Compare the2024 Porsche CayenneVS 2024 Mercedes GLC

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

The Cayenne has a standard Multi-collision Brake System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

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

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GLC doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cayenne’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 Cayenne and the GLC 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 and available around view monitors.

The Porsche Cayenne weighs 401 to 1497 pounds more than the Mercedes GLC. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Cayenne’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 34 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 long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 21 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Cayenne’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 93 more horsepower (348 vs. 255) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (368 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 208 more horsepower (463 vs. 255) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne S’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 213 more horsepower (468 vs. 255) and 147 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid produces 257 more horsepower (512 vs. 255) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 474 more horsepower (729 vs. 255) and 405 lbs.-ft. more torque (700 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Cayenne S E-Hybrid/Turbo E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (18.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 6.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (23.7 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The Cayenne’s optional 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.

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

The Cayenne offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The GLC doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The GLC doesn’t offer air brakes.

For better traction, the Cayenne has larger standard tires than the GLC (F:255/55R20 & R:295/45R20 vs. 235/60R18). The Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (F:285/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20).

The Cayenne’s standard 255/55R20 front and 295/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s standard 60 series tires. The Cayenne’s optional 285/40R22 front and 315/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the GLC’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLC. The Cayenne’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC.

The Cayenne offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The GLC doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the GLC.

The Cayenne has a standard 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.

The Cayenne has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLC doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and 2.9 inches more rear legroom than the GLC.

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (27.2 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (60.3 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The Cayenne’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in every dimension:

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (7700 vs. 5291 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Porsche third in service department satisfaction. With a 30% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The GLC does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cayenne to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GLC doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Cayenne offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The GLC doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GLC doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC.

The Cayenne’s optional Active Parking Assistance can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote ParkAssist 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 Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.