Compare the2024 Mercedes GLCVS 2024 Toyota Venza

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Venza doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Venza 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 Venza 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 Venza 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. Only the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the GLC and the Venza 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 safer than the Venza:

	GLC	Venza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	108	120
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	240	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	67 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

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 Venza last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2023.

Warranty

The GLC comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Venza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Engine

The GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 36 more horsepower (255 vs. 219) than the Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes GLC is faster than the Toyota Venza:

	GLC	Venza
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	7.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.2 sec	20.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	89 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	118 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the GLC and Venza have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The GLC has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The GLC has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Venza (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLC	GLC	Venza
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	14.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.6 inches	11.1 inches

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 Venza are solid, not vented.

The GLC stops much shorter than the Venza:

	GLC	Venza
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	142 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

The GLC’s optional 255/45R20 front and 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Venza’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The GLC has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Venza doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the Venza (113.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .8 inches wider in the rear than on the Venza.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .79 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 Venza Limited (27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The GLC has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more rear headroom and 13.1 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

Cargo Capacity

The GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLC’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Venza doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLC has a 5291 lbs. towing capacity. The Venza has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the GLC uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Venza doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The GLC uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Venza uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited, 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 standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Venza doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door. Smart Key System is not available on the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited.

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 Venza’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Venza’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GLC offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Venza doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLC to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Venza 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 Venza’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The GLC’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Venza offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLC has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited. The GLC also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Venza.

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 Venza doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The Venza doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Toyota Venza by 35% during 2023.