Compare the2024 Mercedes GLCVS 2024 Buick Envista

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
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 Buick Envista 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 Envista doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Mercedes GLC has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Envista doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GLC has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Envista doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The GLC offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Envista doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Envista doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The GLC offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Envista only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLC has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Buick charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Envista and the Envista’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

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 Envista doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLC and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes GLC weighs 1052 to 1247 pounds more than the Buick Envista. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Envista has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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 Envista’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 Envista’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the GLC’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the GLC has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Envista’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 118 more horsepower (255 vs. 137) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 162) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes GLC is faster than the Buick Envista:

	GLC	Envista
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.2 sec	32.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.6 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	80 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	112 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The GLC has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (17.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

For more complete vehicle control the GLC has a manually controlled automatic, with the available convenience of an automatic transmission and the complete gear control of a manual transmission without the inconvenience of a clutch. A manually controlled automatic allows the driver to eliminate unwanted shifts and maximize engine braking by down shifting while cornering. The Envista doesn’t offer a transmission that allows complete gear control.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Envista.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLC	GLC	Envista
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	14.6 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.6 inches	11.3 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 Envista are solid, not vented.

The GLC stops much shorter than the Envista:

	GLC	Envista
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the Envista (235/60R18 vs. 225/60R17). The GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envista (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 245/45R19).

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 Envista’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Envista. The GLC’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Envista.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes GLC has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Envista has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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 Envista doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the Envista (113.1 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than on the Envista.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Envista Avenir 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 1.2 seconds quicker than the Envista Sport Touring (27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The GLC has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 6.7 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear headroom, 12.5 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

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

Cargo Capacity

The GLC has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (21.9 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The GLC has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 42 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The GLC has a 5291 lbs. towing capacity. The Envista 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 Envista doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the GLC, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Envista doesn’t offer a memory system.

The GLC offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Envista’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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. Pushbutton Start standard on the Envista only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

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

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GLC has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The GLC has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Envista. 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 Envista.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GLC keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Envista doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The GLC’s 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. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the GLC and the Envista offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GLC has available rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Envista doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The GLC’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Envista’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

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 Envista.

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 Envista 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 Envista doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Buick Envista by over three to one during 2023.