Compare the2024 Mercedes GLCVS 2024 Lincoln Corsair

The GLC’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Corsair doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLC has standard NECK-PRO front head restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the NECK-PRO front head restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Corsair doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLC offers optional Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Corsair doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLC has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Rear Cross Traffic Braking costs extra on the Corsair.

Both the GLC and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mercedes GLC is much safer than the Corsair:

The Mercedes GLC achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Corsair is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Lincoln.

The GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 5 more horsepower (255 vs. 250) and 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 275) than the Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLC is faster than the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl.:

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

The GLC has 6.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLC has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 16.2 gallons).

The GLC has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Corsair. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Corsair.

For better stopping power the GLC’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

The GLC’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Corsair are solid, not vented.

The GLC stops much shorter than the Corsair:

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the Corsair (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R18). The GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corsair (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The GLC’s optional 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corsair’s optional 45 series tires.

The GLC’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Corsair doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 6.4 inches longer than on the Corsair (113.1 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

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

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Corsair Reserve AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLC 300 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Corsair Premiere AWD (27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The GLC has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 3.4 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corsair.

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corsair’s (5291 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the GLC is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Corsair. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Corsair, the GLC has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLC’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Corsair’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GLC’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Corsair’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLC to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Corsair doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the GLC is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Corsair’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLC has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Corsair.

The GLC offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Corsair doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Motor Trend selected the GLC as their 2017 Sport Utility of the Year. The Corsair has never been chosen.

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Lincoln Corsair by 65% during 2023.