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

Mercedes-Benz GLC250

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

Nissan X-Trail

Highly practical family crossover available with selectable 4x4-i setups, optional 7 seats, and sub-2,000 cc duty savings.

Best value

BMW X3

Versatile premium compact SUV combining intelligent xDrive AWD, 204 mm ground clearance, 16.2 km/L diesel efficiency, and sub-2,000 cc duty savings.

Mercedes-Benz GLC250Nissan X-TrailBMW X3

Mandai score

8/10

7/10

8/10

Typical price

KSh 4,800,000

KSh 3,450,000

KSh 4,900,000

Years

2017-2023

Body type

Mid-size SUV

Fuel

Petrol

Petrol, Hybrid

Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid

Transmission

Automatic

Automatic, CVT

Automatic

Doors

Fuel and running cost

Trim

Nissan X-Trail 2.0L Petrol / e-Power

Fuel consumption

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

19.8 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 1188 km a tank

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

Running cost

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

KSh 1,146 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 11,463 for 1,000 km · petrol

KSh 1,406 / 100 kmKSh 14 a km · KSh 14,059 for 1,000 km · diesel

Dimensions

Length

4,656 mm

4,690 mm

4,708 mm

Width

1,890 mm

1,820 mm

1,891 mm

Height

1,644 mm

1,740 mm

1,676 mm

Wheelbase

2,873 mm

2,705 mm

2,864 mm

Ground clearance

180 mm

210 mm

204 mm

Boot space

550 L (1,600 L with seats folded)

565 L (5-seater) / 135 L (7-seater expanded to 950 L)

550 L (1,600 L folded; 450 L on xDrive30e PHEV)

Kerb weight

1,735 kg

1,570 kg

1,750 kg (xDrive20d) / 1,990 kg (xDrive30e PHEV)

Seats

5 or 7

Specifications

Engine

2.0L M274 Turbocharged Inline-4

2.0L MR20DD 4-Cylinder Petrol / 1.5L VC-Turbo e-Power

2.0L B47 Turbo Diesel / 2.0L B48 Turbo Petrol / 3.0L B58 Turbo Inline-6

Power

211 hp @ 5,500 rpm

147 hp @ 6,000 rpm (2.0L) / 213 hp e-4ORCE combined

190 hp (20d) / 252 hp (30i) / 292 hp combined (30e PHEV) / 382 hp (M40i)

Torque

350 Nm @ 1,200–4,000 rpm

207 Nm @ 4,400 rpm / 330 Nm electric torque

400 Nm (20d) / 350 Nm (30i) / 420 Nm (30e PHEV) / 500 Nm (M40i)

Drivetrain

4MATIC Permanent AWD

FWD or All-Mode 4x4-i / e-4ORCE AWD

Intelligent xDrive AWD

0–100 km/h

7.3 sec

10.5 sec (2.0L) / 7.0 sec (e-4ORCE)

8.0 sec (20d) / 6.3 sec (30i) / 6.1 sec (30e PHEV) / 4.5 sec (M40i)

Top speed

222 km/h

190 km/h

213 km/h – 250 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined

13.5 km/L

16.0 km/L (2.0L) / 19.8 km/L (e-Power)

16.2 km/L (xDrive20d) / 12.8 km/L (xDrive30i) / 41.0 km/L equiv. (xDrive30e) / 10.8 km/L (M40i)

City

11.0 km/L

13.5 km/L (2.0L) / 19.0 km/L (e-Power)

13.8 km/L (xDrive20d) / 10.2 km/L (xDrive30i) / 45 km EV range (xDrive30e) / 8.5 km/L (M40i)

Highway

16.0 km/L

18.2 km/L (2.0L) / 20.5 km/L (e-Power)

18.5 km/L (xDrive20d) / 15.0 km/L (xDrive30i) / 16.5 km/L hybrid mode (xDrive30e) / 12.8 km/L (M40i)

Tank size

66 L

60 L

68 L (50 L xDrive30e PHEV)

CO₂ emissions

152 g/km

142 g/km

138 g/km (20d) / 49 g/km (30e PHEV)

At a glance

Model

Mercedes-Benz GLC250 4MATIC (X253 Series)

Nissan X-Trail (T32 / T33 Series)

BMW X3 (G01 Series)

Production years

2017–2023

Body type

5-Door Executive Compact SUV

SUV / Crossovers

5-Door Premium Compact Crossover

Seating capacity

5 or 7

Fuel types

Petrol (Turbocharged Direct Injection)

Petrol, Hybrid (e-Power)

Clean Diesel, Petrol, Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

Engine sizes

1,991 cc

1,497 cc (1.5T e-Power) / 1,997 cc (2.0L MR20DD)

1,995 cc (2.0D) / 1,998 cc (2.0T / 2.0T PHEV) / 2,998 cc (3.0T M40i)

Transmission

9G-TRONIC 9-Speed Automatic

Automatic (CVT / e-CVT)

8-Speed Steptronic Automatic

Drivetrain

4MATIC Permanent All-Wheel Drive

FWD or All-Mode 4x4-i / e-4ORCE AWD

Intelligent xDrive AWD

Ground clearance

180 mm

210 mm

204 mm

Source market

Japan (RHD)

Japan / UK (RHD)

UK / Japan / South Africa (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good

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.

Selectable All-Mode 4x4-i / e-4ORCE: Lockable 4WD mode provides excellent mud and sand traction.
High 210 mm ground clearance: Easily clears deep ruts and unpaved upcountry tracks.
Sub-2,000 cc KRA tax advantage: Qualifies for 25% excise duty rate (saving over 3.0L SUVs).

Sub-2,000 cc KRA tax advantage: 2.0L diesel (20d), 2.0L petrol (30i), and 2.0L PHEV (30e) all qualify for KRA's 25% excise tax rate.
204 mm ground clearance: Confidently negotiates estate speed bumps, potholes, and unpaved upcountry roads.
Practical 550 L boot space: Generous cargo capacity expanding to 1,600 L with 40:20:40 split rear seats.
16.2 km/L xDrive20d fuel efficiency: Ideal for long-distance highway travel (e.g. Nairobi to Mombasa or Kisumu).

What’s not so good

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.

Third-row legroom: 7-seater third row is best reserved for children or short trips.
CVT fluid service interval: Xtronic CVT requires genuine NS-3 fluid replacement every 40,000 km.

Firm ride on 20-inch M Sport alloys over rough corrugated gravel tracks.
Reduced boot floor height on xDrive30e PHEV (450 L) due to rear high-voltage battery placement.