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BMW iX3 (2021-2025) vs Mercedes-Benz EQC
Selected trimPremier Edition · 2021Change trim279 mi · 80 kWh · £58,850
Selected trim400 4MATIC · 2019-24259 mi · 80 kWh · £65,640
At a glance
The Mercedes-Benz EQC was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz GLC in 2026. Compare the BMW iX3 with the Mercedes-Benz GLC
In this comparison, BMW iX3 leads on value for money, family practicality and charging speed, while the Mercedes-Benz EQC stays competitive across the board.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW iX3 (2021-2025) if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The BMW iX3 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueBMW
BMW
4.7
Mercedes-Benz
4.2
FamilyBMW
BMW
7.6
Mercedes-Benz
7
ChargingBMW
BMW
3.8
Mercedes-Benz
1.4
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £58,850 (better) | £65,640 |
| Official range | 279 miles (better) | 259 miles |
| Boot space | 510 L (better) | 500 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 34 min (better) | 40 min |
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec | 5.1 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
View:
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BMW iX3
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Length
BMW iX34,734mm-28mm
Mercedes-Benz EQC4,762mm
Width
BMW iX31,891mm
Mercedes-Benz EQC1,884mm-7mm
Height
BMW iX31,668mm
Mercedes-Benz EQC1,624mm-44mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,734 mm | 4,762 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,891 mm | 1,884 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | Not available | 2,096 mm |
| Height | 1,668 mm | 1,624 mm |
| Turning circle | 12.1 m | 11.8 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 509 mm spare | 516 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 510 L (better) | 500 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1560 L (better) | 1460 L |
| Frunk | 0 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 1,800 kg (better) |
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX3 Premier Edition |  Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.73m | 4.76m+28mm |
| Width | 1.89m | 1.88m-7mm |
| Width (mirrors) | Not available | 2.10m |
| Height | 1.67m | 1.62m-44mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.86m | 2.87m+9mm |
| Ground Clearance | 179mm | 177mm-2mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 510L (better) | 500L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1560L (better) | 1460L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 12.1m | 11.8m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 2,260kg (better) | 2,495kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,800kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 80kWh | 80kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 279 mi (better) | 259 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW (better) | 110kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £58,850 (better) | £65,640 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2021–2021 | 2019–2024 |
* BMW iX3: Euro NCAP applied its 2017 BMW X3 rating to the iX3 after extra checks in 2021. That rating expired on 1 January 2024.
* BMW iX3: WLTP range on 20-inch wheels; the 19-inch M Sport is rated a little higher.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 279 miles (better) | 259 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 196 miles | 216 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 34 min (better) | 40 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW (better) | 110 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW (better) | 7.4 kW |
| Energy consumption | 195 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 74 kWh | 80 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 6.8 sec | 5.1 sec (better) |
| Power | 210 kW | 300 kW (better) |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 760 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | AWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BMW iX3
Premier Edition
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
400 4MATIC
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £29,663 | £19,883 |
| Average used price | £29,663 | £23,397 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 3 listings | 29 listings (better) |
| Recent used-price trend | Broadly flat | Down 3.9% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW iX3 Premier Edition
Tested 2017
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant84%
Vulnerable Road Users70%
Safety Assist58%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC
Tested 2019
Adult Occupant96%
Child Occupant90%
Vulnerable Road Users75%
Safety Assist75%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW iX3Premier Edition | Mercedes-Benz EQC400 4MATIC |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km (better) | 160,000 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BMW iX3
Premier Edition
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the smooth, quiet ride and the adaptive dampers, saying it feels like a well-sorted BMW rather than an EV experiment.
- The interior is rated highly for material quality, with physical buttons and the iDrive controller preferred over touchscreen-only rivals.
- Many owners report around 210 to 270 miles in mild weather, and efficiency of roughly 3.5 to 4 miles per kWh on gentle runs.
Watch out for
- Range on cold motorway runs falls well short of the WLTP figure, with some owners reporting 145 to 175 miles at 70 mph in winter.
- Rapid charging peaks at 150 kW, and owners on slower public chargers find stops long.
- It is built on the combustion X3's platform, so there is no front boot and the cabin design is conventional.
Owner tips
- Test-drive at motorway speed and, if you can, in cold weather to judge whether the real range suits your longest regular trips.
- Check the car's exact equipment against its build date rather than assuming the trim name tells you everything.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
400 4MATIC
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the refinement: very quiet, smooth and well insulated from road and motor noise.
- The interior quality and build feel genuinely premium, a step above many newer EVs.
- It handles well for a heavy SUV and rides softly, and owners find it a comfortable family car.
Watch out for
- Efficiency is poor: owners report about 2 to 2.5 miles per kWh, which means roughly 160 to 180 miles in winter and a little over 200 in summer.
- It sits on a platform shared with a petrol SUV, so the rear centre seat has a raised floor hump and ground clearance is low (142 mm).
- Rapid charging and the technology feel dated next to newer purpose-built EVs, and owners worry about depreciation.
Owner tips
- Plan on about 180 to 200 miles of real range, and less in winter.
- Use the D Auto regeneration mode for the best efficiency.
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz EQC
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW iX3
- £29,6632021Car360View
Mercedes-Benz EQC
- £29,9992023Car360View
- £22,3992023Car360View
- £25,3062023Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz EQC worth the extra £6,790 over the BMW iX3?
The Mercedes-Benz EQC costs £6,790 more than the BMW iX3. For that premium it adds 90 kW more power and a 1.7s quicker 0-62mph time. The BMW iX3 is not just cheaper - it also offers 40 kW faster peak rapid charging. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the BMW iX3 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX3 or the Mercedes-Benz EQC?
The BMW iX3 is £6,790 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £208 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the BMW iX3 comes out roughly £6,750 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 196 miles for the BMW iX3 and 216 miles for the Mercedes-Benz EQC - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Mercedes-Benz EQC goes roughly 20 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 34-40 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX3 or the Mercedes-Benz EQC?
The two are within 7 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 516 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz EQC and about 509 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX3.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW iX3 or the Mercedes-Benz EQC?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW iX3 and 84% for the Mercedes-Benz EQC. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BMW iX3 comparisons
More Mercedes-Benz EQC comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the BMW iX3 and Mercedes-Benz EQC rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BMW iX3 (2021-2025): Premier Edition or M Sport, Recalls, Range & What to Check
A used BMW iX3 (2021-2025) buyer’s guide: Premier Edition and M Sport trims compared, the battery recalls, warranty left, real-world and winter range, the 750 kg towing limit, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideUsed Mercedes-Benz EQC buyer's guide (2019-2024)
Buying a used Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC: what you get, realistic range, slow home charging, the recalls, what owners report and what to pay in 2026.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .