BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK

hanmust · 11th June 2008, 00:16

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK but not Audi Q5
Just when it seems American SUVs and pickup trucks are in full retreat, the Germans are slugging it out in the premium segment. Since 2003 BMW took control of the segment, which is 7 percent at 395,458 units last year, selling 66,435 X3s and 52,466 X5s in Europe, and now the Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5 are set to hit the market this autumn.

According to Automotive News, a BMW spokesman said the company feels more threatened by Mercedes' GLK class than Audi's Q5

Just because Audi will price the car in the premium segment does not make it a premium vehicle," the spokesman said.

An Audi spokesman said: "Audi makes premium cars so the Q5 is a premium SUV. We will see what the customers have to say]Sourse : BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK but not Audi Q5

Images Source: MotorTrend

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rider60 · 11th June 2008, 01:39

just check out this youtube video of jeremy clarkson about the x3, man this guys really hates x3, and i think this has had some good effect on the sales and has given BMW a reason to fear the new merc.

YouTube - Top Gear BMW X3

sujaylahiri · 11th June 2008, 05:06

What's there to be afraid of? The BMW X3 is the most useless SUV (if you can call it an SUV) in its segment.

Not only is it painfully ugly, it's also overpriced and useless both on and off-road. Doesn't even have a proper low range gearbox for proper off-roading.

It's just a big and soft BMW for taking your kids to school.
For once, I actually agree with Clarkson on this one.

condor · 11th June 2008, 07:32

Pics to drool over.

@Mods, could you pls edit post #1 to arrange the pics in a single column ? Thanks !

ajmat · 11th June 2008, 08:58

Apparently, it is supposed to be very good to drive. Great car as long as you are inside it

n_aditya · 11th June 2008, 13:40

Excellent pics there Hanmust. Quite rare to see a luxury SUV being driven through such a terrain.

BEEM3R · 11th June 2008, 14:22

The X3 is nothing more than a 3 Series station wagon jacked up but about twice as ugly. Its great on road, handles well having driven a 3.0, but Im not big on SUVs that dont like to get their feet wet. In my personal opinion the GLK doesn't look any better. The Q5 would have to be the best looking of the bunch, even if it reminds one of the Tiguan in places.

aaggoswami · 12th June 2008, 00:15

X3 was overpriced and it didnt do on the road as well as expected, specially after the X5. It didnt do offroading well. X5 is great machine, but the similar forumula is not good for 3 series.

Mercedes now has a product to make BMW worry. And x3 has every reason to worrry.

And as others have pointed out, the images are good.

Whenasked · 12th June 2008, 10:00

Guys... X3 is a compact SUV in the league of RaV4 or CRv..but hey its a BMW.

Its got decent MPG..decent power..when compared to X5...which makes lot of sense ..when gas prices are soaring...

Also X3 has more interior space than X5!!

Its not a monster SUV...its a value for money...not a real offroader

Mean while enjoy this video..Rav4 vs Jeep vs X3

iDesktop - browse, watch, download YouTube videos

sujaylahiri · 14th June 2008, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whenasked

Guys... X3 is a compact SUV in the league of RaV4 or CRv..but hey its a BMW.

Its got decent MPG..decent power..when compared to X5...which makes lot of sense ..when gas prices are soaring...

Also X3 has more interior space than X5!!

Its not a monster SUV...its a value for money...not a real offroader

Mean while enjoy this video..Rav4 vs Jeep vs X3

iDesktop - browse, watch, download YouTube videos

If you want all of that, you could get a 3-Series wagon. Is a lot more fun to drive and looks a million times better than the X3.

Whenasked · 15th June 2008, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by sujaylahiri

If you want all of that, you could get a 3-Series wagon. Is a lot more fun to drive and looks a million times better than the X3.

Does'nt the same logic apply to X5 as well? Can we get a substitute for it with 5 series?

Personally on looks , rear of X3 is far far better than bulbuous shape of X5 rear..

X3

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-frontx3.jpg

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-frontangle.jpg

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-rear.jpg

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-rearangle.jpg

X5

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-front.jpg

BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK-side.jpg

hanmust · 16th June 2008, 16:45

A glad news, just a few while back I got a reply from Mr.Dieter Hübner, Marketing Head for Mercedes-Benz GLK, on my question whether GLK will come in Right Hand Driver version.

He said:

"Sales start for all four Models will be the 30th June 2008. The delivery and premiere within our showroom will be in October 2008. All models will be equipped with the 7 gear automatic transmission ZG-Tronic and the 4matic drive. The tank capacity will be 66 liters, the cd-value 0,35.

Following engine modells will be available

GLK 280 Engine
V6, 2996cm³ with 231 PS and NM rpm 300/2500

GLK 350 Engine
V6, 3498cm³ with 272 PS and NM rpm 350/2400

GLK 220 CDI BlueEfficiency
Engine R4 BiTurbo, 2143cm³ with 170 PS and NM rpm 400/1400

GLK 320 CDI
Engine V6 Turbo, 2987cm³ with 224 PS and NM rpm 540/160

And all models will be available also as an right-hand-drive vehicle."

hanmust · 27th October 2009, 17:13

A beautiful video of GLK offroading:

YouTube - 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK Goes Off-Road

S350L-E240 · 27th October 2009, 20:09

This car is so pathetic! Wait till the new X3 comes in few months and totally kills this,

sandeepmdas · 27th October 2009, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by S350L-E240

This car is so pathetic! Wait till the new X3 comes in few months and totally kills this,

Which car you are talking about bro? The X3 or the GLK?

11th June 2008, 00:16	#1
hanmust Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calicut Posts: 2,481 Thanked: 262 Times View My Garage	BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK but not Audi Q5 Just when it seems American SUVs and pickup trucks are in full retreat, the Germans are slugging it out in the premium segment. Since 2003 BMW took control of the segment, which is 7 percent at 395,458 units last year, selling 66,435 X3s and 52,466 X5s in Europe, and now the Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5 are set to hit the market this autumn. According to Automotive News, a BMW spokesman said the company feels more threatened by Mercedes' GLK class than Audi's Q5 Just because Audi will price the car in the premium segment does not make it a premium vehicle," the spokesman said. An Audi spokesman said: "Audi makes premium cars so the Q5 is a premium SUV. We will see what the customers have to say]Sourse : BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK but not Audi Q5 Images Source: MotorTrend Note from the Team-BHP Support : Please note that it is now imperative for you to upload pictures directly to the Team-BHP Server. Click here to view our simple help article on uploading pictures. Last edited by Technocrat : 11th June 2008 at 14:34. Reason: External Hosting of pics is not allowed
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 05:06	#3
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North America Posts: 960 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	What's there to be afraid of? The BMW X3 is the most useless SUV (if you can call it an SUV) in its segment. Not only is it painfully ugly, it's also overpriced and useless both on and off-road. Doesn't even have a proper low range gearbox for proper off-roading. It's just a big and soft BMW for taking your kids to school. For once, I actually agree with Clarkson on this one.
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 07:32	#4
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Speed-brkr City Posts: 15,864 Thanked: 16,007 Times View My Garage	Pics to drool over. @Mods, could you pls edit post #1 to arrange the pics in a single column ? Thanks !
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 08:58	#5
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,858 Thanked: 27,925 Times View My Garage	Apparently, it is supposed to be very good to drive. Great car as long as you are inside it
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 13:40	#6
n_aditya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 5,348 Thanked: 3,684 Times View My Garage	Excellent pics there Hanmust. Quite rare to see a luxury SUV being driven through such a terrain.
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 14:22	#7
BEEM3R BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dubai-Chennai Posts: 311 Thanked: 20 Times	The X3 is nothing more than a 3 Series station wagon jacked up but about twice as ugly. Its great on road, handles well having driven a 3.0, but Im not big on SUVs that dont like to get their feet wet. In my personal opinion the GLK doesn't look any better. The Q5 would have to be the best looking of the bunch, even if it reminds one of the Tiguan in places.
	() Thanks

12th June 2008, 00:15	#8
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,930 Times	X3 was overpriced and it didnt do on the road as well as expected, specially after the X5. It didnt do offroading well. X5 is great machine, but the similar forumula is not good for 3 series. Mercedes now has a product to make BMW worry. And x3 has every reason to worrry. And as others have pointed out, the images are good.
	() Thanks

12th June 2008, 10:00	#9
Whenasked BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 71 Thanked: 4 Times	X3 is a compact SUV Guys... X3 is a compact SUV in the league of RaV4 or CRv..but hey its a BMW. Its got decent MPG..decent power..when compared to X5...which makes lot of sense ..when gas prices are soaring... Also X3 has more interior space than X5!! Its not a monster SUV...its a value for money...not a real offroader Mean while enjoy this video..Rav4 vs Jeep vs X3 iDesktop - browse, watch, download YouTube videos
	() Thanks

16th June 2008, 16:45	#12
hanmust Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calicut Posts: 2,481 Thanked: 262 Times View My Garage	A glad news, just a few while back I got a reply from Mr.Dieter Hübner, Marketing Head for Mercedes-Benz GLK, on my question whether GLK will come in Right Hand Driver version. He said: "Sales start for all four Models will be the 30th June 2008. The delivery and premiere within our showroom will be in October 2008. All models will be equipped with the 7 gear automatic transmission ZG-Tronic and the 4matic drive. The tank capacity will be 66 liters, the cd-value 0,35. Following engine modells will be available GLK 280 Engine V6, 2996cm³ with 231 PS and NM rpm 300/2500 GLK 350 Engine V6, 3498cm³ with 272 PS and NM rpm 350/2400 GLK 220 CDI BlueEfficiency Engine R4 BiTurbo, 2143cm³ with 170 PS and NM rpm 400/1400 GLK 320 CDI Engine V6 Turbo, 2987cm³ with 224 PS and NM rpm 540/160 And all models will be available also as an right-hand-drive vehicle."
	() Thanks

27th October 2009, 20:09	#14
S350L-E240 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,416 Thanked: 393 Times	This car is so pathetic! Wait till the new X3 comes in few months and totally kills this,
	() Thanks