Compare the2024 Genesis GV70VS 2023 Mercedes GLC

Both the GV70 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV70 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.

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 GV70 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 GV70 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The GLC doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the GV70 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The GV70’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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GV70. But it costs extra on the GLC.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GV70’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The GV70’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 GV70 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, 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 GV70 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC has not been tested, yet.

The GV70 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The GLC’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV70 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The GV70’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLC’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV70 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 25 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 statistics that show that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Genesis 12 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The GV70’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The GV70’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 120 more horsepower (375 vs. 255) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (391 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Genesis GV70 is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

The GV70’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLC doesn’t offer launch control.

The GV70’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s standard 60 series tires. The GV70 Sport’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the GLC’s optional 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV70 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLC. The GV70 Sport’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC.

The GV70 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.

For better maneuverability, the GV70’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the GLC’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The design of the Genesis GV70 amounts to more than styling. The GV70 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the GLC (.39) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GV70 get better fuel mileage.

The GV70 has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The GV70 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLC with its rear seat up (28.9 vs. 21.9 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GV70 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 GV70 Sport Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC.

The GV70 Sport Advanced/Sport Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis GV70, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The GV70 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The GLC has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the GV70 as their 2022 Sport Utility of the Year. The GLC was Sport Utility of the Year in 2017.