Three of the most important premium electric SUVs ever built went head-to-head in the most comprehensive road test of 2026. Published today by Autocar, and independently confirmed by Auto Express’s own group test published on August 29, the confrontation between the BMW iX3 Neue Klasse, the Volvo EX60, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology represents a defining moment for the premium electric SUV segment — and the results reveal three genuinely excellent but meaningfully different vehicles, each suited to a different kind of buyer.
Three Cars, Three New Eras
The timing of this comparison is not coincidental. All three vehicles are new-generation, purpose-built electric cars that represent the opening statements of their respective brands’ EV futures.
The BMW iX3 is the first production model from BMW’s Neue Klasse platform — the clean-sheet electric architecture that underpins the brand’s next decade of products. It entered US showrooms on September 25 and is now beginning to reach European buyers as well. The Volvo EX60 is the first vehicle built on Volvo’s SPA3 platform, which integrates the battery pack with the chassis using megacasting technology borrowed from Tesla’s manufacturing approach. And the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology is the brand’s all-electric successor to the GLC and EQC, built on a bespoke platform and packed with the kind of technology Mercedes has become known for in its latest generation of products.
All three boast official WLTP ranges of 400 miles or more — the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60 both managing 500-plus miles and 503 miles respectively. Range anxiety is effectively a thing of the past in this segment.
How They Drive: The BMW Leads, the Others Follow Differently
The clearest area of differentiation is driving character, and the results align with what each brand has historically valued.
The BMW iX3 is the driver’s choice of the three. While all three cars are rapid in a straight line, keen drivers are best served by the iX3, because it feels more agile and responsive than its rivals. BMW’s Neue Klasse chassis processes inputs more quickly than the previous-generation iX and i4, and the result is a car that feels planted and precise in a way that neither the Volvo nor the Mercedes can quite match.
The Mercedes GLC Electric hides its weight well in corners but is better served as a quiet and refined cruiser that soothes its occupants. It is not a car that encourages the driver to seek out winding roads — it is a car designed to make distance disappear effortlessly, with every surface irregularity absorbed before it reaches the cabin.
The Volvo EX60 sits between the two. It edges closer to the GLC’s comfort orientation, but its fast steering feels slightly out of place in a bulky SUV. Volvo has clearly tuned the EX60 for a composed, relaxed character, and it largely delivers — but the steering weights and rack ratios seem to target a more dynamic brief than the rest of the car’s setup can fully support.
If ride comfort is your priority, then either the Mercedes or Volvo are probably better bets than the iX3, which is not uncomfortable but is certainly the firmer, sportier option.
Technology: Mercedes Wins on Screens, BMW Wins on Integration
The technology comparison is where each brand’s philosophy is most clearly visible.
The Mercedes is a tech feast, with the seamless Hyperscreen setup combining three displays in one, all of which offer high-resolution graphics and quick responses to inputs. The GLC’s system is the most visually impressive of the three — sheer screenage and visual impact are Mercedes’ strongest cards in this area.
BMW’s Panoramic Display spans the base of the windscreen and combines information from a traditional gauge cluster with a customisable selection of six widgets visible to both driver and front passenger. The system is incredibly responsive and feels genuinely integrated with the driving experience rather than bolted on. The Neue Klasse-specific head-up display adds another layer of information without cluttering the driver’s view.
The Volvo EX60 introduces the brand’s new Pleos software platform, which is clean and logically organized, though it has attracted some criticism from early owners of related models for software reliability. The EX60’s most distinctive design detail is its door handles — it doesn’t have conventional handles, instead requiring the driver to squeeze a small winged tab sprouting from the window line. Once familiar, the system becomes second nature, but it takes adjustment.
Space, Practicality, and Charging
On practical matters, the results are broadly even but with notable differences. The iX3 and GLC have similar boot space and are ahead of the EX60 in five-seat mode. All have storage in the nose, with the Mercedes offering a large 128-litre frunk and a bonnet that can be opened by pressing the Mercedes badge.
Charging speed is where the Volvo EX60 takes a technical lead. The EX60 has the quickest 10-80% charging time of 19 minutes, with peak charging power of 370 kW on the P10 and P12 variants. The BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC need 21 and 22 minutes respectively, though the BMW’s 400 kW peak rate gives it the higher ceiling — the EX60’s shorter time reflects a more consistent average charging curve rather than a higher peak.
What the Tests Concluded
Both Autocar and Auto Express reached broadly similar conclusions. The BMW iX3 takes the overall win on driver appeal and the breadth of its capability across all criteria. It is the car that performs best across the widest range of situations, combining genuine long-range capability with driver engagement, strong charging speeds, and a technology package that feels cohesive rather than overwhelming.
The Volvo EX60 wins on value, range, and charging speed, and will appeal to buyers who prioritize daily comfort and a more discrete aesthetic over the BMW’s sporting emphasis. The Mercedes GLC Electric wins on technology spectacle, interior ambience, and the most refined long-distance cruising experience of the three.
What This Means for Buyers
For American buyers, all three models are now available or arriving. The BMW iX3 is in US showrooms from $61,500. The Volvo EX60 is expected to arrive in early 2027. The Mercedes GLC Electric is rolling out to US dealerships through autumn 2026.
The segment has never been stronger, and the competition has never been closer. A buyer choosing between these three cars today is not making a wrong choice regardless of which one they select — they are making a preference decision about which values matter most to them in a premium electric SUV. That is, ultimately, exactly how a healthy competitive market is supposed to work.
