provided a modern touch.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 delivered a smooth and powerful driving experience with its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, producing 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, allowed the GLS 450 to accelerate to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The mild-hybrid system added an instant 148 lb-ft of torque, enhancing responsiveness. The GLS 450 offered a sublime driving experience, with adaptive air suspension and massive Continental Premium Contact tires contributing to its athleticism. The GLS also featured an Off-Road menu within MBUX for off-roading enthusiasts.

The 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Despite its seemingly modest power figures, the X3 achieved a zero-to-60 mph time of six seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and standard xDrive AWD system. The 48-volt mild-hybrid system improved off-the-line responsiveness. For those seeking more power, the X3 M50 xDrive offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The X3's sport-tuned suspension and performance tires provided an engaging driving experience, though the ride quality could be harsh on imperfect roads.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered a spacious and luxurious interior, with supple leather surfaces, heating, ventilation, and massage programs in the front seats. The new steering wheel was a delight to grip, though its touch-sensing controls could be irritating. The second-row captain’s chairs provided excellent thigh support, while the third-row seat was snug for adults but suitable for children. Cargo space was practical, with 17.4 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 42.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 84.7 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2025 BMW X3 provided a spacious interior with a simple dashboard design and a BMW Curved Display housing a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and optional ventilation, while the rear seats were less comfortable, with low positioning and hard front seat-back panels. The cargo area measured 31.5 cubic feet, with a lightweight cargo cover, netted storage area, and a temporary spare tire under the load floor. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo and passenger arrangements.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the latest MBUX infotainment system, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system offered improved graphics and various instrumentation themes, though touch-sensitive areas on the steering wheel and center console could cause confusion. Despite these issues, MBUX was intuitive and featured outstanding natural voice recognition and augmented reality for navigation.

The 2025 BMW X3's BMW Curved Display was powered by the new Operating System 9, offering a Quick Select user experience. However, creating profiles and accessing BMW Digital Services proved challenging. The system occasionally froze or forgot media preferences, leading to frustration. Despite these issues, the navigation system with augmented video feature worked well, and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity was intuitive and flawless.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS came equipped with over 20 significant safety features, with adjustable advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) through MBUX. The forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist systems were effective without being intrusive. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems performed smoothly on various road conditions, with only a single instance of lane-centering assist turning off.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and active blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control and Steering Assistant technology, while the Driving Assistant Professional Package included hands-free Traffic Jam Assistant and other advanced features. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for the driver and front passenger in the frontal-impact crash test.