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BMW iX1 vs Mercedes-Benz GLB
Selected trim250+ Electric380 mi · 85 kWh · £46,100
At a glance
In this comparison, BMW iX1 leads on running costs and city driving, while the Mercedes-Benz GLB leads on value for money, family practicality and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the BMW iX1 if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.7p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you need the best car for city driving and tight parking
Choose the Mercedes-Benz GLB if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Mercedes-Benz GLB leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueMercedes-Benz
BMW
6.4
Mercedes-Benz
7
Motorway Range
BMW
5.9
Mercedes-Benz
6.3
Too close to call
FamilyMercedes-Benz
BMW
7.4
Mercedes-Benz
8.7
ChargingMercedes-Benz
BMW
4.1
Mercedes-Benz
9.1
Cost Per MileBMW
BMW
9.3
Mercedes-Benz
3.5
City DrivingBMW
BMW
4.6
Mercedes-Benz
4
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
250+ Electric
- 60 miles more WLTP range
- 50 litres more boot space
- 190 kW faster rapid charging
- 9 min quicker 10-80% rapid charge
- 50 kW more power
- 1.2s quicker 0-62 mph
- 0.7 m tighter turning circle
- 2 more seats
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £37,065 (better) | £46,100 |
| Official range | 320 miles | 380 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 490 L | 540 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 29 min | 20 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec | 7.4 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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BMW iX1
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Length
BMW iX14,500mm-232mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB4,732mm
Width
BMW iX11,845mm-16mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB1,861mm
Height
BMW iX11,616mm-71mm
Mercedes-Benz GLB1,687mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,500 mm | 4,732 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,845 mm (better) | 1,861 mm |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,104 mm | 2,029 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,616 mm | 1,687 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.9 m | 11.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 555 mm spare (better) | 539 mm spare |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 7 (better) |
| Boot space (seats up) | 490 L | 540 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1495 L | Not available |
| Frunk | Not available | 127 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | Not available | 1,500 kg |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BMW iX1
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
- A 127 L frunk, one of 4 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with a front boot of 127 L or more.
- 380 mile WLTP range, longer than 90% of SUVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 320 kW, faster than 90% of SUVs in our catalogue.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BMW iX1 eDrive20 Sport |  Mercedes-Benz GLB 250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.50m | 4.73m+232mm |
| Width | 1.84m | 1.86m+16mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.10m | 2.03m-75mm |
| Height | 1.62m | 1.69m+71mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.69m | 2.89m+196mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 490L | 540L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1495L | Not available |
| Frunk | Not available | 127L |
| Seats | 5 | 7 (better) |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.9m | 11.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | Not available | 2,270kg |
| Towing Capacity | Not available | 1,500kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 64.7kWh | 85kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 320 mi | 380 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 130kW | 320kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £37,065 (better) | £46,100 |
| Price after EV grant | £33,315 (-£3,750) | £46,100 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2023+ | 2026+ |
* BMW iX1: 11 kW AC is standard; 22 kW AC was an option.
* BMW iX1: Rating from the BMW X1 (2022), which covers the iX1. An extra pole test on the iX1 showed weak chest protection, without changing the stars.
* BMW iX1: Current figure, after a March 2026 efficiency update. Earlier cars: xDrive30 259-270 miles WLTP, eDrive20 268-296 miles WLTP.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 320 miles | 380 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 267 miles | 268 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 29 min | 20 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 130 kW | 320 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 22 kW (better) |
| Energy consumption | Not available | 164 Wh/km |
| Usable battery capacity | 64.7 kWh | 85 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 800V (better) |
| Heat pump | Standard | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec | 7.4 sec (better) |
| Power | 150 kW | 200 kW (better) |
| Torque | 247 Nm | 335 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BMW iX1
eDrive20 Sport
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Mercedes-Benz GLB
250+ Electric
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BMW iX1 eDrive20 Sport
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant86%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist92%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Mercedes-Benz GLB 250+ Electric
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant92%
Child Occupant88%
Vulnerable Road Users78%
Safety Assist74%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BMW iX1eDrive20 Sport | Mercedes-Benz GLB250+ Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | Not available |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | Not available |
Buying options
Get a quote
BMW iX1
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Mercedes-Benz GLB
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BMW iX1
- £23,7132023Car360View
- £23,2502023Browns of RichmondView
- £25,4492023Browns of RichmondView
Mercedes-Benz GLB
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB worth the extra £9,035 over the BMW iX1?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB costs £9,035 more than the BMW iX1. For that premium it adds 60 miles more WLTP range, 190 kW faster peak rapid charging and 50 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Mercedes-Benz GLB comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BMW iX1 or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The BMW iX1 is £9,035 cheaper to buy. The BMW iX1 is cheaper to charge, roughly £136 a year versus £176 for the Mercedes-Benz GLB, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the BMW iX1 comes out roughly £9,235 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 267 miles for the BMW iX1 and 268 miles for the Mercedes-Benz GLB - effectively matched, and both well below their WLTP figures because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. A rapid charge to 80% takes around 29 minutes in the BMW iX1 and 20 in the Mercedes-Benz GLB, so the Mercedes-Benz GLB loses less time at each stop.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BMW iX1 or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
The two are within 16 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 555 mm of total clearance for the BMW iX1 and about 539 mm of total clearance for the Mercedes-Benz GLB. The Mercedes-Benz GLB also turns in a 0.7 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BMW iX1 or the Mercedes-Benz GLB?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the BMW iX1 and 84% for the Mercedes-Benz GLB. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BMW iX1 comparisons
More Mercedes-Benz GLB comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best family EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among long-range EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the best city EVsWhere the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz GLB rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .