Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2022 Mercedes GLC

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 NX 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 Lexus NX 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 NX offers optional Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLC doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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

The NX’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 NX 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 and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the NX its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 30 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC has not been fully tested, yet.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 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 NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLC’s (6 vs. 5 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Lexus NX’s reliability 32 points higher than the GLC and the Lexus NX Hybrid is rated 54 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The NX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (275 vs. 255) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 273) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The NX 450h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 49 more horsepower (304 vs. 255) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

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

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

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The GLC can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the NX 350h/450h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLC doesn’t offer a CVT.

The NX stops shorter than the GLC:

The NX 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 NX 350 AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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

For greater off-road capability the NX has a 2.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (7.7 vs. 5 inches), allowing the NX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The NX has .5 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more front legroom than the GLC.

The front step up height for the NX is 2.2 inches lower than the GLC (17.8” vs. 20”). The NX’s rear step up height is 4.3 inches lower than the GLC’s (18.2” vs. 22.5”).

The NX has a much larger cargo volume than the GLC with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 19.4 cubic feet).

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

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the NX, using the Vehicle Stability Control 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The NX’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 NX 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.

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

Consumer Reports® chose the Lexus NX as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLC isn't recommended.