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

Опубликовано 28 июня 2026, 7:00

In our in-depth BMW iX3 vs NEW Mercedes GLC Electric comparison, we pit our reigning Car of the Year against a brand-new (and formidable) premium electric SUV from Mercedes-Benz.

On an epic 350-mile road trip, we conduct a real-world range test to find out how many miles you can REALLY expect from a full battery on a long motorway trip. On paper, the BMW iX3 should have the edge thanks to its enormous 108.7kWh battery. However, the new Mercedes GLC has a potential game-changing Porsche Taycan-style two-speed automatic gearbox, designed to improve its high-speed cruising efficiency.

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

Beyond the motorway cruise, we take a detour to thoroughly review their driving manners, interiors and test out their practicality. With the Mercedes GLC offering optional air suspension, can it deliver a level of ride comfort and refinement to dethrone our current class-leader?

Finally, we break down the monthly PCP finance costs, total journey expenses and crown an overall winner in this incredibly close group test. Watch to find out which SUV comes out on top!

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

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Video chapters:
0:00 Intro: BMW iX3 vs Mercedes GLC Electric
0:58 Price & Specs: Two-Speed Gearbox vs Big Battery
3:33 Test Rules & The Range Test
5:15 Motorway Driving Impressions
6:41 Country Road Driving
9:18 BMW iX3 Interior Review
12:06 Mercedes GLC Electric Interior Review
15:25 Running Out of Charge!
18:19 Real-world Range Figures
19:45 Efficiency Comparison
20:55 Cost of the Trip
21:38 Charging Times
22:19 Verdict: Which is Better?