Compare the2026 BMW X3VS 2025 Mercedes GLA

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the X3 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLA doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLA doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X3 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The GLA doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X3 has a standard Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X3. But it costs extra on the GLA.

The X3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLA.

The BMW X3’s optional Surround View offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Mercedes GLA lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the X3 and the GLA have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The BMW X3 weighs 682 to 1151 pounds more than the Mercedes GLA. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLA’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLA.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X3’s reliability 46 points higher than the GLA.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

The X3 30 xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (255 vs. 221) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The X3 M50 xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 172 more horsepower (393 vs. 221) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 258) than the GLA’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X3 is faster than the Mercedes GLA:

On the EPA test cycle the X3 30 xDrive gets better fuel mileage than the GLA 250 4MATIC (27 city/33 hwy vs. 25 city/33 hwy).

The X3 has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLA (17.2 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X3 M50’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLA doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLA:

The X3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the GLA are solid, not vented.

The X3 stops much shorter than the GLA:

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the GLA (245/50R19 vs. 235/55R18). The X3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLA (F:255/40R21 & R:285/35R21 vs. 235/55R18).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLA’s standard 55 series tires. The X3’s optional 255/40R21 front and 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the GLA’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLA. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLA.

The X3 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the GLA don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The X3 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GLA’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 5.4 inches longer than on the GLA (112.8 inches vs. 107.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X3 is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GLA.

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.5% to 49.5%) than the GLA’s (60% to 40%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 30 xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the GLA 250 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 M50 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the GLA 250 4MATIC (25.3 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The X3 has 1.5 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLA.

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLA with its rear seat up (31.5 vs. 19 cubic feet). The X3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLA with its rear seat folded (67.1 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the X3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLA doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The X3 has a 4001 lbs. towing capacity. The GLA has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the X3 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GLA doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X3 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLA doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The X3 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GLA. The X3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the GLA.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the X3 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GLA doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The X3’s Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLA’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLA isn't recommended.

The BMW X3 outsold the Mercedes GLA by almost four to one during 2024.