2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs. BMW X3

Both the 2025 GLE and the X3 offer you a choice of turbo engines so you can have great power behind the wheel. The 2025 GLE offers six types of engines, while the X3 only offers two choices. Having more options leads to more power.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE’s turbo engines include:

• 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine
• 2.0L inline-4 turbo plug-in hybrid engine
• 3.0L inline-6 turbo engine
• 4.0L V8 biturbo engine
• AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo engine
• Handcrafted AMG 4.0L V8 biturbo engine

The BMW X3 offers a 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine and a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo engine.

If you want to feel powerful, get behind one of these steering wheels. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE provides drivers with a max 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The BMW X3 comes close but falls short, offering a max 473 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque.

Another great asset of these vehicles is their automatic transmissions, which are helpful because they’re easy to use, safe, and less physically demanding for everyday drivers. The 2025 GLE has an impressive 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission , while the X3 has an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2025 GLE and the X3 both come standard with five seats ; however, the 2025 GLE has an available third row which increases seating to seven. The additional seats and space are perfect for trips with the family or if you have extra cargo to take along with you.

The two vehicles' interiors come highly equipped with luxurious seating and features. Both vehicles offer heated front seats, but they’re only standard on the 2025 GLE. An exciting feature available in the 2025 GLE and not in the X3 is the heated and cooled front cupholders. If you’re traveling with your favorite beverage, you can easily keep it hot or cold.

Both SUVs provide the space you need for comfortable travel. However, the 2025 GLE goes the extra mile by offering more space than the X3.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE is bigger than the BMW X3 overall:

If you want a vehicle with more overall cargo capacity, legroom, and shoulder room, then the 2025 GLE is the smarter option for you.

The 2025 GLE and the X3 will make you feel comfortable on the open road. Their safety features are designed to alert and assist you from the time you leave your house to the moment you arrive at your destination.

Both vehicles include a variety of driver-assistance features such as:

• Active Brake Assist
• Blind Spot Assist with Exit Warning Assist
• PRE-SAFE®

However, the Mercedes-Benz goes a bit further by offering the unique Crosswind Assist feature. Crosswind Assist helps to detect when your vehicle is affected by strong winds and helps maintain stability while driving on the highway.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offers two unique safety features that do not have a BMW X3 equivalent. Attention Assist® is the first system of its kind. It continuously monitors up to 70 parameters of driving behavior and alerts drivers with visual and audible warnings if the vehicle detects drowsiness or distraction in the driver. The system offers useful information to the driver throughout long road trips.

The 2025 GLE also offers the Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call Service. This safety feature can automatically initiate a call to Mercedes-Benz Emergency Services when an airbag is deployed or when the seat-belt Emergency Tensioning Device deploys. The device will transmit your GPS-determined location and vehicle information on your behalf. There’s also an SOS button if you or someone around you is in immediate danger.