BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLB
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
BMW X3 scores higher, 73 vs 63
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 10 Nov 2026, price 1 Oct 2026
BMW X3
21 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 no dataFrom
$86,100
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 140kW
- Economy
- 7.5 L/100kmWLTP test cycle, not directly comparable with ADR 81/02 figures
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 570L
Top CarSorted Score, 73 vs 63
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
15 of 27 standard · no option data · 12 no dataPrice TBC
The manufacturer has not published an Australian price for this model yet.
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- No data
- Power
- 120kW
- Economy
- 7.5 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- No data
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Mercedes-Benz GLB: we're still completing price, length, width, height and wheelbase, plus 5 others.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$86,100RRP
- no option data for this car
No price
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Fuel figures here come from different test cycles (BMW X3: WLTP; Mercedes-Benz GLB: ADR 81/02), so they are not compared like-for-like and no fuel winner is shown.
Price and cost per week
BMW X3 20 xDrive
$86,100
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $375 a week in repayments ($86,100 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Mercedes-Benz GLB GLB 200
No price published
The manufacturer has not published an Australian price.
$71,429 drive-away in VIC, as published by Mercedes-Benz Australia
About $307 a week in repayments ($71,429 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
CarSorted
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$307/wk(≈$1,331/mo)
Estimate on the Mercedes-Benz GLB at $71,429 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X3Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Mercedes-Benz GLB a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the BMW X3 and 5 on the Mercedes-Benz GLB.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW X3
- REC-006668 · published 16 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2025
- REC-006553 · published 4 Mar 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may develop an internal coolant leak.Year range on the notice: 2010 - 2022
- REC-006539 · published 17 Feb 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the starter motor solenoid switch can experience increased wear that could cause an internal short circuit.Year range on the notice: 2020 - 2023
- 8 more on the model page.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
- REC-006695 · published 12 Aug 2026Nine model lines: door lock defect (campaign RC5219)Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2026
- REC-006158 · published 6 Nov 2024The tyres within this production range may not meet manufacturing specifications which may lead to deflation of the tyre.Year range on the notice: 2024
- REC-005949 · published 15 Apr 2024The electrical power steering control unit back-up software may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2018 - 2024
- 8 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW X3 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bowers & Wilkins audio — features our data doesn't list for the Mercedes-Benz GLB. The Mercedes-Benz GLB counters with Apple CarPlay, head-up display, panoramic roof and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW X3 gets merino leather upholstery while the Mercedes-Benz GLB offers black artico man-made leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW X3 uses a Petrol producing 140kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz GLB lines up making 120kW, paired to a 8g-edct dual clutch transmission, 8-speed automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds.
The BMW X3 has the clear power advantage at 140kW vs 120kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the BMW X3 is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW X3 turns in a 12.1 m circle, kerb to kerb; the Mercedes-Benz GLB's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the BMW X3 costs about $2,138 a year (7.5 L/100km) and fuel for the Mercedes-Benz GLB about $2,138 a year (7.5 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW X3) and 5 years / Unlimited (Mercedes-Benz GLB).
Where each one leads
The BMW X3: more power (140kW against 120kW).
The Mercedes-Benz GLB: nothing in the figures we hold puts it ahead of the BMW X3.
The Verdict
BMW X3 scores higher, 73 vs 63
The BMW X3 scores 73 to the Mercedes-Benz GLB's 63 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 2 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: safety (BMW X3 ahead by 29 points), practicality (BMW X3 ahead by 23 points), performance (BMW X3 ahead by 6 points).
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$307/wk(≈$1,331/mo)
Estimate on the Mercedes-Benz GLB at $71,429 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW X3Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The BMW X3 is the cheapest at $86,100 before on-road costs.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BMW X3 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Mercedes-Benz GLB, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which can tow the most?
The BMW X3 has the highest braked towing capacity at 2,400kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The BMW X3 makes the most power at 140kW. The BMW X3 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.5s.
Track the BMW X3 & Mercedes-Benz GLB
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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