Compare the2024 Lincoln CorsairVS 2023 Mercedes GLC Coupe

The Lincoln Corsair 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Corsair’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 Coupe.

Both the Corsair and the GLC Coupe 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 and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corsair the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 165 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC Coupe has not been tested, yet.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Corsair 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 78 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corsair’s warranty.

The Corsair has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corsair’s reliability 15 points higher than the GLC Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 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 Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (266 vs. 255) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair Grand Touring running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLC 300 Coupe (86 city/69 hwy MPGe vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

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

The Corsair Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 27 miles. The GLC Coupe can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Corsair uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The GLC Coupe requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Corsair has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Corsair higher (7 to 8 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLC Coupe (6). This means the Corsair produces up to 6.6 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLC Coupe every 15,000 miles.

The Corsair Grand Touring has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Corsair stops much shorter than the GLC Coupe:

The Corsair offers an optional 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 Coupe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Corsair Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the GLC 300 Coupe pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Corsair Reserve AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLC 300 Coupe (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Corsair’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the GLC 300 Coupe’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Lincoln Corsair may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Mercedes GLC Coupe.

The front grille of the Corsair 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 Coupe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Corsair uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Corsair has .6 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more rear legroom than the GLC Coupe.

The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat folded (57.6 vs. 49.4 cubic feet).

The Corsair Grand Touring can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Corsair can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLC Coupe can’t be towed flat on the ground.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Corsair, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Corsair’s exterior PIN entry system. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

The Corsair Reserve/Grand Touring offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC Coupe.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Corsair owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Corsair with a number “8” insurance rate while the GLC Coupe is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corsair is less expensive to operate than the GLC Coupe because typical repairs cost much less on the Corsair than the GLC Coupe, including $349 less for a water pump, $131 less for a muffler, $94 less for front brake pads, $275 less for a starter, $164 less for fuel injection, $207 less for front struts and $21 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lincoln Corsair will be $5361 to $18194 less than for the Mercedes GLC Coupe.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lincoln Corsair, based on reliability, safety and performance.