BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA

Inside the BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLA

While both vehicles firmly lean towards the side of luxury when it comes to their cabins, the 2021 BMW X3 offers a slightly more comfortable ride for you and your passengers.

Each vehicle comes with five seats that provide a great deal of space for everyone, but the X3 is the only one that comes standard with an automatic 3-zone climate control system. This means your rear-seat passengers will also get their own ability to adjust the climate control system, along with yourself and your front passenger.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA only comes with dual-zone settings. You will also have power front seats in both vehicles. The GLA comes with 8-way power seats, while the 10-way power front sport seats in the 2021 BMW X3, with its 2-way power side bolsters and thigh support, provide a true first-class commute.

A Look at Their Tech

Within both of these SUVs, too, you will have an advanced touchscreen display that will give you customizable options and a personalized connection while driving. Viewing applications and changing settings on the touchscreen is easier with the BMW X3, since it is 10.25 inches.

The standard touchscreen in the 2021 GLA is just a 7-inch display. Plus, this display also features a standard navigation system in the BMW X3. With this, you can always find the fastest way to get where you need to go.

They each also have advanced safety systems that can help you avoid potential frontal collisions. Only the X3, though, has a standard Lane Departure Warning system that can make sure you stay safely within the lines of your lane at all times.

X3 vs GLA: Performance

BMW has reached legendary status when it comes to its engineering, and the 2021 X3 is one of many models that showcases why. With the mixture of its sport automatic transmission, calculated weight distribution, and advanced systems like its Dynamic Stability Control, it provides agile, smooth, and controlled driving.

It also comes with a rear-wheel-drive system, which, when compared to the front-wheel drive in the GLA, gives you sharper handling and quicker acceleration. Plus, its 248-horsepower 2.0L TwinPower turbo 4-cylinder engine is ready to make every commute exciting when driving the BMW X3.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA comes powered by a 2.0L turbo inline engine, which only creates 221 horsepower. The 2021 X3 also offers an even more power engine option - its 382-horsepower 3.0L TwinPower turbo 6-cylinder engine.