Compare the2023 Volvo XC60VS 2022 Mercedes GLC

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the XC60 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultimate/Polestar 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’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 Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Mercedes doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the GLC. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The GLC’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC60 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC 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 XC60 has standard CTA Auto Brake 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the XC60’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The XC60’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.

Both the XC60 and the GLC 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, available all wheel drive 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 Volvo XC60 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	XC60	GLC
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	23%
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	87 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	55 lbs.	115 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 Volvo XC60 is safer than the Mercedes GLC:

	XC60	GLC
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	190 lbs.	409 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	45 G’s	46 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	410 lbs.	787 lbs.

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

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 “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the XC60 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The XC60’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC60 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.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The XC60 B6’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (295 vs. 255) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 200 more horsepower (455 vs. 255) and 250 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

	XC60	GLC
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.5 MPH	89.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLC:

			MPGe
XC60
	AWD	Extended Range Electric Motor	66 city/60 hwy
		T8 Electric Motor	59 city/55 hwy
GLC
			MPG
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLC:

			MPG
XC60
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	Extended Range 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	28 city/28 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/27 hwy
GLC
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

The XC60 can travel with zero emissions for 19 to 36 miles (dependent on model). The GLC can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the XC60’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The XC60 has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (18.8 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The XC60 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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

	XC60	XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered	GLC
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	15.7 inches	13.5 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the XC60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (265/35R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The XC60’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC60 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The GLC’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The XC60 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 XC60 Ultimate has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC60’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GLC doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC60 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC.

The XC60 B5 Core AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XC60 B5 Core AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26.6 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GLC’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 w/Air Suspension has a 3.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (8.3 vs. 5 inches), allowing the XC60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The XC60’s minimum ground clearance is 3.5 inches higher than on the GLC (8.5 vs. 5 inches).

Chassis

The design of the Volvo XC60 amounts to more than styling. The XC60 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the GLC (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the XC60 get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The XC60 has .2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear legroom than the GLC.

The front step up height for the XC60 is 1 inches lower than the GLC (19” vs. 20”). The XC60’s rear step up height is 3 inches lower than the GLC’s (19.5” vs. 22.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (24.4 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 56.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XC60 easier. The XC60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the GLC’s liftover is 28.8 inches.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC60 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.

Consumer Reports rated the XC60’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GLC’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XC60 is less expensive to operate than the GLC because it costs $155 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the XC60 than the GLC, including $366 less for a water pump, $351 less for a muffler, $61 less for front brake pads, $77 less for a starter, $94 less for fuel injection, $212 less for front struts, $34 less for a timing belt/chain and $762 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The GLC has never been chosen.

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