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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.

BMW X3

Versatile premium compact SUV with xDrive AWD, 204 mm ground clearance, and sub-2,000 cc diesel efficiency.

Volvo XC60

Understated mid-size luxury family SUV balancing twin-charged performance, 48V mild hybrid efficiency, 415 hp Polestar tuning, 216 mm ground clearance, and sub-2,000 cc duty savings.

Mercedes-Benz GLC250

Compact luxury crossover with 211 hp turbo power and 4MATIC AWD.

Best value

BMW X3Volvo XC60Mercedes-Benz GLC250

Mandai score

8/10

7/10

8/10

Typical price

KSh 4,900,000

KSh 6,800,000

KSh 4,800,000

Years

2017-2023

Body type

Mid-size SUV

Fuel

Petrol, Diesel

Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid, Plug-in hybrid

Petrol

Transmission

Automatic

Doors

Fuel and running cost

Trim

Standard

Fuel consumption

16.2 km/L6.2 L/100km combined · about 1102 km a tank

13.8 km/L7.2 L/100km combined · about 980 km a tank

13.5 km/L7.4 L/100km combined · about 891 km a tank

Running cost

KSh 1,401 / 100 kmKSh 14 a km · KSh 14,010 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,645 / 100 kmKSh 16 a km · KSh 16,446 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,681 / 100 kmKSh 17 a km · KSh 16,812 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length

4,708 mm

4,688 mm

4,656 mm

Width

1,891 mm

1,902 mm

1,890 mm

Height

1,676 mm

1,658 mm

1,644 mm

Wheelbase

2,864 mm

2,865 mm

2,873 mm

Ground clearance

204 mm

216 mm (250 mm Air)

180 mm

Boot space

550 L (1,600 L folded)

505 L (1,432 L folded)

550 L (1,600 L with seats folded)

Kerb weight

1,750 kg

1,815 kg (2,150 kg T8 Recharge)

1,735 kg

Seats

Specifications

Engine

2.0L B47 Turbo Diesel / 2.0L B48 Turbo Petrol

2.0L Turbo Petrol (T4/T5) / 2.0L Twin-Charged Petrol (T6) / 2.0L Twin-Turbo Diesel (D3/D4/D5) / 2.0L PHEV (T8) / 48V MHEV (B4/B5/B6)

2.0L M274 Turbocharged Inline-4

Power

190 hp @ 4,000 rpm (20d) / 252 hp @ 5,200 rpm (30i)

190 hp (T4/D4) / 250 hp (T5) / 316 hp (T6) / 400 hp (T8) / 415 hp (Polestar Engineered)

211 hp @ 5,500 rpm

Torque

400 Nm @ 1,750–2,500 rpm (20d) / 350 Nm (30i)

300 Nm (T4) / 350 Nm (T5) / 400 Nm (D4) / 400 Nm (T6) / 640–709 Nm (T8 PHEV combined)

350 Nm @ 1,200–4,000 rpm

Drivetrain

Intelligent xDrive AWD

Front-Wheel Drive / BorgWarner AWD / eAWD

4MATIC Permanent AWD

0–100 km/h

6.3 sec (30i) – 8.0 sec (20d)

4.9 sec (T8 400hp) / 4.7 sec (T8 Polestar 415hp) / 5.9 sec (T6) / 6.8 sec (T5) / 7.9 sec (D4)

7.3 sec

Top speed

213 km/h – 240 km/h

220 km/h (electronically limited to 180 km/h from 2021)

222 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined

16.2 km/L (xDrive20d) / 12.8 km/L (xDrive30i)

13.8 km/L (T5 Petrol) / 18.2 km/L (D4 Diesel) / 38.0 km/L equivalent (T8 PHEV)

13.5 km/L

City

13.8 km/L (xDrive20d) / 10.2 km/L (xDrive30i)

11.2 km/L (T5 Petrol) / 15.5 km/L (D4 Diesel) / 50 km pure EV range (T8 PHEV)

11.0 km/L

Highway

18.5 km/L (xDrive20d) / 15.0 km/L (xDrive30i)

16.5 km/L (T5 Petrol) / 20.5 km/L (D4 Diesel) / 20.0 km/L (T8 PHEV hybrid mode)

16.0 km/L

Tank size

68 L

71 L (Petrol/Diesel/MHEV) / 50 L (T8 PHEV)

66 L

CO₂ emissions

138 g/km (20d) / 168 g/km (30i)

144 g/km (D4) / 49 g/km (T8 PHEV)

152 g/km

At a glance

Model

BMW X3 (G01 Series)

Volvo XC60 (SPA Platform)

Mercedes-Benz GLC250 4MATIC (X253 Series)

Production years

2017–2023

Body type

5-Door Premium Compact Crossover

5-Door Mid-Size Executive Luxury SUV

5-Door Executive Compact SUV

Seating capacity

Fuel types

Clean Diesel, Petrol

Petrol (T4/T5/T6), PHEV (T8), Diesel (D3/D4/D5), Mild Hybrid (B4/B5/B6)

Petrol (Turbocharged Direct Injection)

Engine sizes

1,995 cc (2.0L Diesel) / 1,998 cc (2.0L Petrol)

1,969 cc (2.0L Drive-E across all variants)

1,991 cc

Transmission

8-Speed Steptronic Automatic

8-Speed Geartronic Automatic

9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic

Drivetrain

Intelligent xDrive AWD

FWD or BorgWarner AWD / eAWD (PHEV)

4MATIC Permanent All-Wheel Drive

Ground clearance

204 mm

216 mm (up to 250 mm with Air Suspension)

180 mm

Source market

UK / Japan (RHD)

Japan (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good

High 204 mm ground clearance: Confidently clears deep ruts, tall speed bumps, and rough upcountry roads.
Sub-2,000 cc tax advantage: Both 2.0L diesel and petrol engines qualify for 25% KRA excise tax rate.
Practical 550 L boot space: Generous cargo capacity expanding to 1,600 L with 40:20:40 split rear seats.

Comprehensive powertrain choice: T-Badged turbo/twin-charged petrols, D-Badged diesels, B-Badged 48V mild hybrids, and T8 PHEVs up to 415 hp.
Sub-2,000 cc KRA duty advantage: The entire 1,969 cc engine family qualifies for Kenya's 25% excise tax bracket.
High 216 mm ground clearance: Easily negotiates deep potholes, estate speed bumps, and rough upcountry murram tracks.
T8 Polestar Engineered performance: 415 hp combined output with Akebono performance brakes and Öhlins adjustable dampers.

Sub-2,500 cc KRA tax advantage: 2.0L engine qualifies for 25% excise tax bracket, saving huge customs duties.
Refined 9G-TRONIC transmission: 9 gear ratios deliver smooth acceleration and quiet 1,400 rpm highway cruising.
Prestige cabin craftsmanship: Artico leather upholstery, Burmester surround audio, and MBUX infotainment.

What’s not so good

Firm ride on 20-inch M Sport wheels: Low-profile tires transmit road roughness over corrugated gravel tracks.
DPF filter maintenance: 2.0L diesel models require periodic long highway runs to clean particulate filters.

Premium unleaded fuel requirement (91+ octane minimum) on T4, T5, T6 petrol engines.
AdBlue / Diesel Exhaust Fluid replenishment required on D4/D5 diesel models.
High replacement cost for air suspension compressors and high-voltage PHEV battery packs over time.

Firmer ride on 19/20-inch AMG rims: AMG Line low-profile tires transmit road firmness over unpaved estate roads.
Specialized Mercedes maintenance: Demands MB 229.5 spec synthetic oil and specialized Star Diagnostic scanners.