Gkwan
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Stéphane
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2025
- Threads
- 6
- Messages
- 260
- Reaction score
- 140
- Location
- France
- Vehicles
- Taycan Turbo (June 2020)
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi team,
I drove in less than a week an iX3 50 & new GLC EV, thought I'd give you a quick feedback vs my short experience with the Macan
A) iX3 50 (only model in France atm) ~90K€ configuration, 21" wheels.
No suspension options are available & they won't offer anything like air suspension (apparently reserved to the i3 end of 2026)
Drove it a few hours
Pretty good suspension despite being a "basic" one (did several times a super shitty road in the city, it behaved well)
Good dynamics overall, it didn't feel heavy
Steering : in "sport" mode, better than the GLC, as good as the Macan but still not comparable to a Taycan obviously
Brakes : good (not like Porsche though
)
B) GLC 400 EV ~95K€ configuration, 21" wheels
Standard suspension, they didn't have one with the tech pack (air suspension + rear axle steering).
Drove it 1h accross city + forest (potholes) & small road
Very good suspension despite being the standard one, one step above previous generation (#C below).
Pretty sure that equipped with the "Tech Pack" the result would be even better than #C (which was my "top" SUV reference as far as overall dynamics vs comfort goes).
When you hit the pedal, after a short time you really feel the whole "heaviness" kicking in, not great on that.
Brakes : good (similar to iX3)
C) GLC 400 hybrid (MY2023) ~115K€ config, 21" wheels
with tech pack (air suspension + rear axle steering)
Drove it 4 times = ~1 day
Only defect is being a hybrid, otherwise
Didn't feel as "heavy" as #B (maybe because #C had the Tech Pack while #B didn't).
Very versatile car, great comfort in all situations with the Tech Pack, reasonably agile, but not very powerful, and being a hybrid makes it difficult for me to consider. Plus even MY23 used cars are still too highly priced to my liking (70-80K€)
D) Macan highest trim ~130K€ config (according to my sales guy) air suspension 21" wheels : drove it 1h (after my Taycan Turbo, same day back in Nov'25)
The 2nd weakest of this comparative as I meantioned, the only "+" is you still get a little more fun driving this than #ABC, but especially vs #A it's not by far and it has many "cons" (general handling, horrible comfort, range), it can't justify 40K€ difference with #A or #B.
I haven't driven the GTS or Turbo, maybe it's another story.
E) Macan loaner I drove 5 days, config ~100K€, 20" wheels, no suspension options
The weakest of this comparative, honestly it didn't feel like a Porsche to me.
It wasn't better than the *horrible* SQ5 Black Edition hybrid I drove 1 week as a loaner, I'd say similar.
Total waste of money to me.
Conclusion :
I'd probably go for the iX3 : 800km autonomy, good dynamics, you do get a bit of a "fun" feeling when driving it (more than the GLC), reasonable price (80K€ well optioned after a 9% discount).
Or wait for the i3, with the air suspension it could be an even better choice.
GLC EV is too ugly for me, good versatile car but it's a pity they don't want to release a "coupé" or "try something" for once (the CLA has a good look but it's a shitty car, nothing feels like Mercedes inside, or with the horrible suspension).
GLC hybrid coupé was my top choice in 2023, but 3 years later I can't see myself driving a hybrid.
Cayenne Coupé seems like the eldorado, but twice the price lol - let's see after the test drive!
I drove in less than a week an iX3 50 & new GLC EV, thought I'd give you a quick feedback vs my short experience with the Macan
A) iX3 50 (only model in France atm) ~90K€ configuration, 21" wheels.
No suspension options are available & they won't offer anything like air suspension (apparently reserved to the i3 end of 2026)
Drove it a few hours
Pretty good suspension despite being a "basic" one (did several times a super shitty road in the city, it behaved well)
Good dynamics overall, it didn't feel heavy
Steering : in "sport" mode, better than the GLC, as good as the Macan but still not comparable to a Taycan obviously
Brakes : good (not like Porsche though
)B) GLC 400 EV ~95K€ configuration, 21" wheels
Standard suspension, they didn't have one with the tech pack (air suspension + rear axle steering).
Drove it 1h accross city + forest (potholes) & small road
Very good suspension despite being the standard one, one step above previous generation (#C below).
Pretty sure that equipped with the "Tech Pack" the result would be even better than #C (which was my "top" SUV reference as far as overall dynamics vs comfort goes).
When you hit the pedal, after a short time you really feel the whole "heaviness" kicking in, not great on that.
Brakes : good (similar to iX3)
C) GLC 400 hybrid (MY2023) ~115K€ config, 21" wheels
with tech pack (air suspension + rear axle steering)
Drove it 4 times = ~1 day
Only defect is being a hybrid, otherwise
Didn't feel as "heavy" as #B (maybe because #C had the Tech Pack while #B didn't).
Very versatile car, great comfort in all situations with the Tech Pack, reasonably agile, but not very powerful, and being a hybrid makes it difficult for me to consider. Plus even MY23 used cars are still too highly priced to my liking (70-80K€)
D) Macan highest trim ~130K€ config (according to my sales guy) air suspension 21" wheels : drove it 1h (after my Taycan Turbo, same day back in Nov'25)
The 2nd weakest of this comparative as I meantioned, the only "+" is you still get a little more fun driving this than #ABC, but especially vs #A it's not by far and it has many "cons" (general handling, horrible comfort, range), it can't justify 40K€ difference with #A or #B.
I haven't driven the GTS or Turbo, maybe it's another story.
E) Macan loaner I drove 5 days, config ~100K€, 20" wheels, no suspension options
The weakest of this comparative, honestly it didn't feel like a Porsche to me.
It wasn't better than the *horrible* SQ5 Black Edition hybrid I drove 1 week as a loaner, I'd say similar.
Total waste of money to me.
Conclusion :
I'd probably go for the iX3 : 800km autonomy, good dynamics, you do get a bit of a "fun" feeling when driving it (more than the GLC), reasonable price (80K€ well optioned after a 9% discount).
Or wait for the i3, with the air suspension it could be an even better choice.
GLC EV is too ugly for me, good versatile car but it's a pity they don't want to release a "coupé" or "try something" for once (the CLA has a good look but it's a shitty car, nothing feels like Mercedes inside, or with the horrible suspension).
GLC hybrid coupé was my top choice in 2023, but 3 years later I can't see myself driving a hybrid.
Cayenne Coupé seems like the eldorado, but twice the price lol - let's see after the test drive!
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