Compare the2023 Cadillac XT4VS 2022 Mercedes GLC

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the XT4 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLC doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Cadillac XT4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XT4 Premium/Sport offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GLC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the XT4 and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	XT4	GLC
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	43 lbs.	87 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	181/231 lbs.	378/445 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Cadillac XT4 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	XT4	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	328 lbs.	409 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	598 lbs.	784 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	204	206
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	522 lbs.	787 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers the XT4 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The XT4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLC’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 46 percent more Cadillac dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the XT4’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Cadillac higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT4 gets better mileage than the GLC:

			MPG
XT4
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
GLC
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT4’s fuel efficiency. The GLC doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Cadillac XT4 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLC requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The XT4 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLC doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Cadillac XT4 higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLC (6). This means the XT4 produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLC every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT4 stops shorter than the GLC:

	XT4	GLC
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The XT4 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLC doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The XT4 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The GLC’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XT4 Sport AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XT4 Sport AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XT4’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the GLC’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XT4 has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (6.7 vs. 5 inches), allowing the XT4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The XT4 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLC doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The XT4 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom and 2.2 inches more rear legroom than the GLC.

The front step up height for the XT4 is 3 inches lower than the GLC (17” vs. 20”). The XT4’s rear step up height is 5 inches lower than the GLC’s (17.5” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The XT4 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLC with its rear seat up (22.5 vs. 19.4 cubic feet).

The XT4’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in almost every dimension:

	XT4	GLC
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/67.4”	36.6”/61.3”
Max Width	50”	49.4”
Min Width	38.7”	43.3”
Height	26.6”	31.1”

Towing

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the XT4, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLC.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 31% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

The XT4’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The GLC does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XT4 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLC only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The XT4 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT4 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT4 will cost $95 to $790 less than the GLC over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT4 is less expensive to operate than the GLC because typical repairs cost much less on the XT4 than the GLC, including $336 less for a water pump, $145 less for front brake pads, $284 less for a starter, $122 less for fuel injection, $163 less for a fuel pump, $319 less for front struts and $429 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Cadillac XT4 will be $1701 to $5470 less than for the Mercedes GLC.

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