Compare the2024 Mercedes GLCVS 2023 Buick Envision

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 Buick Envision 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 Envision 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 Envision doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the GLC and Envision have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLC has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Envision’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The GLC’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Envision doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLC and the Envision 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, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and 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 GLC its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 58 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision has not been tested, yet.

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 Envision’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The GLC’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Envision’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (255 vs. 228) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the GLC gets better mileage than the Envision:

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

The GLC has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLC has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 16.1 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 Envision. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

For better traction, the GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (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 Envision’s optional 45 series tires.

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 Envision doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Envision (113.1 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Envision.

The GLC has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 3.9 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 10.9 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLC’s rear seats recline. The Envision’s rear seats don’t recline.

The GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 52.7 cubic feet).

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLC. The Envision doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Envision’s (5291 vs. 1500 pounds).

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

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Envision Essence/Avenir, 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 front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLC the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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

The GLC has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Envision.

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. Only the Envision Avenir offers wireless charging.

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Buick Envision by almost three to one during 2022.