Electric GLC vs 2026 iX3 - what car - surprising range test
Discussion
I have the GLC on order but was torn between that and the iX3. In the end I concluded that either has more than enough range for other parts of what each car offers to matter more - I preferred the GLC so that's what I went for.
But now this comparison range test shows that there really isn't much in it at all, and that the GLC actually proved more efficient... which really surprised me!
(range comparison and figures towards the end of the video)
Obviously this is just one car v car road test and others may get different results. But it goes to show that too much focus on headline range and efficiency figures probably isn't healthy when it comes to choosing the car that is actually the best fit.
But now this comparison range test shows that there really isn't much in it at all, and that the GLC actually proved more efficient... which really surprised me!
(range comparison and figures towards the end of the video)
Obviously this is just one car v car road test and others may get different results. But it goes to show that too much focus on headline range and efficiency figures probably isn't healthy when it comes to choosing the car that is actually the best fit.
Cristio Nasser said:
Real non-stop ranges of 350+ miles effectively takes range comparisons out of the equation. At least for real people in the real world.
That's what I'm thinking. Also nearly all motorway miles in this test, which suggests the claimed range of either car is basically realistic - or in other words, more than enough!
TheDrownedApe said:
P675 said:
Efficency at 3ish kwh isn't great, I know they are bigger EVs at motorway speeds, but big battery to get the nice range figures is also more money spent at the charger. Efficency is something nobody seems to care about, it's just range range range.
this is PH. 
greggy50 said:
22" wheels on BMW would have killed the range...
Just watched it, good point they compared the least efficient iX3 config at motorway speeds where the GLC 2 speed gearbox is also an advantage. I’d be fine with either tbh 350 miles motorway range is more than enough for any use case I’d have. napistonheads said:
greggy50 said:
22" wheels on BMW would have killed the range...
Just watched it, good point they compared the least efficient iX3 config at motorway speeds where the GLC 2 speed gearbox is also an advantage. I d be fine with either tbh 350 miles motorway range is more than enough for any use case I d have. TheDeuce said:
That's the thing I kept coming back to when I chose. The range is simply no longer a factor. The motoring press still obsessed over it but... The latest generation of EV's make it a non issue in most cases. Especially given we live on a tiny island...
Agreed, range is a non issue for our use cases. There’s definitely still a place for interesting ICE but for daily driving I wouldn’t go back to ICE. napistonheads said:
TheDeuce said:
That's the thing I kept coming back to when I chose. The range is simply no longer a factor. The motoring press still obsessed over it but... The latest generation of EV's make it a non issue in most cases. Especially given we live on a tiny island...
Agreed, range is a non issue for our use cases. There s definitely still a place for interesting ICE but for daily driving I wouldn t go back to ICE. 
My iX3 has 20 inch aero wheels and is consistently getting 3.9 to 4.1 miles per kWh including several hundred miles of motorway last week (have done 1300 miles so far in a month). That includes a lot of very high temperatures (up to mid 30s) when the air con was working hard. The predicted range has been consistently 400-420 when full (with peak extrapolated range in j my first weekend 460 miles
I think the 22 inch wheels cost about 8% to 10% efficiency compared to 20 inch aero wheels
Saw 325kW peak charging speed in a 5 minute 19kWh top up to get home which was too fast. Had to stay with the car while charging so I didn’t get too much in while getting lunch
I think the 22 inch wheels cost about 8% to 10% efficiency compared to 20 inch aero wheels
Saw 325kW peak charging speed in a 5 minute 19kWh top up to get home which was too fast. Had to stay with the car while charging so I didn’t get too much in while getting lunch
oop north said:
My iX3 has 20 inch aero wheels and is consistently getting 3.9 to 4.1 miles per kWh including several hundred miles of motorway last week (have done 1300 miles so far in a month). That includes a lot of very high temperatures (up to mid 30s) when the air con was working hard. The predicted range has been consistently 400-420 when full (with peak extrapolated range in j my first weekend 460 miles
I think the 22 inch wheels cost about 8% to 10% efficiency compared to 20 inch aero wheels
Saw 325kW peak charging speed in a 5 minute 19kWh top up to get home which was too fast. Had to stay with the car while charging so I didn t get too much in while getting lunch
What does it get when on the motorway at 70mph? In the what car test it appeared to be nearly all motorway miles which makes a significant difference.I think the 22 inch wheels cost about 8% to 10% efficiency compared to 20 inch aero wheels
Saw 325kW peak charging speed in a 5 minute 19kWh top up to get home which was too fast. Had to stay with the car while charging so I didn t get too much in while getting lunch
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