Compared: 2023 BMW X7 vs. 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
Battle of the biggest SUVs from Germany's luxury kingpins.
BMW | Mercedes-Benz
QuickTakes:
The 2023 BMW X7 is a relative newcomer in the world of three-row, full-size luxury SUVs, and it's facing off against more established contenders such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Maintaining a configuration advantage, the GLS-Class offers a slightly more diverse range of models.
BMW
The Mercedes Is Pricer Than the BMW
The BMW X7 offers buyers a choice between three trim levels: The xDrive40i, which starts at almost $79,000, the M60i, which settles in at around $104,000, and the BMW Alpina XB7 at $146,000.
Mercedes-Benz provides no less than four versions of the GLS-Class, giving it the edge when it comes to customization, drivetrains, and in some cases, prestige.
The entry-level GLS 450 starts at $83,000, which is in the X7 xDrive40i's wheelhouse. The $106,000 GLS 580 is in line with the X7 M60i. The Alpina XB7 sort of plays in the $140,000 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63's arena, and the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 pushes past $171,000.
Mercedes-Benz
The BMW Is More Capacious Than the Mercedes
Base models of the BMW X7 are focused on providing an opulent environment for as many as seven people across three rows of seating. The second row provides power-folding access to the third row.
It's also possible to replace the middle bench with a pair of captain's chairs, reducing overall capacity to six. Cargo space sits at 12.8 cubic-feet behind the X7's third row, 48.6 cu-ft behind the second-row, and 90.4 cu-ft behind the front seats.
BMW
The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class delivers 17.4 cu-ft behind its third row, 48.7 cu-ft behind the second row, and 84.7 cu-ft behind the front seats.
Similar to the X7, the GLS-Class also offers both seven- and six-seat configurations, but the Maybach model changes things up by nixing the third row entirely and pushing back (and elevating) the second set of captain's chairs to provide additional room for passengers to stretch out.
Mercedes-Benz
The BMW X7 Is More Efficient Than the Mercedes GLS
The BMW X7 starts out with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 375 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD).
In this configuration, the xDrive40i returns 21/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined according to EPA testing. The X7 M60i climbs to 523 horsepower thanks to its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, while maintaining the same transmission and AWD setup. Fuel economy for the more powerful motor drops considerably to 16/21/18 mpg. The Alpina XB7 rockets that AWD V8 drivetrain up to 630 horsepower, which only dings fuel economy down to 16/20/17 mpg.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class provides four engine options, starting with the GLS 450's 362-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six. The EPA figures for this motor sit at 18/23/20 mpg.
The GLS 580 with its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 483 horsepower is good for 16/21/18 mpg. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 takes that V8 up to 550 horsepower, and EPA fuel economy falls to 15/20/17 mpg. The performance-oriented Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 also uses the 4.0-liter V8, but tuned to 603 horsepower. The GLS 63 returns 14/19/16 mpg.
All GLS-Class models come with Mercedes' 4Matic AWD system and a nine-speed automatic transmission.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
