Compare the2022 Volvo XC40VS 2022 Mercedes GLC Coupe

Both the XC40 and GLC Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC40 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLC Coupe’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The XC40 has standard Automatic Braking After Collision, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XC40 offers an optional CTA Auto Brake that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC40’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The XC40’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

Both the XC40 and the GLC Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC40 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 80 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC Coupe has not been tested, yet.

The XC40’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC Coupe’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC40 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XC40 third among small premium suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The GLC Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 2 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC40 T5 is faster than the Mercedes GLC Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the XC40 gets better mileage than the GLC Coupe:

The XC40 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The XC40 stops much shorter than the GLC Coupe:

The XC40 T5 R-Design AWD handles at .86 G’s, while the GLC 300 Coupe pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the XC40’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GLC 300 Coupe’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Volvo XC40 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 250 pounds less than the Mercedes GLC Coupe.

The XC40 is 9.1 inches shorter than the GLC Coupe, making the XC40 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The XC40 has .1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC Coupe.

The XC40 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat up (20.4 vs. 17.6 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC40 has a standard rear wiper. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC40 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XC40 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the XC40 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XC40 will cost $1075 to $1715 less than the GLC Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volvo XC40 will be $9237 to $15780 less than for the Mercedes GLC Coupe.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volvo XC40, based on reliability, safety and performance.